In this installment of A Pinch of SALT for Tax Notes State, Eversheds Sutherland attorneys Jeff Friedman and Cyavash Ahmadi examine Egon Zehnder, a case they argue demonstrates why New York’s False Claims Act should never have been expanded to tax cases. The case reflects fundamental problems that go to the heart of

Cyavash Ahmadi
The state taxation of crypto and digital assets
On the SALT Shaker Podcast this week, Eversheds Sutherland Associate Jeremy Gove invites fellow Associate Cyavash Ahmadi to the show for a discussion of the state taxation of cryptocurrency and digital assets. They begin with an overview of how state taxes have previously dealt with new technology, as well as a primer on the various…
Virginia Circuit Court determines sales of software and equipment exempt from sales tax
In an opinion published on September 9, 2022, the Circuit Court of the City of Richmond held that a telecommunications equipment company was entitled to a sales tax refund on its sales of software, equipment, and related services sold to a telecommunications company.
Under Virginia law, software delivered electronically via the Internet is exempt from…
A bridge too far: Ohio Court of Common Pleas finds convenience rule unconstitutional
On September 26, 2022, the Ohio Court of Common Pleas in Morsy v. Dumas, held that Cleveland’s municipal income tax on remote workers was unconstitutional on an “as applied” basis. The taxpayer lived in Pennsylvania and was employed by a company located in Cleveland, Ohio.
Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, Morsy would stay in…
New York launches twenty-five percent tax credit program for video game production
On August 10, 2022, the New York State Department of Economic Development issued emergency regulations to implement the state’s Digital Gaming Media Production Tax Credit Program. The legislature enacted the program to encourage, attract, and grow the digital game development industry in New York State. The purpose of the tax incentive, which was included in …
Neither here nor there: New York holds resident tax credits cannot be claimed for intangible income
The New York State Tax Appeals Tribunal upheld an income tax assessment and disallowed taxpayers’ claim of resident tax credits (RTCs) to the extent such RTCs were claimed for taxes paid to Connecticut on the taxpayers’ carried interest income. The taxpayers, both of whom were residents of New York, were employed by an affiliate of…
New York’s false positive: Reforming the False Claims Act
New York is considering expanding its False Claims Act to “knowingly or illegally failing to file” a tax return.
Not only should the legislature reject the proposed legislation, New York should roll back its FCA so it does not apply to taxes.
In this installment of “A Pinch of SALT” in Tax Notes State,…
Real talk about real property transfer taxes
In this episode of the SALT Shaker Podcast, Eversheds Sutherland Associates Jeremy Gove and Cyavash Ahmadi tackle real property transfer taxes, in particular how they come into play in corporate transactions.
Jeremy and Cyavash highlight how the tax functions in certain jurisdictions and different nuances of their imposition, how state tax professionals can assist on…
The complex questions of combined reporting
In this episode of the SALT Shaker Podcast, Eversheds Sutherland Associate Jeremy Gove teams up with Associate Cyavash Ahmadi to discuss the complexities of combined reporting, specifically comparing and contrasting the combined reporting regimes in New York and California. They discuss several of the nuances of both states’ systems and even debate what “Joyce v.…
Get out of town! Court upholds New York City tax applying investee apportionment
On April 12, 2022, the Appellate Division, First Department dismissed a taxpayer’s appeal from the New York City Tax Appeals Tribunal, and held that the Tribunal’s decision to uphold a tax assessment on an out-of-state entity’s gain from the sale of a partnership interest was “rational.”[1]
The taxpayer was an investment vehicle that formed…