The Ohio Supreme Court recently heard oral arguments in three cases that could test the constitutionality of the Ohio commercial activity tax (CAT). These cases turn on whether the CAT’s “bright-line” nexus standard violates the dormant Commerce Clause of the United States Constitution. The Ohio Department of Taxation argues, among other things, that the taxpayers&rsquo
Alabama Tax Tribunal Determines Out-of-State Bookseller Has Nexus, Joins “Club”
By Zack Atkins and Eric Coffill
The Alabama Tax Tribunal concluded that an out-of-state retailer was required to collect and remit use tax on the sales of books and educational materials to in-state teachers and students, and that neither the Due Process Clause nor the Commerce Clause impeded the Alabama Department of Revenue’s authority to…
The Home Stretch: Virginia Tax Commissioner Rules that Single Employee Working From Home Creates Nexus
By Mike Kerman and Open Weaver Banks
The Virginia Tax Commissioner ruled that an out-of-state corporation had nexus with Virginia because an employee performed accounting, human resources, payroll and customer support functions from a home office in Virginia. The Commissioner explained that out-of-state corporations are subject to Virginia corporate income tax if they have sufficient…
Quill Part Deux: North Dakota Lost the Nexus Battle. Will South Dakota Win the War?
On March 22nd, South Dakota Governor Daugaard signed into law Senate Bill 106, the passage of which may be the ultimate vehicle to challenge Quill at the U.S. Supreme Court. With landslide support in the South Dakota Senate and House of Representatives, S.B. 106 adopts an economic nexus standard for sales tax remittance and allows…
Plaintiff Sent Packing: Fourth Circuit Affirms Dismissal for Lack of Personal Jurisdiction
By Chris Mehrmann and Amy Nogid
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit affirmed the Maryland district court’s determination that it lacked specific personal jurisdiction over a Brazilian poultry exporter, BRF S.A. (BRF), under the Due Process Clause of the U.S. Constitution. Perdue Foods LLC (Perdue), which sold poultry using the “PERDUE” mark…
New York State Division of Tax Appeals Addresses Unauthorized Insurance Company Taxation
A New York State Division of Tax Appeals administrative law judge issued three determinations addressing the tax implications for unauthorized insurance companies, both life and non-life. Significant uncertainty has surrounded New York State’s taxation of unauthorized insurance companies since New York State amended its insurance tax provisions in 2003. The Department of Taxation and Finance …
Pump the Brakes: West Virginia OTA Finds Nexus Exists for Garage Equipment Seller
By Ted Friedman and Carley Roberts
The West Virginia Office of Tax Appeals (OTA) ruled that an out-of-state corporation, with no physical location or employees in West Virginia, owed sales and use tax on sales of garage equipment in the state. The OTA determined that the corporation had nexus with West Virginia based on its…
West Virginia Office of Tax Appeals Rules That the Presence of Independent Contractors Establishes Sales Tax Nexus
By Jessica Eisenmenger and Amy Nogid
The West Virginia Office of Tax Appeals (OTA) upheld a sales tax assessment against an out-of-state company that provided taxable outside maintenance services such as snow removal and window cleaning in the state via independent contractors. The Administrative Law Judge reasoned that since “nothing happens” unless the independent contractors…
What’s Good for Today’s Goose Is Not So Good for Yesterday’s Gander: California Board of Equalization Rejects Taxpayer’s Retroactive Economic Nexus Argument
By Evan Hamme and Timothy Gustafson
The California State Board of Equalization (Board) unanimously rejected Craigslist, Inc.’s (Craigslist) argument that California’s adoption of a factor-presence nexus regime in 2009 reflected pre-existing federal constitutional nexus standards pursuant to which Craigslist would be “subject to tax” in jurisdictions where it did not have a physical presence, and…
Bueller? Bueller? MTC Still Calling on States to Join ALAS Program
The Multistate Tax Commission advanced several items of interest during its annual fall meetings held in Charleston, South Carolina, this week, including the creation of a new committee to continue gathering support for its transfer pricing program.
View the full Legal Alert.



