In a recent unpublished decision, Residuary Trust A v. Director, Division of Taxation (Kassner), the New Jersey Appellate Division relied on the “square corners doctrine” to hold that the New Jersey Division of Taxation was prohibited from imposing tax for the 2006 tax year based on a policy change not announced until 2011. In
No Alternative to Nexus: Parent’s Royalty Addback Does Not Eliminate Licensing Subsidiary’s New Jersey Filing Obligation
By Nicole Boutros and Amy Nogid
The New Jersey Tax Court ruled that the Division of Taxation (“Division”) properly required a foreign (non-New Jersey domesticated) corporation to file corporation business tax (“CBT”) returns reporting licensing revenue from its parent attributable to New Jersey, based on New Jersey’s economic presence nexus standard, despite the parent’s royalty…
Multistate Tax Commission Committees Discuss Apportionment Details and an Information-Sharing Program
Yesterday, the Multistate Tax Commission held meetings of its Litigation, Uniformity, and Strategic Planning Steering Committees. The meetings were generally dominated by discussions of evolving apportionment issues, including litigation and significant edits to existing regulations. The Uniformity Committee also advanced its new model “engaged in business” statute.
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Multistate Tax Commission Commences Annual Conference, Expands Audit Program
Yesterday, the Multistate Tax Commission kicked off its annual conference and committee meetings with meetings of the Audit and Nexus Committees. The MTC’s Audit program continues to grow by adding Iowa, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Delaware to the program during the last fiscal year. The MTC Nexus Committee is responsible for administering the National Nexus…
Hog Wild: In Harley-Davidson, California Court of Appeal Finds Discrimination, Affirms Nexus
By Michael Penza and Andrew Appleby
The California Court of Appeal held that California’s disparate treatment of intrastate and interstate unitary businesses discriminated against interstate commerce. California requires taxpayers engaged in a unitary business within and without California to calculate their taxable income using combined reporting, but provides taxpayers engaged in a unitary business wholly…
Tyler Pipe II? Washington Court of Appeals Rejects Transactional Nexus Argument, Upholds B&O Tax on Drop Shipments
By Evan M. Hamme and Madison J. Barnett
The Washington Court of Appeals upheld a broad application of the Washington Business and Occupation (B&O) tax to sales between an out-of-state seller and out-of-state purchasers when the products are delivered in Washington. Although the taxpayer maintained a research and product development facility in Washington, none of…
Better Out than In: Texas Court Upholds Property Tax Assessment on Stored Natural Gas
By Olga Jane Goldberg and Open Weaver Banks
A Texas court ruled that natural gas stored in an underground reservoir is subject to property tax, whether or not the gas is in interstate commerce. Without actually deciding whether the natural gas was in interstate commerce, the Houston Court of Appeals (1st District) held that tax…
Hubba, Hubba, Hubba! Money, Money, Money! Who Do You Trust? California and North Carolina Differ on the Constitutionality of Taxing Undistributed Foreign Trust Income
By Michael Penza and Timothy Gustafson
The California Franchise Tax Board (FTB) issued an information letter explaining that a trust is taxable in California if any of the following three conditions are met: (1) the trust has income from California sources; (2) a trustee is a resident of California; or (3) a non-contingent beneficiary is…
Join Sutherland and TEI for a full day SALT controversy workshop at the 2015 Audits and Appeals Seminar in San Francisco (May 19-21, 2015)
Sutherland and the Tax Executives Institute (TEI) are pleased to present this first ever full-day program dedicated to the “Theory, Strategy and Practice of State Tax Controversy” in San Francisco, California on May 21. Topics covered will include:
Continue Reading Join Sutherland and TEI for a full day SALT controversy workshop at the 2015 Audits and Appeals Seminar in San Francisco (May 19-21, 2015)
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…



