State & Local
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January 08, 2025
Md. Bills Float Allowing Tech Cos. To Transfer Tax Benefits
Certain technology companies in Maryland would be allowed to transfer unused tax benefits to other businesses under legislation introduced Wednesday in the state's General Assembly.
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January 08, 2025
Md. Bill Would Allow County Tax Hikes On High Incomes
Maryland counties would be allowed to raise their local income tax rates for high incomes, with the revenue taxed at the higher rates dedicated to public transit and education, under legislation introduced Wednesday in the state General Assembly.
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January 07, 2025
Ex-Ill. Speaker Madigan Testifies In His Racketeering Trial
Former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan took the stand in his own defense Tuesday, testifying that he neither traded his public office for private gain nor demanded or accepted anything valuable in exchange for his official action, adding that he was "very angry" to learn that people who he'd recommended for jobs did little to no work.
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January 07, 2025
'Unflattering' Story Not Defamatory, Gannett Says
A tax firm's defamation suit against USA Today should be tossed, the newspaper's owner told Texas justices Monday, arguing that a 2021 investigative series was not defamatory even if its "gist" was "unflattering."
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January 07, 2025
Calif. Resident Kept State Domicile, Owes Tax, OTA Says
A person who traveled from California to Florida and back is considered a California resident and domiciled in California and thus owes additional state income tax and interest, the California Office of Tax Appeals affirmed.
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January 07, 2025
Calif. Hydroponics Co. Can't Escape $1M Tax Bill
A California company selling hydroponics equipment is not entitled to a redetermination of more than $1 million in tax liability, and no adjustments to state audits of the company's unreported taxable sales are required, the state Office of Tax Appeals ruled.
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January 07, 2025
Mont. Bill Floats Mine, Data Center Property Tax Changes
Montana would lower the property tax rate imposed on metal mines, certain agricultural land and railroads but raise the rate on data center property as part of a bill introduced in the state Senate.
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January 07, 2025
Calif. Resident's Late Filing Means No EITC Refund, OTA Says
A California resident filed her state tax return too late and is not entitled to a refund she claimed for the state earned income tax credit, the Office of Tax Appeals ruled.
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January 07, 2025
Mont. Bill Calls For Property Tax Appraisals Every 2 Years
Montana would require all real property to be reappraised every two years for tax purposes as part of a bill introduced in the state House of Representatives.
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January 07, 2025
Detroit Settles Protracted Tax Fight Over Holding Co.'s Gain
Detroit reached a tentative settlement in a long-running tax assessment dispute stemming from a holding company's gain from selling stock in a Canadian tobacco testing company, the city said in a court filing Tuesday.
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January 07, 2025
ND Gov. Pitches Property Tax Reform In Annual Address
North Dakota would cap local property tax increases at 3% and double a major exemption under a plan pitched by the state's new governor that he said would eliminate the tax on many primary residences in the next decade.
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January 07, 2025
Mont. Bill Seeks Review Process For Tax-Exempt Property
Montana would require the state Department of Revenue to create a program to review property that is exempt from taxation under a bill introduced in the state House of Representatives.
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January 07, 2025
Mont. Bill Seeks Lower Electronic Tax Payment Threshold
Montana would lower the threshold above which tax liabilities must be paid electronically to one-tenth of the current amount as part of a bill introduced in the state House of Representatives.
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January 07, 2025
Mont. Bill Seeks Electronic Notice Option For Taxpayers
Montana would give taxpayers the option to receive communications from the state Department of Revenue electronically under a bill introduced in the state House of Representatives.
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January 07, 2025
Developer Says Mass. Stalling $15M Brownfields Tax Credit
The developer of a 3.5-acre luxury condo and apartment complex in Boston's Seaport District is accusing the state of improperly second-guessing the work of its licensed environmental remediation consultant to deny a $15.3 million brownfields tax credit, then dragging its feet on an administrative appeal.
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January 07, 2025
NH Total Revenues Through Dec. $41M Under Estimate
New Hampshire's total revenue collection from July through December trailed forecasts by $41 million, according to a report by the state Department of Administrative Services.
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January 07, 2025
Fla. Net Revenues Through Nov. Beat Estimates By $435M
Florida's general revenue collection from July through November exceeded budget forecasts by $435 million, according to a report by the state's Office of Economic and Demographic Research.
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January 07, 2025
No Problem With $217M Dam Repair Tax, Mich. Panel Says
A Michigan appellate panel on Monday said a $217 million special assessment levied on property owners for dam repairs and lake level restoration after devastating 2020 floods was established through a legally sound process, ruling the owners were never entitled to have a pseudo-judicial review of the tax.
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January 07, 2025
Baker McKenzie Adds Tax Partners In California And New York
Baker McKenzie is fortifying its tax practice by hiring a partner in San Francisco with experience in planning tax positions and handling controversies for technology-driven companies and rehiring another in New York who is skilled at state taxes and journalism.
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January 07, 2025
Ore. Tax Court Affirms Value Error's Fix Applies Only To 1 Year
The Oregon Department of Revenue correctly adjusted the maximum assessed value of a property for only one tax year based on the correction of an earlier error, the Oregon Tax Court ruled.
