income tax
Lack of Economic Substance Leaves a Bad Taste: Maryland Tax Court Upholds Assessment against Out-of-State Holding Company Based on Parent’s Nexus
By Evan Hamme and Timothy Gustafson
The Maryland Tax Court held that the Comptroller can subject an out-of-state subsidiary holding company to tax because the subsidiary did not have real economic substance separate from its parent, which conducted business in the state. The Comptroller assessed ConAgra Brands, Inc. (Brands) for the 1996-2003 tax years, arguing…
Louisiana Court Rejects Imposition Of Franchise Tax Based On Ownership Of Partnership Interest
The Louisiana Court of Appeal reversed and remanded Bridges v. Polychim USA, Inc., No. 581,759, a case in which the trial court held that an out-of-state corporation was subject to the franchise tax by virtue of its indirect ownership interest in a general partnership doing business in Louisiana. Bridges v. Polychim USA, Inc.…
Phone (Your Out-of-State) Home: Mississippi Court Declares Discriminatory Dividend Exclusion Statute is Unconstitutional
By Charles Capouet and Timothy Gustafson
The Mississippi Chancery Court held that the state’s dividend exclusion statute is unconstitutional because it violates the Commerce Clause of the U.S. Constitution. The statute excludes from a taxpayer’s gross income intercompany dividends received from domestic affiliates doing business and filing income tax returns in Mississippi. In so doing,…
New York Budget Incorporates More Significant Tax Changes
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo introduced his 2015-2016 budget and accompanying legislation on January 19, 2015. After much negotiation, the Legislature just enacted the Budget Bill. As a result, New York’s tax law has been significantly altered for the second time in two years.
View the full Legal Alert.
Indiana Sees Distortion, Attacks Intellectual Property Arrangement
By Zachary Atkins and Andrew Appleby
The Indiana Department of State Revenue upheld an audit determination that an intellectual property arrangement between a parent company and its wholly owned subsidiary distorted the parent company’s income. The parent company, a separate-return filer for Indiana, adjusted gross income for tax purposes, and transferred to the subsidiary, in…
South Carolina Court Changes the Channel on Cost of Performance Sourcing
By Charles Capouet and Timothy Gustafson
The South Carolina Administrative Law Court found that South Carolina does not source sales of services with a strict cost of performance method. The taxpayer, a broadcasting corporation, provides access to digital television entertainment via satellite dishes across the United States, including South Carolina. On audit, the South Carolina…
Virginia Supreme Court Holds That State Tax Commissioner’s Interpretation Prevails Over County Commissioner’s Interpretation in BPOL Case
By Charles Capouet and Andrew Appleby
The Virginia Supreme Court held that the Arlington County Commissioner must defer to the Virginia Tax Commissioner regarding the methodology for calculating a local Business, Professional, and Occupational Licenses tax (“BPOL”) deduction. Arlington County levies a BPOL tax based on the gross receipts attributed to activities conducted at an…
In a New York Minute: Six New York Tax Reform Decisions to Make in 2015
New York’s corporate tax reform includes sweeping changes affecting nearly every aspect of its corporation franchise tax.
In their article for State Tax Notes, Sutherland Partners Leah Robinson and Marc A. Simonetti review what New York corporate taxpayers should be doing now to be ready for the state’s corporate tax reform measures that will…
New York State ALJ Determines Travel Reservation Facilitation Receipts and Online Advertising Receipts Constitute Service Receipts That Must Be Sourced Where Performed For Income Tax Purposes
There has been significant controversy in New York regarding whether receipts from services—particularly those that may be delivered via the Internet—constitute “service” receipts or “other business receipts” for corporate franchise tax apportionment purposes. The distinction between “service” receipts and “other business receipts” is crucial because prior to 2015, New York Tax Law generally required sourcing…



