The Washington Court of Appeals upheld the constitutionality of a county document recording surcharge that financed affordable housing, eviction prevention, and housing stability services. A trade association of homebuilders challenged the surcharge as a property tax that violates the uniformity requirement of the Washington Constitution. The court held that the surcharge was a tax because
constitution
Ohio Court of Appeals upholds taxation of employee working from home
On February 7, 2022, the Ohio Court of Appeals upheld the constitutionality of a statute providing that, during the duration of a stay-at-home order issued by the Governor related to the COVID-19 pandemic, and for thirty days after its end, any day on which an employee works from home because of the order shall be…
Phoenix Travelers Aren’t Getting a Free Ride
Arizona’s Supreme Court unanimously held that the city of Phoenix’s fee increase on ride-sharing trips at airports are not “transaction-based” fees and therefore constitutional. In 2016, Phoenix’s City Council had amended its City Code to require commercial ground transportation providers to pay a “trip fee” each time drivers picked up passengers from the Phoenix Sky…
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…
Louisiana Residents Entitled to Claim Credit for Texas Franchise Tax Paid by Pass-Through Entities
The Louisiana Supreme Court ruled that residents who owned an S corporation and limited liability company were entitled to a credit against their Louisiana income tax liability for Texas franchise tax paid by the pass-through entities. In so holding, the Louisiana Supreme Court found that La. R.S. 47:33, which limits the credit for taxes paid…
New Jersey Partnership Filing Fee Is Not an Unconstitutional Flat Tax
The New Jersey Tax Court rejected the taxpayer’s argument that the partnership filing fee, which requires a partnership with New Jersey source income to pay a per-partner fee of $150 (capped at $250,000), violated the Commerce Clause. The Tax Court held that the filing fee is not facially discriminatory because all partnerships must pay the…