Digital Economy

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Yesterday, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit issued its opinion in Direct Marketing Association v. Brohl, reversing the district court’s order granting summary judgment. The Tenth Circuit held that Colorado’s notice and reporting requirements imposed on non-collecting retailers did not violate the dormant Commerce Clause because they neither discriminated against, nor …

On February 11, the United States Senate approved a permanent extension of the Internet Tax Freedom Act (ITFA), which previously passed the House of Representatives on December 15, 2015. Additionally, ITFA’s Grandfather Clause, which allows certain states to continue to tax Internet access, is phased out. President Obama is expected to sign the permanent extension …

By Chris Mehrmann and Charlie Kearns

The Tennessee Department of Revenue has issued guidance explaining that the retail sale of, use of, or subscription to a computer software maintenance contract is subject to sales and use tax when: (1) the maintenance contract is sold as part of a taxable sale of computer software; (2) the…

By Zach Atkins and Madison Barnett

The Ohio Department of Taxation issued a revised information release announcing its new positions regarding sales and use tax on electronic information services used in business. In the release, the Department takes the position that taxable electronic information services can include, among other things, subscription services, inventory advertising and…

The Michigan Department of Treasury issued a Notice announcing that it will no longer impose sales or use tax on certain prewritten computer software accessed electronically and associated online services. The Notice comes on the heels of the Michigan Court of Appeals decision in Auto-Owners Insurance Company v. Department of Treasury and the Michigan Supreme …

By Suzanne Palms and Charlie Kearns

The Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania held that network infrastructure services (including local dial networks, telephone numbers and modems, i.e., Internet “backbone”) sold to Internet service providers (ISPs) to provide Internet access to end users were not subject to Pennsylvania sales and use tax. The commonwealth court found that the…

By Nick Kump and Charlie Kearns

On October 27, the Michigan Court of Appeals affirmed the trial court’s decision in favor of the taxpayer and held that several contracts for data processing services, access to computer programs and databases, and other online services did not include the use of taxable prewritten computer software. After considering…

By Nick Kump and Charlie Kearns

The Iowa Department of Revenue issued a policy letter declaring that the delivery of a digital software key on a tangible card is exempt from sales tax, as long as the software itself is delivered digitally and there is not a separate charge for the key. Iowa Code section…

By Nick Kump and Charlie Kearns

The Ohio Board of Tax Appeals held that medical transcription services are taxable automatic data processing services, rather than tax-exempt personal or professional services, because of the minimal level of personal skill involved in transcription services. Under Ohio law, personal or professional services are not subject to Ohio sales…