Latest COST Conscious

ISSUE 20-07; April 3, 2020

Top Two SALT Issues Arising from COVID-19 – What are the top two SALT issues arising from the COVID-19 pandemic that concern your company the most? Please select two of the following:

Latest Practitioner Connection

ISSUE 20-06; March 27, 2020

Eversheds Sutherland Launches SALT Podcast: A Grain of SALT – Eversheds Sutherland is pleased to announce the launch of their new podcast channel, A Grain of SALT, which will help tax professionals navigate growing challenges in the evolving tax systems of state and local jurisdictions. Eversheds Sutherland (US) LLP, March 26, 2020.

BLOOMBERG TAX

Top Finance Democrat Pushes Expanded Rebates in Next Relief Bill

 

Sen. Ron Wyden, the Finance Committee's top Democrat, wants the next round of new coronavirus relief legislation to expand direct government payments to small businesses and dependents over 17, and increase block grant funding to states.

Treasury Seeks $250 Billion More for Small Business in 71% Boost

 

The Treasury Department is asking Congress for $250 billion more to aid small businesses, and Secretary Steven Mnuchin said he expects the House and Senate to act as soon as this week.

IRS Watchdog Asks Public to Report Virus Stimulus Payment Scams

 

The IRS's watchdog wants people to report scammers who impersonate agency employees to get their hands on Covid-19 stimulus payments, so that the perpetrators can be identified and stopped.

Illinois Warns Revised Deadlines May Require Taxpayer Action

 

Illinois warned taxpayers they may need to act to reschedule payments. Georgia, meanwhile, is extending the deadline to file for conservation tax breaks, and Utah says it will be holding tax appeals only by telephone for now. Here’s the latest on shifting state tax guidelines, deadlines, and policy to deal with the coronavirus pandemic. For Monday’s coverage click here. Here’s a state-by-state roadmap.

Opportunity Zone Advocates Push for Covid-19 Relief on Deadlines

 

A group of investors, consultants, developers, law firms, and others is pressing IRS and Treasury officials to ease deadlines for opportunity zone investors in light of disruptions caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

Tenth Circuit Upholds IRS Summons in Marijuana Dispensary Dispute

 

Colorado must hand over records tied to a medical marijuana dispensary as part of the IRS's audit into potentially improper business deductions, the Tenth Circuit said.

Industries Fight for More Relief in New Bill, Tweaks to Last One

 

Lobbyists are waging battle for clients on multiple fronts, juggling a need to push for technical fixes to the recent $2.2 trillion coronavirus relief law while also advocating for future help.

Missouri May Consider Remote Sales Tax Bill in Later Session

 

State of Wayfair: Missouri isn't likely to take action on two bills aimed at remote sellers until later this year.

IRS Closures, Service Cutbacks Turn Tax Queries Into a Struggle (1)

 

Aspects of the IRS's pandemic response are making it nearly impossible to reach the agency by phone or mail, hampering individuals and tax advisers trying to resolve issues not covered by a recent enforcement freeze.

States Stand to Lose Billions in Taxes Tied to Tourism, Live Sports

 

Travel and tourism—which funnels $83 billion in tax revenue annually to state and local governments—is in a freefall triggered by the coronavirus pandemic.

Tax Notes

Pennsylvania Companies Could Get Credits to Make Protective Gear

 

Pennsylvania lawmakers are looking to the state tax code to motivate manufacturers to produce personal protective equipment.

Judge Strikes Down Georgia Adult Entertainment Tax

 

A judge has struck down Georgia’s tax on adult entertainment establishments as unconstitutional, citing vagueness in the statutory definition.

Kentucky Legislature Passes Partnership Audit Bill

 

The Kentucky General Assembly has passed a revenue bill that would conform the state to the IRS’s centralized partnership audit regime, create new tax breaks for specific industries, and levy a tax on vaping products.

COST to California Court: Local Special Tax Measures Require Supermajority Vote

 

The Council On State Taxation is urging the California First District Court of Appeals to rule that all local special taxes must be approved by a supermajority vote.

Pennsylvania's Steep Revenue Drop Could Be Just the Beginning

 

Pennsylvania has announced a 6.2 percent shortfall in revenue collections for March, foreshadowing steeper declines for April.

Rhode Island Hearing Officer Permits Pre-Wayfair Refund

 

While an out-of-state company’s subscription television services are taxable, the company was not liable for Rhode Island sales tax during a pre-Wayfair period because it lacked in-state physical presence, according to a hearing officer.

Opportunity Zone Deadlines Could Be Extended Due to COVID-19

 

Major disaster declarations made by states to address the COVID-19 pandemic could unlock deadline extensions for investments in federal Opportunity Zones, according to practitioners.

Oregon Lawmakers Urge Technical Fixes to CAT

 

Oregon lawmakers appear likely to resurrect legislation to modify the state’s new gross receipts tax in an upcoming special session.

With Tax Deadlines Extended, States Offer Relief on Fines and Fees

 

State and local governments have extended their tax return deadlines in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, but a growing number have also recognized the need to extend deadlines for fines and fees.

