In Letter Ruling 22-02 (publicly released last week), the Tennessee Department of Revenue ruled that fees a marketplace facilitator charges for connecting buyers and sellers and processing payments are not subject to sales tax. The taxpayer in the ruling was a “delivery network company” under Tennessee law. It connects third-party sellers of tangible personal property
Blame the manager: Company that arranges, manages brand displays is a retailer for Washington B&O and retail sales tax purposes
On April 25, the Washington Court of Appeals held that a company that arranges and manages displays for installation and placement in multiple retail brands’ stores through subcontractors was subject to the state’s retailing business and occupation tax (the “B&O tax”) and retail sales tax as a retailer making retail sales, rather than a provider
New York Tax Appeals Tribunal concludes IT managing and monitoring services are taxable
The New York Tax Appeals Tribunal upheld the New York Division of Tax Appeals’ determination that an information technology security company provides a taxable protective service. The taxpayer provides monitoring and firewall management services, by configuring its customers’ software and devices to prevent malicious activity. The Department of Taxation and Finance asserted that the taxpayer’s
City of Santa Barbara franchise fee not a local tax subject to Proposition 218 protection
The California Court of Appeal, Second Appellate District ruled that the franchise fee, including a surcharge imposed by electric utility Southern California Edison (SCE) on its customers in Santa Barbara, pursuant to SCE’s agreement with the city, was not a tax requiring voter approval under Proposition 218. Dating back to 1959, SCE has had franchise
Colorado Department of Revenue concludes online learning courses are taxable
On September 2, 2021, the Colorado Department of Revenue issued private letter ruling PLR 21-005 concluding that subscription fees for an online learning platform are subject to sales tax. The taxpayer operates an online learning platform offering on-demand digital courses comprised of streaming video lessons covering academic subjects and vocational license preparation courses. Each subscription
Not so fast – Indiana Tax Court upholds pharmacy benefit management company’s sourcing of receipts from services
On May 14, 2021, the Indiana Tax Court upheld a pharmacy benefit management company’s sourcing of its receipts under Indiana’s costs of performance rules applicable to receipts from services. The court rejected the Indiana Department of Revenue’s position that the receipts should instead be sourced according to the rules for sales of tangible personal property.
Washington provides guidance regarding marketplace facilitators & the delivery of restaurant and grocery food
On May 7, 2021, the Washington Department of Revenue issued Excise Tax Advisory 3223.2021, providing guidance on the proper taxation of grocery food and restaurant delivery services provided through marketplace facilitators. Marketplace facilitators that are facilitating the retail sale of prepared food or groceries through its marketplace are responsible for collecting and remitting sales
Missouri Governor expected to sign newly passed economic Nexus Bill
Missouri is set to enact economic nexus requirements, asserting a sales and use tax collection obligation on remote sellers and marketplace facilitators. On May 14, 2021, the Missouri Legislature passed S.B. 153, which the governor is widely expected to sign. Upon signing, Missouri will join the other 44 states and the District of Columbia
Ohio Supreme Court Rejects Look-Through Sourcing for Sale of Customer Contracts
The Ohio Supreme Court held that under the Commercial Activity Tax (“CAT”), Defender Security Company’s (“Taxpayer”) gross receipts from selling alarm monitoring service contracts to ADT Security Services, Inc. (“ADT”) should be sourced to the location where ADT itself receives the benefit from purchasing these contracts, rather than the location of the ultimate consumer of
For the Record – Corporate Record Storage Service Provided in New Jersey not Subject to New York Sales Tax
On August 18, 2020, the New York Supreme Court, Albany County, held that there was no rational basis for New York’s imposition of sales tax on storage services performed in New Jersey that occurred subsequent to the initial sale and pickup of items in New York. The taxpayer, a New Jersey corporation, operated corporate records