On June 7, 2024, the Arizona Supreme Court held that reimbursements received by a hotel when participating in a hotel rewards program were subject to the Transaction Privilege Tax (TPT). The reimbursements were paid to the taxpayer when it provided a guest with a complementary hotel stay under the program. The rewards program required the
taxability
NY high court to review tax on co.’s ad analysis services
This week, the New York Court of Appeals agreed to hear Dynamic Logic’s appeal regarding the taxability of its services that measure the effectiveness of advertising campaigns. The state Tax Appeals Tribunal previously held that the services were taxable information services in part because of the primary function test.
In this Law360 article, SALT…
Louisiana BTA holds video programming services are not tangible personal property
The Louisiana Board of Tax Appeals granted summary judgment to the taxpayer, holding that its sale of video-on-demand and pay-per-view are not subject to sales tax. A group of local parishes assessed the taxpayer on the theory that video-on-demand and pay-per-view are tangible personal property because the content was “perceptible to the senses,” and the…
New York court holds advertising services are taxable information services
The Appellate Division, Third Department, affirmed the Tax Appeals Tribunal’s decision that a taxpayer was providing taxable information services for sales tax purposes. The taxpayer provided services that measured the effectiveness of its customers’ advertising campaigns. The services included providing a report analyzing surveys of customers/internet users, including a comparison of the client’s campaign results…
Tennessee’s ten cents: Tennessee court holds computer software licenses not subject to business tax
The Tennessee Chancery Court for the Twentieth Judicial District held that software licenses are intangible property and thus the gross receipts from their sale are not subject to tax under Tennessee’s Business Tax Act.
The taxpayer is a software company engaged in the business of selling and licensing software used for various corporate and back…
Alabama Court of Civil Appeals affirms that telecom dealer was not subject to tax on the sales of prepaid wireless-service plans
The Alabama Court of Civil Appeals affirmed the trial court’s decision and held that retroactive application of the 2014 revisions to the “prepaid telephone calling card” provision of the Tax Code were unconstitutional as applied to the taxpayer. Taxpayer, an authorized dealer for Boost Mobile (“Boost”), sold Boost prepaid wireless-service plans to customers, but did…
Illinois DOR issues guidance on taxability of computer software licenses and maintenance agreements
The Illinois Department of Revenue (IDOR) released a general information letter outlining the applicability of Illinois Retailers’ Occupation Tax (ROT) on computer software licenses and maintenance agreements.
The letter states that sales of “canned” computer software are taxable retail sales in Illinois and are considered to be tangible personal property regardless of the form in…
The New York Division of Tax Appeals finds vendor management fees are taxable sales of pre-written software
An administrative law judge at the New York Division of Tax Appeals found that a company’s vendor management fees were taxable as the sale of pre-written software. The company offers a web-based application that helps to manage and procure staffing services from requisition through billing. The company argued that its fees are not taxable because…
Valid check-the-box election: California resident entitled to a stepped-up basis
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…
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…



