In the News

Subscribe to In the News via RSS

On April 22, 2020, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court issued an opinion that could have a material impact on the unemployment insurance obligations of businesses that engage independent contractors in the state. In A Special Touch v. Pennsylvania Dep’t of Labor & Indust., involving a nail salon, the state supreme court construed the second prong of…

States continue to consider tax legislation to balance their budgets in reaction to the COVID-19 pandemic. On May 27, 2020, Mayor Muriel Bowser signed D.C. Act 23-326, the Coronavirus Support Emergency Amendment Act of 2020. In part, this act limits net operating loss carryovers. For tax years beginning after December 31, 2017, corporations, unincorporated…

On May 11, a San Francisco trial court held that the California Constitution allows special local taxes proposed by voter initiative to be enacted with a simple majority vote, in contrast to the two-thirds vote required for special taxes proposed by local government. The ballot initiative in question imposed a $298 per parcel tax and…

The Nebraska Department of Revenue (“Department”) issued guidance explaining that Nebraska Advantage Act (“Act”) project-holders may not have to repay incentives if they cannot meet their project obligations due to COVID-19. The Act provides incentives to businesses that commit to certain levels of employment and investment as part of an expansion project in Nebraska. The…

On April 28, 2020, the Multistate Tax Commission (MTC), as part of its 2020 Spring Committee Meetings, held its Strategic Planning Committee Meeting by teleconference. Over the prior week, the MTC also held meetings of its Executive, Uniformity, Nexus, and Audit Committees.

The Eversheds Sutherland SALT group attended the Strategic Planning Committee Meeting.…

With the majority of the nation facing limitations on business travel and mandatory stay-at-home orders, states and localities are beginning to issue guidance on the impact that COVID-19 disruptions will have on withholding obligations for multistate employers. Some states have responded to COVID-19 telework requirements in a variety of ways:

  • New Jersey and Mississippi have

…

New York State and City taxpayers should be aware that, at least publicly, State and City administrative bodies have taken different approaches regarding the applicability of Executive Orders tolling statutes of limitations.

Almost one month ago, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo issued Executive Order No. 202.8, which referenced a directive of the Chief Judge…

Effective April 1, 2020, the Cook County Department of Revenue is no longer applying its amusement tax to sales of paid television to non-residential customers, such as bars and hotels. The amusement tax ordinance never expressly applied to paid television. Rather, in 2007, the Department issued Amusement Ruling #1, which purported to include paid…

Given the dramatic limitations on business travel and mandatory work-from home policies caused by COVID-19 concerns, multistate employers should evaluate how these disruptions impact their state and local tax obligations related to employment. Following is a brief summary of the state and local employment tax issues that multistate employers may need to address during the…

On March 30, 2020, the California Court of Appeal overruled the city of Oakland’s demurrer regarding the validity of its waste management franchise fees on the grounds the plaintiffs sufficiently alleged that the fees were taxes. The city entered into waste management contracts with two companies. In turn, the companies agreed to pay the franchise…