The Arizona Department of Revenue recently released Private Taxpayer Ruling LR 21-003 (dated May 27, 2021), finding that gross income arising from the provision of temporary use of digital information and data is subject to the transaction privilege tax (TPT). The taxpayer is an information and analytics company that provides primarily publically available information and
tangible property
Taxation Is Not an Option: Utah Supreme Court Says Optional Liability Waiver Fees Not Subject to S&U Tax
By Ted Friedman and Jonathan Feldman
The Utah Supreme Court held that optional liability waiver fees paid by customers along with lease-to-own rental payments were not subject to sales and use tax. Customers that choose to pay this extra fee are not required to reimburse the corporation for any loss if the goods are damaged…
Code Control: Michigan Court of Appeals Holds Contracts Allowing Access to Online Databases, Remote Access Software and Related Services Are Not Subject to Use Tax
By Nick Kump and Charlie Kearns
On October 27, the Michigan Court of Appeals affirmed the trial court’s decision in favor of the taxpayer and held that several contracts for data processing services, access to computer programs and databases, and other online services did not include the use of taxable prewritten computer software. After considering…
Are Your Software Keys Delivered the Old Fashioned Way? Iowa DOR Declares Tangible Digital Software Keys Exempt from Sales Tax
By Nick Kump and Charlie Kearns
The Iowa Department of Revenue issued a policy letter declaring that the delivery of a digital software key on a tangible card is exempt from sales tax, as long as the software itself is delivered digitally and there is not a separate charge for the key. Iowa Code section…
If It Doesn’t Fit, You Can’t Tax It: Wisconsin Rejects Market-Based Sourcing Approach for Skechers’ IP Holding Company Royalty Income
By Nick Kump and Timothy Gustafson
The Wisconsin Tax Appeals Commission overturned a $2.4 million assessment against an intellectual property (IP) holding company, ruling that the company’s income-producing activities for Wisconsin sales factor purposes – IP licensing and related activities – occurred entirely outside of the state. The taxpayer, a wholly owned subsidiary of the…
Bad Day for California as TTA Sales Tax Exemption for Software Is Broadly Reaffirmed by Appellate Court – Will Taxpayer Refund Claims Now Move?
In a significant rebuff of the California State Board of Equalization (BOE), the California Second District Court of Appeal held that a manufacturer’s sale of software on tangible media was exempt from sales tax under the technology transfer agreement (TTA) statutes. Lucent Technologies, Inc. v. State Bd. of Equalization, No. B257808, 2015 WL 5862533.
“Show Me” Software Taxation: Missouri Department of Revenue Issues Letter Ruling on Various Software Transactions
By Robert Merten and Charlie Kearns
The Missouri Department of Revenue has issued a comprehensive letter ruling answering 12 software-related sales tax questions on issues concerning canned software, custom software, software licenses, software invoices, software installation and software maintenance agreements. Missouri Department of Revenue LR 7615, Aug. 21, 2015. In the letter ruling, the…
A Pinch of SALT: All Hat and No Cattle or Meaningful Texas Tax Relief?
In his State of the State address at the beginning of the year, Texas Governor Greg Abbott tasked the Legislature with enacting meaningful business tax relief. The Legislature responded by reducing the franchise (also called the margin) tax rate and creating new exemptions and incentives for sales tax. At the same time, however, the Legislature…
In A New York Minute: How to Defend a Remote Access to Software Sales Tax Audit, Part I
Since late 2008, the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance has routinely taken the position that charges for application service provider services, software as a service, or other online services may be subject to New York sales tax as licenses of software. Some sellers began collecting sales tax on this basis, and the…
Bridging the Gap: Illinois Provides Guidance on Videoconferencing Broker and Bridging Services
By Mike Kerman and Timothy Gustafson
The Illinois Department of Revenue issued a General Information Letter explaining how it will apply retailers’ occupation tax (ROT) and telecommunications excise tax (TET) to videoconferencing services. The taxpayer that sought the letter acts as a broker to match customers that need videoconferencing services with affiliates that operate videoconferencing…