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
appeals
Washington Court of Appeals Finds Lowe’s Ineligible for Bad Debt Deduction
The Washington Court of Appeals upheld the denial of sales tax and B&O tax refund claims filed by Lowe’s Home Centers, LLC based on the bad debt deduction. Lowe’s, a home improvement retail store with locations in Washington, entered into private label credit card (“PLCC”) agreements with two issuing banks. Among the typical terms of…
Sales of Prepaid Authorization Numbers for Wireless Services Subject to Alabama Sales Tax
Reversing a judgment of the circuit court, the Alabama Court of Civil Appeals held that sales of prepaid authorization numbers that allow purchasers to access wireless services on cellular telephones are subject to the state’s sales tax. The court reasoned that during the 2008 through 2011 tax years at issue, the relevant sales tax statute…
A Dirty Outcome: Wisconsin Appellate Court Holds Laundry Services Taxable
On July 17, 2018, the Wisconsin Court of Appeals held that a taxpayer’s services qualified as taxable “laundry services” and were subject to Wisconsin sales tax. The taxpayer entered into service agreements with clients and provided them contract cleaning services. The taxpayer would hire its clients’ existing laundry department workforces as employees, who would then…
Eversheds Sutherland SALT Shakes Things Up in the Big Easy!
Eversheds Sutherland was delighted to sponsor and lead the two days of TEI’s Audit and Appeals seminar focused on State and Local Tax Controversy (May 2 – 3, 2018). Over the past two days, the conference featured unique and practical content including:
Industry Perspective on SALT Tax Controversy
Moderated by Jeff Friedman, this discussion demonstrated…
New California Tax Agencies’ Roles Clarified
On September 16, 2017, California Governor Jerry Brown signed Assembly Bill 131, a budget trailer bill clarifying a number of provisions related to the roles of California’s two new tax agencies, the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration (CDTFA) and the Office of Tax Appeals (OTA), which were created to perform many of the…
New York State Division of Tax Appeals Addresses Unauthorized Insurance Company Taxation
A New York State Division of Tax Appeals administrative law judge issued three determinations addressing the tax implications for unauthorized insurance companies, both life and non-life. Significant uncertainty has surrounded New York State’s taxation of unauthorized insurance companies since New York State amended its insurance tax provisions in 2003. The Department of Taxation and Finance …
Pump the Brakes: West Virginia OTA Finds Nexus Exists for Garage Equipment Seller
By Ted Friedman and Carley Roberts
The West Virginia Office of Tax Appeals (OTA) ruled that an out-of-state corporation, with no physical location or employees in West Virginia, owed sales and use tax on sales of garage equipment in the state. The OTA determined that the corporation had nexus with West Virginia based on its…
Victory for Transformers and Taxpayers: ALJ Holds “Step-up Transformers” Qualify for NY Sales Tax Production Exemption
By Hanish Patel and Open Weaver Banks
A New York Division of Tax Appeals Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) held that an electricity producer’s purchases, installations and repairs of “step-up transformers” were not subject to sales and use tax because the transformers were “used directly” in the production of electricity. Step-up transformers are used to “step…
West Virginia Office of Tax Appeals Rules That the Presence of Independent Contractors Establishes Sales Tax Nexus
By Jessica Eisenmenger and Amy Nogid
The West Virginia Office of Tax Appeals (OTA) upheld a sales tax assessment against an out-of-state company that provided taxable outside maintenance services such as snow removal and window cleaning in the state via independent contractors. The Administrative Law Judge reasoned that since “nothing happens” unless the independent contractors…