In a recent private letter ruling, the South Carolina Department of Revenue concluded that a motor vehicle rental company is responsible for remitting sales tax on short-term vehicle rentals entered into through its online peer-to-peer rental program. Applying South Carolina’s statutory definition of “gross proceeds of sales,” which includes the proceeds of sales through a
Ecommerce
Tennessee DOR Subjects Cloud-Based Employee Scheduling Services to Sales and Use Tax
The Tennessee Department of Revenue issued a letter ruling finding that a taxpayer’s annual subscription charge for its cloud-based employee scheduling services is subject to Tennessee sales and use tax.
In Tennessee, the use of computer software is subject to tax, even if it remains in the possession of…
Marketplace Providers Are Statutorily Required to Collect Sales Tax in Minnesota and Washington
By Jeff Friedman and Stephanie Do
A new landmark sales tax statute has been adopted in Minnesota, which expands sales tax collection requirements to those retailers that sell their goods on certain “marketplaces.” Generally, only a retailer that is physically present in a state is required to collect and remit the state’s sales tax. The…
Taxpayer’s Data Center-Related Purchases Ruled Mostly Exempt in Utah
By Zack Atkins & Open Weaver Banks
The Utah State Tax Commission ruled that machinery and equipment purchased by the owner of a social networking community qualified for the state’s exemption for purchases and leases of certain property used in the operation of a web search portal. In connection with its proposed construction and operation…
Web-Based Communication Interface Subject to Tennessee Sales and Use Tax
By Jessica Allen and Jeff Friedman
The Tennessee Department of Revenue (Department) released a letter ruling stating that a taxpayer’s charges for use of its web-based interface are subject to sales and use tax as the sale of ancillary services. The taxpayer’s proprietary software allows users to communicate through text and other messages on a…
It’s Always Better When We’re Together: Colorado DOR Determines Payment of Sales Tax by Marketplace Provider Relieves the Jointly Responsible Retailers of Sales Tax Obligations
The Colorado Department of Revenue (Department) released a non-binding general information letter, concluding that a marketplace provider’s payment of sales tax on transactions involving “jointly responsible” third-party retailers discharges the obligations of the third-party retailers to collect and remit sales tax. By statute, the Department has discretionary authority to…
Alabama Regulation Requires Software Update: Tax Tribunal Holds Modified Software Is Nontaxable Custom Software
By Hanish Patel and Eric Coffill
The Alabama Tax Tribunal held that a taxpayer was entitled to a refund of sales taxes paid on purchases of software that was modified for its exclusive use because it constituted nontaxable custom software. Relying on its regulation, the Alabama Department of Revenue (DOR) denied the refund, stating the…
New York Calling: Phone Card Kiosk Sales Subject to Sales Tax, but Not Telecommunications Excise Tax
By Douglas Upton and Timothy Gustafson
The New York State Department of Taxation and Finance issued an Advisory Opinion concluding that a retail operator of kiosks selling various prepaid telecommunication plans and additional telecommunication rights for existing plans was subject to New York sales and use tax collection and remittance requirements, but was not subject…
Bills, Bills, Bills: Texas Court of Appeals Scrubs Bill Pay Service Provider Free of Sales Taxes
By Elizabeth Cha and Charlie Kearns
In Hegar v. CheckFree Serv. Corp., a Texas Court of Appeals affirmed the trial court’s decision and held that the taxpayer’s online bill pay service was not a taxable data processing service for Texas sales tax purposes. Based on the trial court’s uncontested factual findings, the taxpayer provided…
New York State Tax Appeals Tribunal Holds that Pricing Information Services Are Taxable
By Jessica Eisenmenger and Jeffrey Friedman
The New York State Tax Appeals Tribunal sustained a determination by a Department of Taxation and Finance Administrative Law Judge that receipts obtained from the sale of retail pricing information services are subject to sales tax. Under New York law, information services are taxable, but services that are personal…