Practice Area Blogs & Digests

This week, we turn to international transactions that involve licenses or the provision or performance of e-commerce services.

The transfer or use of intangibles generally is a complicated area of taxation, and one that continues to evolve.

As I ask organizations, big and small, what sales and use tax issues cause them the biggest headaches, the answers are overwhelmingly the same – taxability and apportionment of both software and direct mail. I’m going to save direct mail for another day. But for those who are unconcerned about your organization’s treatment of software, I’m here today to read you the riot act.

Yes, taxpayers can opt out! While the monthly payments of the enhanced child tax credits, passed last spring by Congress as part of the American Rescue Plan, are helpful to many American families, they could actually create issues for others, with some taxpayers actually owing money to the federal government next year if they were to receive such tax credits now.

Companies that hire independent contractors are not obligated to withhold income taxes or employment taxes (such as Social Security and Medicare) or pay the employer share of employment taxes and unemployment insurance. But, just because an employer labels its workers “independent contractors,” as opposed to “employees,” doesn’t make it so.

Since 1959, taxpayers have been relying on a federal law—Public Law 86-272—to protect them from having to file state income tax returns in states where the taxpayers’ in-state activities are limited to just soliciting sales of tangible personal property. On August 4, 2021, the Multistate Tax Commission (MTC) member states voted 20-0 to revise the MTC’s “Statement of Information” regarding Public Law 86-272 in an attempt to eviscerate the federal law’s protections.

When is a brokerage not a brokerage? According to a recent Private Letter Ruling released by the IRS, the answer might surprise you.

Despite the relatively simple mechanics of the distribution and forgiveness of PPP loans, the taxation of both expenses paid for with PPP loan proceeds and forgiveness of the PPP loans has continued to evolve, leaving complicated rules for taxpayers to navigate.

Recently, many of our clients have received notices from the county assessor’s office that the county is conducting an “annual review” of their property for assessment purposes. How should you respond to these types of requests? It depends.

Last week, we reviewed the basics about captive insurance companies, nonadmitted insurance and the essence of the federal legislation known as the NRRA. This week, we examine what the states did to implement NRRA and how that affected, or may affect, insurance premiums paid to out-of-state captives.