The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeal affirmed the trial court’s ruling that online travel companies (OTCs) did not owe local sales and occupancy taxes on the fees charged by the OTCs to their customers for facilitating the customers’ online reservations with hotels located in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana nor were responsible for remitting the taxes collected
Digital Economy
New York Division of Tax Appeals determines online loan marketplace not a taxable information service
The New York Division of Tax Appeals determined that an online loan marketplace was not a taxable information service. The taxpayer operates an online loan marketplace where it connects and matches prospective borrowers seeking loans (and other credit-based products) with lenders that are seeking qualified borrowers. The taxpayer generated revenue through agreements with each lender…
Minnesota updates guidance for calculating sales tax on certain online discounts
The Minnesota Department of Revenue updated its fact sheet relating to calculating sales tax for certain discounts, including online deals and cryptocurrency. Specifically, for “Daily Deal Website Vouchers and Coupons,” the fact sheet states that the purchase of the discount voucher is not taxable, but once redeemed, the retailer should charge tax on the amount…
Wisconsin Department of Revenue updates digital goods publication
In November 2021, the Wisconsin Department of Revenue published its updated Publication 240 regarding the taxability of digital goods. Among other updates, the publication clarifies that taxable “other news or information products” are those products that “disseminate news or information,” for example charges for access to online databases or websites where the payer may perform…
We got nothing: Maryland Comptroller finalizes digital advertising tax regs
In the December 3, 2021 issue of the Maryland Register, the Comptroller confirmed that it adopted regulations to the Digital Advertising Gross Revenues Tax on November 24, 2021. Despite robust comments provided to the proposed regulations (including those provided by Eversheds Sutherland), the Comptroller made almost no changes in the final version. The Comptroller’s…
Kentucky letter ruling says SaaS not subject to sales tax
In a recently published private letter ruling, the Kentucky Department of Revenue concluded that a taxpayer’s service via a Software as a Service (SaaS) model was not a transfer or sale of tangible personal property, and therefore not a taxable transaction. The taxpayer in the ruling charged for access and use of its web-based…
Ohio Department of Taxation clarifies that economic nexus threshold includes only taxable receipts
The Ohio Department of Taxation recently issued an FAQ addressing the gross receipts calculation regarding remote sellers’ registration and tax remittance requirements. Following South Dakota v. Wayfair, Ohio required remote sellers to register with the Department and begin collecting sales tax if the seller had greater than $100,000 in gross receipts or at least…
Kansas provides guidance regarding remote seller nexus
Kansas’s remote seller law became effective July 1, 2021, one of the last states to adopt sales tax nexus requirements for remote sellers. As part of implementing the new law, the Department of Revenue recently issued guidance to remote sellers providing that while a remote seller is not required to collect tax on its first…
Illinois rules bundled hardware and software subscription is subject to Service Occupation Tax
In a private letter ruling, the Illinois Department of Revenue ruled that an out-of-state taxpayer that provided software subscriptions and related hardware for one bundled price was subject to the Service Occupation Tax, not the Retailers’ Occupation Tax, Use Tax, or Service Use Tax. The customer owns the hardware, but the taxpayer retains ownership…
Iowa explains web hosting services are not subject to sales tax
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