The Michigan Court of Appeals held that the Michigan Department of Treasury was permitted to engage in an indirect audit of a taxpayer because of its insufficient recordkeeping. The taxpayer operated oil change and automotive maintenance facilities in Michigan. It claimed sales tax exemptions for labor charges associated with its services. On audit, the Department
exemption
Alabama Tax Tribunal flushes wastewater sales tax exemption denial
The Alabama Tax Tribunal (Tribunal) determined that a wastewater treatment facility was entitled to a sales and use tax exemption for equipment purchased for use in its wastewater treatment business because the equipment was used primarily for exempt pollution control purposes.
The taxpayer, a privately owned entity that provided wastewater collection and treatment services, had…
Washington proposes limitation on MPU exemption for sales of software maintenance agreements
The Washington Department of Revenue issued proposed guidance limiting the application of the multiple points of use (MPU) sales tax exemption for bundled software maintenance agreements.
The MPU exemption provides a retail sales tax exemption for the purchase of digital goods, prewritten computer software, remotely accessed prewritten computer software, digital automated services, and digital codes…
Sour grapes: Washington Court of Appeals dismisses juice drink sales tax class action
The Washington Court of Appeals recently upheld the dismissal of a putative class action brought against four grocery store chains that collected sales tax on sales of 100 percent juice beverages. A taxpayer alleged that the grocers violated Washington’s Retail Sales Tax Act and Consumer Protection Act by wrongfully collecting sales tax on the exempt…
Louisiana BTA holds video programming services are not tangible personal property
The Louisiana Board of Tax Appeals granted summary judgment to the taxpayer, holding that its sale of video-on-demand and pay-per-view are not subject to sales tax. A group of local parishes assessed the taxpayer on the theory that video-on-demand and pay-per-view are tangible personal property because the content was “perceptible to the senses,” and the…
Storage wars: Virginia company entitled to data center sales tax exemption despite prior in-state storage
In a June 1, 2023 determination, the Virginia commissioner concluded that a Virginia data center operator was entitled to a sales and use tax refund on its equipment purchases, regardless of whether they were delivered to a storage facility prior to delivery to the data center.
Virginia allows a sales and use tax exemption for…
Washington Court of Appeals holds pharmacy benefit provider meets B&O Tax insurance business exemption
On February 27, 2023, the Washington Court of Appeals held that a provider of pharmacy services and pharmacy benefits services (PBM) to its affiliate’s enrollees met the insurance business exemption to the Business and Occupation Tax because its activities were at least functionally related to insurance business. The taxpayer fulfilled the PBM services required by…
Virginia Circuit Court determines sales of software and equipment exempt from sales tax
In an opinion published on September 9, 2022, the Circuit Court of the City of Richmond held that a telecommunications equipment company was entitled to a sales tax refund on its sales of software, equipment, and related services sold to a telecommunications company.
Under Virginia law, software delivered electronically via the Internet is exempt from…
Washington provides sales tax exemption for urban data centers
The Washington Department of Revenue released a notice providing that effective June 9, 2022, qualifying businesses and tenants may apply for a sales and use tax exemption for purchases of server equipment and infrastructure for computer data centers located in urban areas pursuant to 2022 House Bill 1846. Eligible urban areas are those counties…
Virginia sales tax exemption expanded to include Internet network equipment
Virginia’s Governor signed H.B. 1155, which expands the sales tax exemption for amplification, transmission and distribution equipment to now include “network equipment” that is used to provide Internet service. The expanded exemption defines a “network” to include modems, fiber optic cables, coaxial cables, radio equipment, routing equipment, switching equipment, a cable modem termination system,…



