The California Court of Appeal for the Fourth Appellate District upheld a trial court’s judgment that a plaintiff lacked standing to challenge the sales tax practices of a technology company because she did not establish the existence of an economic injury. The plaintiff purchased cellphones from the technology company at a discounted price as part
sales tax
Massachusetts ATB Allows Taxpayers to Claim Refunds Based on Apportionment of Sales Tax
The Massachusetts Appellate Tax Board determined that three licensors of software properly sought refunds (or “abatements”) to apportion sales tax based upon proof of their purchasers’ intent to use the software in multiple locations, including outside of Massachusetts. In doing so, the Board rejected the Commissioner of Revenue’s argument that the taxpayers could apportion sales…
Ohio BTA Rules Communications Cabling Installation Exempt from Sales Tax
On October 22, 2019, the Ohio Board of Tax Appeals (BTA) held that an insurance company was entitled to a refund of sales tax paid on its purchase of CAT-5 and CAT-6 communication cabling for internet and Voice over Internet Protocol (“VoIP”) installed in its headquarters office building. The company purchased the cabling as part…
Virginia Court Dismisses Massachusetts “Cookie Nexus” Challenge
A Virginia statute gives circuit courts original jurisdiction to hear declaratory judgment actions brought by businesses to challenge another state’s assertion of sales or use tax nexus. Va. Code Ann. § 8.01-184.1. In a case of first impression, on October 9, 2019, a Virginia circuit court granted the Massachusetts Department of Revenue’s motion to dismiss…
Virtual Pets and the Reality of Taxes – Texas Comptroller Affirms Sales Tax Assessment on Online Gaming Company
The Texas Comptroller adopted a proposed decision issued by an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) finding that a company owed sales tax on its sales of online gaming services to Texas residents. The company, who had at least one employee in Texas, developed and maintained online interactive social gaming experiences for its registered users, including those…
This Blows! Tennessee Court of Appeals Says Blow-In Cards, Other Printed Materials Did Not Qualify for Sales Tax Exemptions
The Tennessee Court of Appeals held that a commercial printing company’s sales of bank checks and other printed products were subject to Tennessee sales tax even though the products ultimately were sent to out-of-state destinations. Under the company’s standard sales contracts, title to the products it sold transferred in Tennessee when the company tendered its…
Why a taxpayer’s carbon reactivation process is ineligible for Texas’ manufacturing sales tax exemption
A taxpayer’s spent carbon reactivation process did not qualify as “manufacturing” for the purposes of Texas’ manufacturing sales tax exemption, according to recently released guidance from the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts. In a private letter ruling, the Comptroller holds that a taxpayer who operates a carbon reactivation plant is ineligible for the exemption because…
“Process” This: Maryland Court of Special Appeals Reverses Tax Court and Holds Utility Entitled to Sales Tax Exemption
The Maryland Court of Special Appeals held that the Maryland Tax Court erred as a matter of law in ruling that none of the equipment purchased by a public utility company and used in transmitting electricity from a third-party power plant to the utility’s customers in Maryland qualified for a sales tax exemption applicable to…
School During Summer: Florida District Court of Appeal holds Class of “Every Current and Future” Member cannot be Certified.
The Florida District Court of Appeal reversed the trial court’s certification of a class in a sales tax refund claim because the class was not “ascertainable.” Plaintiff filed suit against BJ’s Wholesale Club, Inc. (“BJ’s”) alleging that BJ’s thirty-one Florida stores improperly imposed sales tax on the full, undiscounted price of products purchased with a…
Michigan Court of Appeals Holds that Use Tax is Due on Phones Given to Customers
On February 12, 2019, the Michigan Court of Appeals upheld the imposition of use tax on phones that were given away for no charge by a company in conjunction with its sale of mobile phone service contracts. The company sold service contracts for a single mobile phone service provider and also purchased phones from the…



