On October 2, 2020, the Indiana Department of Revenue issued Revenue Ruling #2019-09ST concerning the sale of digital course materials to Indiana colleges and universities, which were made available to students on the schools’ online learning management systems. The Department determined that these sales were exempt from sales tax because: (i) the course materials were
Department of Revenue
Nebraska Introduces IRC 965/GILTI “Fix” Bill
Since December of 2018, taxpayers have been battling with the Nebraska Department of Revenue over its interpretation of the state’s dividend received deduction (DRD) provisions. Although the statute provides a 100% DRD for dividends or dividends deemed to be received and the Department has long taken the position that Subpart F income qualifies for that…
Louisiana DOR Proposed Unique–and Troubling–Addback Regulation
The Louisiana Department of Revenue has proposed a new regulation expansively interpreting Louisiana’s recently enacted related party expense addback statute.
- Earlier this year, Louisiana enacted a new statute requiring taxpayers to add back interest expenses, intangible expenses and management fees paid to related members, subject to certain exceptions.
- The Proposed Regulation seeks to adopt
…
Electronically-Delivered Software Upgrades Not Taxable in Florida
By Jessica Eisenmenger and Amy Nogid
The Florida Department of Revenue determined that software upgrades that are delivered electronically are not subject to sales tax because the upgrade was a stand-alone version of the software and did not rely on the earlier, physically-delivered software to operate. The Department also determined that sales tax does not…
Georgia Still Showing No Interest: Georgia Department of Revenue Holds Hearing on Proposed Regulation Eliminating Refund Interest for Direct Pay Permit Holders
By Hanish Patel and Jonathan Feldman
The Georgia Department of Revenue held a public hearing on a proposed regulation amendment that would materially affect the use of direct pay permits in Georgia. The proposed regulation would cause all current permits to expire on December 31, 2016, and require all current holders to reapply and agree…
Arizona Un-Commonly Understands That Database Fees Are Sales of Tangible Personal Property
By Nicole Boutros and Jeff Friedman
The Director of the Arizona Department of Revenue affirmed an Administrative Law Judge determination that a taxpayer must pay the Transaction Privilege Tax on sales of access to the taxpayer’s subscription-based online research service. The Director reasoned that these sales were taxable as rentals of tangible personal property—and not…
Not So Sweet Home Alabama: Tax Injunction Act Bars Federal Court Challenge of Alabama State Income Tax
By Stephanie Do and Carley Roberts
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit affirmed dismissal of a taxpayer’s complaint, arising from the Alabama Department of Revenue’s assessment and collection of state income tax, for lack of subject matter jurisdiction under the Tax Injunction Act (TIA). The court held that the TIA prohibited…
Holding Company Gets Factored Out of Parent’s Colorado Combined Return on the Reg.
By Todd Betor and Eric Coffill
On January 20, a Denver trial court ruled that Agilent Technologies World Trade, Inc. (World Trade), a holding company with no property or payroll of its own, cannot be included in its parent’s combined corporate income tax return. The court found that World Trade did not meet the definition…
Technical Support: Tennessee Publishes Guidance on Sales Tax Treatment of Computer Software Maintenance Contracts
By Chris Mehrmann and Charlie Kearns
The Tennessee Department of Revenue has issued guidance explaining that the retail sale of, use of, or subscription to a computer software maintenance contract is subject to sales and use tax when: (1) the maintenance contract is sold as part of a taxable sale of computer software; (2) the…
No Review for You: Pennsylvania Court Confirms No Jurisdiction to Review Letter Rulings
By Elizabeth Cha and Amy Nogid
Pennsylvania’s Commonwealth Court agreed with the Department of Revenue (Department) that the Department’s letter rulings addressing the taxability of actual transactions were not subject to review by the Board of Finance and Revenue (Board). Members of BJ’s Wholesale Club, Inc. (Taxpayers) alleged that they were due a refund of…