The Washington Board of Tax Appeals upheld the Department’s determination that certain fees and credits related to mortgage sales to government-sponsored enterprises are included in the lender’s gross income for B&O tax purposes. Specifically, the Board concluded that guaranty fees and loan-level price adjustment fees are part of the lender’s cost of doing business and
deduction
Missouri AHC determines REIT dividends are deductible
The Missouri Administrative Hearing Commission held that real-estate investment trust (REIT) dividends from sources within Missouri are deductible from Missouri income.
The decision involved a REIT that generates income from mortgages secured by real property. The REIT made distributions of profits derived from sources within Missouri to its controlling interest holder. The controlling interest holder…
California Office of Tax Appeals finally drops the beet, holds that activities related to deductible income included in apportionment factor
In the pending-precedential decision Appeal of Southern Minnesota Beet Sugar Co-op., the California Office of Tax Appeals (OTA) ruled that payroll, property and sales that generated deductible agricultural cooperative income under Cal. Rev. & Tax. Code Section 24404 must be included in the taxpayer’s corresponding payroll, property and sales factors.
The California Franchise Tax…
Wisconsin Tax Appeals Commission finds Skechers’ intercompany transactions lacked a valid business purpose and economic substance
On February 24, 2023, the Wisconsin Tax Appeals Commission upheld the Department’s assessment that Skechers’ licensing transaction with its wholly owned subsidiary, Skechers USA Inc. II (SKII), lacked a valid business purpose and economic substance. On the formation of SKII, Skechers entered into a license agreement with its subsidiary that generated significant royalty deductions, which…
Washington finds B&O tax applies to transfer pricing payments
The Washington Administrative Review and Hearings Division (the Division) of the Department of Revenue held that payments between affiliated entities could not be deducted from “gross income” subject to the business and occupation tax (B&O Tax). Each of the taxpayers, three affiliated entities falling under the same parent company umbrella with each providing investment management…
Practice What You Preach: Court Finds Wisconsin DOR’s Denial of Dividends-Received Deduction Contrary to Guidance
The Wisconsin Court of Appeals held that guidance issued by the Department of Revenue required the Department to allow a dividends-received deduction for cash distributions received by a taxpayer from a foreign partnership that was classified as a corporation for federal purposes. The taxpayer based its claim to the deduction on published guidance in effect…
Intangible Impact: New Mexico Court of Appeals Excludes Power Purchase Agreement from Valuation of Electric Plant
On January 6, 2021, the Court of Appeals of New Mexico held that a power purchase agreement (PPA), entered into by a wholesale electricity generator to secure compensation in exchange for providing electricity, constituted intangible property that is not subject to property taxation and cannot be included in the value of the wholesaler’s electric plant…
Massachusetts Appeals Court Finds Indiana Utility Receipts Tax Deductible for Purposes of Massachusetts Corporate Excise Tax
On October 7, 2020, the Massachusetts Appeals Court held that a taxpayer’s deduction for payment of the Indiana utility receipts tax (“URT”) was permitted for Massachusetts corporate income tax purposes. The taxpayer who was engaged in natural gas distribution operations in Massachusetts and other states, claimed a deduction for the URT it paid to Indiana…
Don’t Be Shocked: California Cities Allege that PG&E Willfully Miscalculated Electricity Tax
Several California localities filed a complaint alleging that PG&E willfully miscalculated the electricity user’s tax (“Electricity Tax”) causing harm to the cities, their employees and public services. California cities and counties impose Electricity Tax on a percentage of charges for electricity used within the city. For example, the City of Sacramento imposes an Electricity Tax…
Lost in customs: New York Tax Appeals Tribunal disallows deduction for royalties paid by foreign nontaxpayer affiliates
On Aug. 6, the New York Tax Appeals Tribunal held that royalties received from a foreign affiliate are taxable and are not subject to New York’s royalty income exclusion provision under former Tax Law § 208(9)(o)(3).
Prior to its amendment, Tax Law § 208(9)(o)(3) provided for a deduction for royalties received from a related member…



