The Texas Comptroller recently published a private letter ruling (issued on June 10, 2022) concluding that access to a cloud-based online platform used by healthcare students while attending courses at accredited universities and colleges was not subject to sales tax. The platform was accessed exclusively via the Internet, and the students did not download any
Texas provides guidance on taxability of card management programs
The Texas Comptroller recently released a private letter ruling (provided to the taxpayer on April 29, 2022) concluding that the taxpayer’s payment card management services are nontaxable in Texas. In the ruling, the taxpayer provides a payment card management program that allows services, such as food delivery services, the ability to apply customized spending limits
The Texas R&D Credit: Comptroller’s regs could hogtie taxpayers
“Business-friendly” Texas has been the leading poacher of California-based companies for over a decade, with relocations from tech-dominated California only accelerating during the pandemic. Oddly enough, at a time when Texas’s highest-profile new neighbors are known for cutting-edge research, the state seeks to narrow the scope of its research and development credit applicable to some
Texas Comptroller determines medical record retrieval is taxable data processing
In a private letter ruling, the Texas Comptroller concluded that a medical record retrieval company was providing a taxable data processing service only to the extent it charged for copying of the records it retrieved. The Texas-based medical records retrieval company’s customers are attorneys and insurance companies. The company’s employees manually retrieve and review
At California State Court, streaming video providers notch another video service provider fee win
On September 20th, the Los Angeles County Superior Court held that local video service provider fees do not apply to streaming video providers. This decision is consistent with a prior decision by the United States District Court for the District of Nevada, which held that streaming video providers were not subject to Nevada localities’ franchise
Hawaii and Texas join growing list of states adopting federal rule restricting expert discovery
In an article for Bloomberg Tax, Eversheds Sutherland attorneys Dan Schlueter and Fahad Mithavayani highlight how Hawaii and Texas are the latest states to join the trend to restrict the discoverability of attorney communications with expert witnesses and what it means for state tax litigation.
A Texas-sized legislative update
In this episode of the SALT Shaker Podcast policy series, host and Eversheds Sutherland Partner Nikki Dobay welcomes Dale Craymer, President of the Texas Taxpayers and Research Association (TTARA), as well as Eversheds Sutherland Associate Dennis Jansen for a discussion about all things Texas. 
Dale provides an overview of TTARA’s work, as well as
Booze, ATVs, and a huge R&D backlog: Updates from the Texas Comptroller’s annual meeting
The Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts held its annual meeting on August 17 and provided taxpayers with updates regarding legislation, audit procedures, staffing, and other related topics. The meeting, which was held virtually, struck a positive tone regarding Texas’ fiscal outlook and taxpayer-friendly procedural changes.
Audit updates: hope in sight for staffing shortages and the
Texas Court of Appeals Holds Manufacturing Exemption Refund Claim Fulfilled Notice Requirements
The Texas Court of Appeals held that a taxpayer’s refund claim sufficiently put the Comptroller on notice that the taxpayer claimed a manufacturing exemption. An electricity manufacturer filed a refund claim for sales taxes paid on various types of meters used in its business. The Comptroller denied the claim, and the taxpayer sought an administrative
Bless your heart: Texas Considers Maryland-Style Digital Advertising Tax and Broad-based Service Tax proposals
Immediately before last Friday’s deadline for the filing of unrestricted bills, Texas lawmakers introduced a digital advertising tax bill and a bill that would expand sales tax to a wide array of services.
H.B. 4467, filed on March 12 by Rep. Trey Martinez Fischer (D-TX-116) would impose a tax on gross revenue from digital