On January 29, 2025, the Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania held that a telecommunications company’s “non-voice” private line services were subject to the state’s gross receipts tax (GRT). The taxpayer described its services as offering “a dedicated, uninterrupted communications channel” by which their customers could “securely … and continuously transport voice, video and/or data as packets
Minnesota Supreme Court prescribes a win: Wholesale drug distributor able to exclude rebates from gross revenues
The taxpayer, a wholesale drug distributor, was subject to the Wholesale Drug Distributor Tax which is imposed on the taxpayer’s gross revenues from selling prescription drugs. The taxpayer offered rebate programs which provided a discount on future invoices based on a customer’s purchases from the prior month/quarter. The taxpayer did not previously include the rebate
Sifting through the complexities of San Francisco’s tax system
In the newest episode of the SALT Shaker Podcast, Eversheds Sutherland Counsel Jeremy Gove takes a close look at San Francisco’s tax system with the help of Eversheds Sutherland Counsel John Ormonde and Bart Baer, Chief Tax Counsel for The California Taxpayers Association.
Jeremy, John and Bart review San Francisco from a tax perspective, specifically
Legal Alert: Reforming San Francisco’s gross receipts tax
On February 5, 2024, the Offices of the Controller and Treasurer & Tax Collector for the City and County of San Francisco published a report outlining tax reform recommendations in time to inform a potential ballot measure for the upcoming November 2024 election. The report recommends significant changes to San Francisco’s gross receipts tax.
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How gross! San Francisco’s troubled tax system
There has been an alarming expansion of local taxes. In some localities, this includes new local taxes imposed on businesses. In other localities, this includes aggressive interpretations of existing local ordinances by local tax agencies.
In this installment of A Pinch of SALT in Tax Notes State, Eversheds Sutherland attorneys Michele Borens, John Ormonde
New Mexico updates guidance regarding marketplace sales
The New Mexico Taxation and Revenue Department recently updated FYI-206, which describes the gross receipts tax collection responsibilities for online marketplace providers and sellers. The updated guidance reflects the new reduced gross receipts tax rate used for out-of-state taxpayers, 4.875%. Additionally, the updated guidance provides that marketplace providers may use Form TRD-31117, Marketplace Provider
Virginia Tax Commissioner rules that remote worker payroll not included in BPOL payroll apportionment numerator
Following a taxpayer’s appeal of a local Virginia county (County) Business, Professional and Occupational License (BPOL) tax assessment, the Virginia Tax Commissioner held that the taxpayer’s remote employees’ payroll was properly excluded from the numerator of the payroll apportionment calculation. The taxpayer was headquartered out of state and maintained offices worldwide, including an office in
California issues guidance on sourcing service receipts while regulation amendments pending and revokes two Chief Counsel Rulings
On March 25, 2022, the California Franchise Tax Board (FTB) issued Legal Ruling 2022-01, on the subject “Numerator Assignment of Gross Receipts from Sales of Services to Business Entities.” The ruling sets forth the FTB’s position regarding the “relevant considerations and proper analysis” for sourcing sales of services under California’s current market-based sourcing rules.
South Dakota bill proposes to exempt data center IT equipment
South Dakota Senate Bill 157 proposes an exemption from gross receipts tax for sales of “enterprise information technology equipment” and software in excess of $2 million used in South Dakota data centers. Enterprise information technology equipment eligible for the exemption includes: (i) computer hardware, servers, routers, cooling systems and towers; (ii) temperature control and power
Virginia Department of Taxation approves BPOL tax payroll apportionment
On August 24, 2021 (released November 2021), the Virginia Department of Taxation (the Department) concluded that a provider of professional and information technology services was entitled to payroll apportionment of gross receipts for a local Business, Professional and Occupational License Tax (BPOL Tax) refund claim. Virginia localities may impose a BPOL Tax on the gross