Oregon Tax Court Allows Telecom Appeal Without Issue Exhaustion

 

The Oregon Tax Court has held that Charter Communications could raise an issue when appealing assessments of its telephone property that it did not raise in a conference with the state Department of Revenue.

Select State Tax News

Deadline extended for uninsured Marylanders to enroll in health coverage

 

The Maryland Easy Enrollment Health Insurance Program, a partnership between the Office of Maryland Comptroller Peter Franchot and Maryland Health Benefit Exchange, the agency that runs Maryland...

Judge Strikes Down Georgia Adult Entertainment Tax

 

Click here to see operators for terms and connectors searching. Search Connectors Note:  To search with a Code section , or with proximity , use Advanced Search . A space between words is...

New officers elected, variety of La Jolla issues discussed at virtual Community Planning meeting

 

La Jolla Community Planning Association (LJCPA) pulled off one of San Diego’s first online community meetings on Thursday, April 2, 2020 virtually electing a new president via the communications app...

School budgets are in big trouble, especially in high-poverty areas. Here’s why — and what could help

 

When the last recession hit school budgets about a decade ago, it didn’t hit them equally. Affluent school districts saw their state funding drop by more than $500 per student after the downturn....

Cocktails To Go: Ohio Allows the Sale and Delivery of Hard Liquor Drinks

 

Ohio restaurants and bars with an on-premises liquor permit may now sell drinks made with high-proof spirits for carry-out and for delivery with the purchase of a meal.  Customers are limited to two...

February revenues $63M more than budget estimate

 

Tennessee Department of Finance and Administration Commissioner Stuart McWhorter announced Friday, March 13, that Tennessee tax revenues exceeded budgeted estimates in February. February revenues...

Corporate Taxpayers Can Be Hopeful About Calif. Tax Appeals

 

In the California Office of Tax Appeal’s brief two-year history, the state tax agencies have prevailed in the vast majority of...

TCJA’s NOL limitations rolled back in congressional COVID-19 response

 

, the President signed into law the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (the CARES Act). Passed in response to the economic repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic, the CARES Act makes...

State Tax Revenues Strong In March; Cuts Likely Needed In Future

 

There was good news coming out of the state capitol this week as Governor Kemp announced state revenues for March were up 9.8% compared with March of 2019.  For the first nine months of the state’s...

MIL-OSI USA: Governor Ducey Announces $2 Million In Funding For Goodwill Services

 

Source: US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Source: US State of Arizona PHOENIX⁠  — Governor Doug Ducey today announced $2 million in funding to put 400 Arizona Goodwill employees...

Telework Due To COVID-19 Spawns Employer Nexus Worries

 

Share us on:   Law360 (April 7, 2020, 2:15 PM EDT) -- Whether states can and will assert nexus on businesses whose employees are working remotely at home has emerged as a top concern among...

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine issues order allowing carryout alcoholic beverages Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine issues order allowing carryout alcoholic beverages

 

With the restaurant industry suffering as the result of restrictions put in place to help combat the coronavirus (COVID-19), Ohio Governor Mike DeWine has issued an order in hopes of providing a...

Spain: Analysing new bills on digital services and financial transactions

 

Both bills are set to go through parliament The Official Parliamentary Gazette of February 28 2020 published the initiation of the passage through parliament of two relevant bills: one on the tax...

Ohio tax revenue takes hit as coronavirus orders close businesses

 

Gov. Mike DeWine last month called for his cabinet directors to prepare for cuts as large as 20% to their agency budgets for the next 15 months as the state prepared for the expected downturn in...

Former IBM CIO Has Driven A Remarkable Digital Transformation As COO Of World Fuel Services

 

Jeff Smith was one of the most experienced chief information officers in the world. He led the technology functions of Ingersoll Rand, Allied Signal, Telstra, and IBM. At Suncorp, he rose above the...

Amid COVID-19 surge, Michigan leaders prepare for $1B-$3B budget hole

 

As the state of Michigan attempts to lower the human cost of the coronavirus pandemic, leaders are trying to get a grasp on what toll the virus will take on the state's budget as tax revenue dips and...

Letter: 'Thank You' to the Town Council for Budget Vote

 

To those on the Town Council who voted not for the presence or absence of later starts—that decision is made entirely by the BOE, and roughly $1 billion of taxpayer money over 10 years is more than...

States Stand to Lose Billions in Taxes Tied to Tourism, Live Sports

 

Travel and tourism—which funnels $83 billion in tax revenue annually to state and local governments—is in a freefall triggered by the coronavirus pandemic. The related havoc being wrought on state...

The CARES Act's Changes to Section 163(j): Partnership, International, and US State Tax Implications

 

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (the CARES Act) relaxes the section 163(j) business interest expense limitation for tax years beginning in both 2019 and 2020. Intended to help...

UniSource Supports Arizona Gives Day on April 7

 

While UniSource Energy Services has long supported Arizona Gives Day , our company this year is committing extra dollars to help support charities during the campaign in light of the growing needs...