In a 5-4 decision, the US Supreme Court today overruled its landmark decisions in Quill Corp. v. North Dakota and National Bellas Hess, Inc. v. Department of Revenue of Illinois, disposing of the “physical presence” rule that has served as the bright-line standard for whether remote sellers are required to collect state sales taxes.
sales tax
South Dakota v. Wayfair – Insights and Analysis
On June 21, 2018, the US Supreme Court struck down the “physical presence rule” of Quill and National Bellas Hess which barred states from imposing sales tax collection requirements on certain out-of-state sellers. This decision is expected to have a significant impact on online sales across the country.
The case, South Dakota v. Wayfair,…
The Sales Taxation of Virtual Currency
Bitcoin and other virtual currencies may be the most controversial financial assets on the market right now and are certainly the most discussed.
In their article for Bloomberg BNA, Eversheds Sutherland attorneys Jonathan Feldman and Christopher Beaudro examine the state sales tax implications of selling virtual currency.
View the full article.
Webcast: South Dakota v. Wayfair – Insights on the Oral Argument
On April 17, 2018, the US Supreme Court is poised to hear oral arguments in the case of South Dakota v. Wayfair. The Wayfair case will re-examine the 1992 holding of Quill v. North Dakota, in which the US Supreme Court ruled that states could not compel mail order retailers that lack a…
Georgia Legislature Enacts Significant Income, Sales, and Property Tax Legislation
The Georgia legislative session concluded on March 29, 2018. In addition to two major bills relating to federal tax reform, Georgia enacted several other pieces of notable tax legislation.
View the full Legal Alert.
New York State Budget Adopts Substantial Changes in Response to Federal TCJA
The New York Legislature passed its 2018-2019 Fiscal Year budget on March 30, 2018, which is expected to be signed into law by Governor Cuomo. The Legislature responded to the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) passed by the United States Congress late last year by excluding IRC § 965 repatriated income from New York…
California Seeks Input on Clean Energy Equipment Tax Exemption
During the second half of 2017, California expanded its partial sales and use tax manufacturing and research and development exemption to include electric generation and distribution equipment. The legislative changes are particularly favorable to businesses engaged in electric generation through the use of renewable energy sources.
The California Department of Tax and Fee Administration (CDTFA)…
Tennessee DOR Subjects Cloud-Based Employee Scheduling Services to Sales and Use Tax
The Tennessee Department of Revenue issued a letter ruling finding that a taxpayer’s annual subscription charge for its cloud-based employee scheduling services is subject to Tennessee sales and use tax.
In Tennessee, the use of computer software is subject to tax, even if it remains in the possession of…
DC Office of Tax and Revenue Launches New QHTC Sales and Use Tax Exemption Application/Pre-Certification Process
On November 1, 2017, the District of Columbia will begin implementing a new sales and use tax exemption application process for Qualified High Technology Companies (QHTCs). The new application procedure signifies a shift to essentially a pre-certification process and creates new documentation requirements for companies seeking QHTC benefits. Key considerations include:
- Companies will now be
…
New California Tax Agencies’ Roles Clarified
On September 16, 2017, California Governor Jerry Brown signed Assembly Bill 131, a budget trailer bill clarifying a number of provisions related to the roles of California’s two new tax agencies, the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration (CDTFA) and the Office of Tax Appeals (OTA), which were created to perform many of the…



