On June 24, 2021, the United States Supreme Court held a conference to review New Hampshire’s motion for leave that challenged Massachusetts’ taxation of wages earned by nonresident remote workers during the Covid-19 period. This morning, the Supreme Court denied New Hampshire’s motion. Because the Supreme Court declined to address the issues raised by New
Massachusetts
U.S. Solicitor General Opposes SCOTUS Review in New Hampshire v. Massachusetts
The U.S. Solicitor General has filed its amicus brief in New Hampshire v. Massachusetts (here). The Solicitor General argues that the United States Supreme Court should not exercise its original jurisdiction and it should deny New Hampshire’s facial constitutional challenge of Massachusetts’ taxation of New Hampshire residents.
For background, on October 19, 2020…
Massachusetts issues guidance on taxation of internet access
On April 26, 2021, the Massachusetts Department of Revenue issued Technical Information Release 21-5. This TIR was issued in response to New Cingular Wireless PCS LLC v. Commissioner of Revenue, 98 Mass. App. Ct. 356 (2020), where the court held that the Internet Tax Freedom Act (ITFA) preempts the imposition of sales and…
California and Massachusetts Issue Employment Tax Guidance on Remote Work during COVID-19
In a prior SALT@Work column for the Journal of Multistate Taxation and Incentives, Eversheds Sutherland attorneys Charlie Kearns and Alexandra Louderback discussed the localization of work rules that determine where an employer will be subject to state unemployment insurance (UI) registration, reporting and taxes when an employee works in multiple states.
Shortly after that…
Massachusetts Legislature introduces digital advertising tax bills
The Massachusetts Legislature has recently introduced a variety of bills that would tax digital advertising. Notably, HD.3210 would establish the Digital Advertising Local Revenues Tax, which would be imposed on the annual gross revenues of a person derived from digital advertising services in Massachusetts. “Digital advertising services” is defined as including “advertisement services on…
That’s the Way the “Cookie” Crumbles: Massachusetts ATB Abates Sales Tax Assessment Based on “Cookie Nexus” Determination
The Massachusetts Appellate Tax Board (ATB) granted summary judgement for taxpayer U.S. Auto Parts Network, Inc. (U.S. Auto Parts), abating the Department of Revenue’s sales and use tax assessment based on a finding that the online auto parts seller had acquired “cookie nexus” with the state. The Department’s economic nexus regulation, the “Internet Vendor Rule,”…
Massachusetts Appellate Tax Board Rules Non-Massachusetts S Corporation’s Subsidiary Sale Subject to Massachusetts Tax
On October 23, 2020, the Massachusetts Appellate Tax Board ruled that capital gain from a Florida S corporation’s sale of a subsidiary Massachusetts LLC was subject to Massachusetts corporate excise tax and nonresident composite tax. The taxpayer contended that the U.S. Constitution’s Due Process and Commerce Clauses forbade Massachusetts from taxing the income because the…
Massachusetts Appeals Court Finds Indiana Utility Receipts Tax Deductible for Purposes of Massachusetts Corporate Excise Tax
On October 7, 2020, the Massachusetts Appeals Court held that a taxpayer’s deduction for payment of the Indiana utility receipts tax (“URT”) was permitted for Massachusetts corporate income tax purposes. The taxpayer who was engaged in natural gas distribution operations in Massachusetts and other states, claimed a deduction for the URT it paid to Indiana…
Massachusetts Appeals Court issues opinion favorably interpreting Internet Tax Freedom Act’s screening software requirement
On September 4, 2020, in New Cingular Wireless PCS LLC v. Commissioner of Revenue, No. 18-P-1317, the Massachusetts Appeals Court held that the Internet Tax Freedom Act (ITFA) preempted Massachusetts’ sales tax on New Cingular Wireless’ (NCW) Internet access charges. The court concluded that NCW satisfied ITFA’s requirement that it offer screening software…
Podcast: Massachusetts retroactively denies income tax credits
This podcast discusses recent notices and assessments issued by the Massachusetts Department of Revenue denying taxpayers’ Economic Opportunity Area Credit and Economic Development Incentive Program Credit use and carryforward. It discusses:
- the 2016 statute amendment that imposed additional credit requirements and led to this issue
- the Department’s position on why it can deny new credit
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