On August 31, 2022, the California Office of Tax Appeals (“OTA”), in the Matter of the Appeal of B. Housman and B. Pena, held that an Australian software company holder, Housman, and his wife are California residents and Housman is entitled to a stepped-up basis as a result of a valid check-the-box election to be
Sales and Use Tax
Utah State Tax Commission to clarify rule on taxation of custom software
On October 15, 2022, the Utah State Tax Commission published a proposed amendment to its rule governing the taxation of custom software for sales and use tax purposes, clarifying that the sale, rental or lease of custom computer software constitutes a sale of personal services that is not subject to tax, regardless of the form…
Iowa proposes updates to sales tax regulations related to digital-based services
The Iowa Department of Revenue proposed amendments to its sales and use tax regulations regarding digital-based services implementing 2018 legislation imposing sales tax on a variety of new, digital-based services. The Department essentially adopted its prior non-binding guidance regarding which services are taxable, including storage of tangible or electronic files, information services, video game services…
New York State Division of Tax Appeals rules company’s services are nontaxable information services
On September 29, 2022, the New York State Division of Tax Appeals determined that services involving the creation of customer engagement reports based on email tracking and email template usage data are nontaxable information services—particularly when use of software is only incidental to the performance of such services. The taxpayer sold “customer engagement services” to…
Mississippi Committee recommends sales and use tax exclusion for software and related services used as a business input
The Taxation of Remote and Internet-Based Computer Software Products and Services Study Committee (the “Committee”) was empaneled by the Mississippi Legislature to examine and develop recommendations regarding the taxation of remote and internet-based computer software products and services following the Mississippi Department of Revenue’s (“DOR”) proposal in September 2021 to update its regulations. The proposed…
Washington provides sales tax exemption for urban data centers
The Washington Department of Revenue released a notice providing that effective June 9, 2022, qualifying businesses and tenants may apply for a sales and use tax exemption for purchases of server equipment and infrastructure for computer data centers located in urban areas pursuant to 2022 House Bill 1846. Eligible urban areas are those counties…
Booked! Montana Supreme Court finds resort services fee decision is here to stay
The Supreme Court of Montana affirmed a lower court’s determination that a taxpayer was liable for accommodations sales tax on its resort service fees, but did not owe accommodations sales tax for forfeited guest deposits or lodging facilities use tax on its resort service fees. The taxpayer, Boyne USA, Inc. owns and operates Big Sky…
No Maryland sales and use tax exemption for for-profit company’s purchases made for non-profit hospitals
The Maryland Court of Appeals held that a for-profit company’s purchases for non-profit hospitals were subject to Maryland’s sales and use tax because there was no agency relationship between the company and the hospitals, and even if an agency relationship existed, that alone would not entitle the for-profit company to an exemption.
Johns Hopkins Health…
Missouri Senate votes to bring digital product tax referendum to voters
Missouri Senate Joint Resolution 33 provides that voters will decide whether to amend the state constitution to tax digital products. Missouri’s constitution prohibits expanding the sales and use tax to any services that were not taxable as of January 1, 2015. Joint Resolution 33 proposes to allow taxation of “subscriptions, licenses for digital products, and…
Nevada Tax Commission issues draft regulation for marketplace sellers and facilitators
The Nevada Tax Commission proposed draft regulations implementing sales and use tax collection requirements for marketplace sellers and facilitators without a physical presence in Nevada. In determining whether marketplace sellers or marketplace facilitators meet the Nevada threshold of $100,000 in gross receipts from Nevada retail sales or 200 separate retail sales not for resale through…



