Lawmakers in California have introduced bills set to generate $16.4 billion in new taxes and fees for the 2019-2020 legislative session. Last week, Eversheds Sutherland sponsored CalTax’s Board of Directors Meeting, which covered the Governor’s agenda, federal conformity, local tax initiatives, the pending litigation in San Francisco and some new statewide tax bills. To learn
Over-Hall: U.S. Supreme Court Holds States Retain Sovereign Immunity from Private Suits in Other States, Overturning Nevada v. Hall
In a 5-to-4 decision, the US Supreme Court held that states retain sovereign immunity from private suits brought by individuals in courts of other states, and therefore, overruled its prior decision in Nevada v. Hall, 440 US 410 (1979). The decision arose from a longstanding dispute brought by an individual taxpayer against the California
California, meet New York
Eversheds Sutherland welcomed local guests into our New York office to meet Sacramento lawyers Tim Gustafson and Eric Coffill and learn about developments in California state tax. The group then went to see the Padres meet the Yankees (where the visiting team eked out a win).
An Overview of the California Research and Development Credit
The California research and development credit is frequently a high-ticket item for taxpayers. Indeed, according to the California Franchise Tax Board’s (FTB) 2017 Annual Report, $1,440,103,626 of corporation tax research credits were allowed in 2016, which was 72.5% of total corporation tax credits allowed for that year.
In his article for the Journal of Multistate
Podcast: P.L. 86-272 Protection for Deliveries
California FTB Confirms Delivery by Private Vehicles Is Protected Under P.L. 86-272
In a Technical Advice Memorandum issued on December 4, 2018, the California Franchise Tax Board (FTB) concluded that delivery of tangible personal property via private truck is a protected activity under P.L. 86-272. However, any activity that goes beyond the scope of delivery, such as backhauling, is not protected. The FTB explained that Congress, when
California FTB Chief Counsel Issues Ruling on Financial Corporations and Interest Rate Hedging Contracts
On November 2, 2018, the Chief Counsel of the California Franchise Tax Board issued Chief Counsel Ruling No. 2018-01, determining: (1) that a taxpayer servicing mortgages was not a financial corporation for purposes of the corporation franchise tax; and (2) gains from interest rate hedging contracts are general income, not money or moneyed capital. Although
California Court of Appeal Affirms that Transactions Involving Out-of-State Title Transfer Are Subject to Local Use Tax, Not Local Sales Tax
The California Court of Appeal affirmed a trial court decision finding that transactions involving an Internet retailer headquartered in Brisbane, California, were subject to local use tax, rather than local sales tax, because title in the transactions at issue passed outside California. The court explained that when a retail seller delivers goods to a common
Eversheds Sutherland SALT Scoreboard Publication–Third Quarter 2018
This is the eleventh edition of the Eversheds Sutherland SALT Scoreboard, and the third edition of 2018. Each quarter, we tally the results of what we deem to be significant taxpayer wins and losses and analyze those results. This edition of the SALT Scoreboard includes a discussion of California combined reporting, insights regarding the Washington
Taking Taxpayers for a Ride: California Upholds Mandatory Combined Reporting for Interstate Motorcycle Retailer
The California Court of Appeals affirmed a trial court’s holding that the California Franchise Tax Board can require interstate unitary businesses to use combined reporting, even though combined reporting is optional for intrastate unitary businesses. The taxpayer, a motorcycle retailer, argued that the differential treatment of interstate and intrastate business gave a direct commercial advantage