The California Legislature may vote today on the Governor’s tax provisions, including sales tax on software. For additional background, see materials from our recent webinar on the proposal. The state Constitution requires the Legislature to pass a budget bill by June 15 at midnight. The Constitution also requires that a bill be in print for
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NY Tax Talk: Triggers for tax on software-as-a-service
New York continues to closely review the application of state sales tax to services performed using software platforms.
Recently, two May decisions by the New York Tax Appeals Tribunal and the New York Division of Tax Appeals affirmed the Division of Taxation’s decision to tax service providers for the sales of prewritten computer software in…
States get sassy with SaaS
The sales taxation of software has long been controversial. When sales of software became commonplace in the 1970s and 1980s, it was largely available and commercially distributed on a tangible medium. Today, software is provided in ways that do not constitute the transfer of title or possession of tangible personal property, such as the Software-as-a-service…
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…
I Saw the Sign: Illinois Permits Use of Electronic Signatures for Software License Tax Exemption
On September 26, 2018, the Illinois Department of Revenue issued a Private Letter Ruling confirming that certain electronic signatures satisfied the first prong of the software license sales tax exemption test. In Illinois, a license of software is not a taxable retail sale if a five-part test is satisfied. The first prong asks whether the…
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…
Georgia DOR Rules that Sales to Out-of-State Purchasers Are Subject to Sales Tax When Delivered to In-State Assembly Facility
By Chris Lutz and Andrew Appleby
In Georgia Letter Ruling SUT-2016-24, the Georgia Department of Revenue ruled that sales of software equipment delivered to a Georgia assembly facility on an out-of-state customer’s behalf were subject to Georgia sales and use tax. In the ruling, the taxpayer sold technology solutions, which were comprised of licenses of…
Arizona DOR Determines That Taxpayer’s Software Services Are Not Subject to Transaction Privilege Tax
By Open Weaver Banks and Liz Cha
The Arizona Department of Revenue (Department) issued a taxpayer information ruling stating that a taxpayer’s gross income from transactions provided through the use of computer software is not subject to tax under the personal property rental classification for Arizona Transaction Privilege Tax purposes.
The taxpayer’s software provides its…
New Mexico Hearing Officer Rules Equitable Recoupment Does Not Offset Gross Receipts Tax on Seller of Software Licenses
By Chris Mehrmann and Charlie Kearns
A New Mexico Taxation and Revenue Department administrative hearing officer found that a seller could not use equitable recoupment as a defense to offset gross receipts (sales) tax assessed on its sales of software licenses. In support of its equitable recoupment argument, the seller maintained that third-party lenders that…
Electronically-Delivered Software Upgrades Not Taxable in Florida
By Jessica Eisenmenger and Amy Nogid
The Florida Department of Revenue determined that software upgrades that are delivered electronically are not subject to sales tax because the upgrade was a stand-alone version of the software and did not rely on the earlier, physically-delivered software to operate. The Department also determined that sales tax does not…



