The Sutherland SALT Team will release commentary on the revamped New York State corporate tax system that was reformed as part of the recently enacted Budget Legislation (“Budget”). By way of background, Governor Andrew Cuomo signed into law the tax provisions of the Budget on March 31. The changes will affect nearly every New York
apportionment
South Carolina Seeks to Clarify Use of Alternative Apportionment and Combined Reporting
By Zachary Atkins and Prentiss Willson
The South Carolina Department of Revenue issued a draft revenue ruling that purports to clarify the use of alternative apportionment and combined reporting for corporate income tax purposes. Citing Carmax Auto Superstores West Coast, Inc. v. South Carolina Dep’t of Revenue, 397 S.C. 604, 725 S.E.2d 711 (Ct.…
MTC To Explore Apportionment Regulations for Cloud Services, Software and Electricity
By Todd Lard
While meeting in Denver this week, the MTC’s Income Tax Uniformity Subcommittee advanced two separate projects to develop industry-specific apportionment regulations. The first project will examine the sourcing of electricity. MTC staff presented research on how states source electricity for income tax purposes. The staff concluded that while 31 states treat electricity as…
In-and-Out in Oregon: Department Updates Rules on Apportionment and Adjustments
By Mary Alexander and Timothy Gustafson
In an administrative order, the Oregon Department of Revenue (1) repealed a rule related to Oregon’s Multistate Tax Compact (MTC) statute, (2) changed the method for utility and telecommunication providers to elect a double-weighted sales factor and (3) provided instructions on the time to adjust a return based on…
Casino’s Litigation Gamble Pays Off: Mississippi Supreme Court Allows Tax Credits to Offset Combined Group’s Liability
By Madison Barnett and Prenitss Willson
The Mississippi Supreme Court held that a casino operator was entitled to use tax credits—specifically, gambling license fee credits—earned by one combined group member to offset the entire combined group’s liability. Mississippi is generally a separate return state, but taxpayers may elect to file a post-apportionment, nexus-combined return. The…
Compact Texas Trial Court Decision Denies MTC Three-Factor Election
By Madison Barnett and Jonathan Feldman
A Texas trial court denied a taxpayer’s claim that it was entitled to use the Multistate Tax Compact’s three-factor formula election for the Texas Margin Tax. The court’s order did not specifically address either the availability of the election or whether the tax meets the MTC’s definition of an…
Oregon Supreme Court: “Intangible Assets” Means ALL Intangible Assets
By Zachary Atkins and Prentiss Willson
The Oregon Supreme Court held that the state’s sales factor exclusion for gross receipts from intangible assets not derived from a taxpayer’s primary business activity applies to all types of intangible assets. The taxpayer, Tektronix, sold its printer division to Xerox for approximately $925 million, of which almost $600…
Would a Rose Smell as Sweet by Any Other Name? Colorado Determines Digital Images Are Tangible Personal Property for Corporate Income Tax Purposes
By Kathryn Pittman and Andrew Appleby
The Colorado Department of Revenue determined that sales of digital images, whether delivered electronically or via tangible medium, are sales of tangible personal property for income tax apportionment purposes. The taxpayer was engaged in the business of providing digital images to commercial and government customers and provided such images…
Final Destination Part 2: Mississippi’s Highest Court Denies Rehearing in Equifax Case
By Maria Todorova and Timothy Gustafson
The Mississippi Supreme Court denied the taxpayer’s motion for rehearing in Equifax, Inc. v. Mississippi Dep’t of Revenue, a case on which we previously reported. The denial leaves undisturbed its June holding, reversing the Mississippi Court of Appeals’ decision, which held the taxpayer bears the burden of…
Can’t Touch This: Indiana Department of Revenue’s Application of Alternative Apportionment Disallowed
The Indiana Department of Revenue determined that a taxpayer and its two affiliated entities were not required to report their income using a “separate accounting” method because the Department’s audit staff failed to prove the standard apportionment formula did not fairly reflect the taxpayer’s business activities in Indiana. The taxpayer, a manufacturer…