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January 07, 2025
Iowa General Revenue Collection Through Dec. Up $124M
Iowa's general fund receipts from July through December were $124 million higher than during the same period last fiscal year, according to the state's Department of Management.
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January 06, 2025
Newsom Says No New Taxes, No Deficit, In Early Budget Look
California Gov. Gavin Newsom pledged Monday not to raise taxes in the upcoming budget cycle for the state, while providing an early look at a $322 billion budget that differs from the previous two years by not having a deficit.
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January 06, 2025
Pa. Licensing Law For Vape-Makers Flawed, Panel Finds
Part of Pennsylvania's law regulating licenses for e-cigarette manufacturers is unconstitutional because it gives legislative power to the state's Department of Revenue, an appellate court has ruled in an issue of first impression.
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January 06, 2025
Va. Tax Head Backs Assessments Based On IRS Audit
The Virginia Department of Taxation correctly issued assessments to a woman for additional income tax after learning that the IRS had adjusted her federal returns and finding no record of amended state returns to report the federal changes, the state's tax commissioner ruled.
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January 06, 2025
Va. Retailer Gets Last Chance To Back Up Exemption Claim
A Virginia retailer will get a final chance to provide documentation to claim exemptions and contest the findings of an audit of its sales and use tax liability, the state's tax commissioner said.
Expert Analysis
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California Supreme Court's Year In Review
Attorneys at Horvitz & Levy highlight notable decisions on major questions from the California Supreme Court's last term, including voter initiatives, hostile work environment and the economic loss rule.
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Meeting A New Tax Across The River: SALT In Review
From New York's revised congestion pricing for lower Manhattan to the reality of artificial intelligence in tax administration, RSM's David Brunori offers his thoughts on noteworthy state and local tax news.
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3 Ways To Train Junior Lawyers In 30 Minutes Or Less
Today’s junior lawyers are experiencing a skills gap due to pandemic-era disruptions, but firms can help bring them up to speed by offering high-impact skill building content in bite-sized, interactive training sessions, say Stacey Schwartz at Katten, Diane Costigan at Winston & Strawn and Lauren Tierney at Freshfields.
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The Bar Needs More Clarity On The Discovery Objection Rule
Almost 10 years after Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 34 was amended, attorneys still seem confused about what they should include in objections to discovery requests, and until the rules committee provides additional clarity, practitioners must beware the steep costs of noncompliance, says Tristan Ellis at Shanies Law Office.
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States, Taxes And Scorecards: SALT In Review
From the latest noteworthy rankings of the states' business tax regimes to results of ballot measures across the country, RSM's David Brunori offers his thoughts on noteworthy state and local tax news.
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So You Want To Move Your Law Practice To Canada, Eh?
Google searches for how to move to Canada have surged in the wake of the U.S. presidential election, and if you’re an attorney considering a move to the Great White North, you’ll need to understand how the practice of law differs across the border, says David Postel at Henein Hutchison.
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Promoting Diversity In The Selection Of ADR Neutrals
Excerpt from Practical Guidance
Choosing neutrals from diverse backgrounds is an important step in promoting inclusion in the legal profession, and it can enhance the legitimacy and public perception of alternative dispute resolution proceedings, say attorneys at Lowenstein Sandler.
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Considering Chevron's End Through A State Tax Lens
States took the lead in encouraging Chevron's demise, turning away from Chevron-type deference in state tax administration ahead of the U.S. Supreme Court’s Loper Bright decision, a trend likely to accelerate as courts take a more active role in interpreting tax laws, say attorneys at Eversheds Sutherland.
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Kentucky Tax Talk: Finally Better Online Records At Revenue?
The Kentucky Department of Revenue has not taken significant visible steps toward complying with legislation requiring it to post administrative guidance on its website starting no later than Nov. 15, and refusal to do so would widen the transparency gap between the state and its more business-friendly neighbors, say attorneys at Frost Brown.
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Striking A Balance Between AI Use And Attorney Well-Being
As the legal industry increasingly adopts generative artificial intelligence tools to boost efficiency, leaders must note the hidden costs of increased productivity, and work to protect attorneys’ well-being while unlocking AI’s full potential, says Ed Sohn at Factor.
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Overreach In Texas And An Acronym In Peril: SALT In Review
From the Council on State Taxation's take on a proposal in Texas to the potential end of a fundamental truth in Montana, RSM's David Brunori offers his thoughts on noteworthy state and local tax news.
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How Judiciary Can Minimize AI Risks In Secondary Sources
Because courts’ standing orders on generative artificial intelligence and other safeguards do not address the risk of hallucinations in secondary source materials, the judiciary should consider enlisting legal publishers and database hosts to protect against AI-generated inaccuracies, say attorneys at Lankler Siffert & Wohl.
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NY Tax Talk: Questions In Corporate Franchise Tax Regs Case
In the first challenge to New York's Corporate Franchise Tax regulations — Paychex v. Department of Taxation and Finance — the court has an important opportunity to provide clarity on a major retroactive application issue, say attorneys at Eversheds Sutherland.