State & Local
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February 05, 2025
Kentucky Lawmakers Approve Cut To Flat Income Tax Rate
Kentucky would lower its flat individual income tax rate by half a percentage point as part of a bill passed by lawmakers and headed to the governor.
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February 05, 2025
Md. Panel OKs Payment Plans For Incarcerated Taxpayers
Maryland taxpayers currently or formerly incarcerated would be eligible for installment plans for tax liabilities under a bill reported favorably Wednesday by a state Senate committee.
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February 05, 2025
Okla. Gov.'s Budget Would Cut Biz, Individual Tax Rates
Oklahoma lawmakers should cut both personal and business income tax rates and put the state on a path to eliminating both taxes, the governor said in his fiscal year 2026 budget proposal.
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February 05, 2025
Wash. House Bill Seeks Surcharge On 'Excessive' CEO Pay
Washington state would impose a surcharge on corporations that provide "excessive" compensation to their chief executive officers under a bill in the state House of Representatives.
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February 05, 2025
Mich. Gov. Proposes Using AI To Bolster Tax Collection
Michigan would deploy artificial intelligence tools to aid in tax collection under Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's proposed budget, which was released Wednesday.
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February 05, 2025
Minn. Senate Panel Backs Creating Letter Ruling Program
Minnesota would establish a private letter ruling program under legislation advanced by a Senate committee Wednesday, although the state Department of Revenue expressed concerns with the proposal.
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February 05, 2025
Vt. Tax Collection Through Dec. Up $100M From Last Year
Vermont's general fund revenue from July through December exceeded collections made during the same period last year by $100 million, according to the state Agency of Administration.
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February 05, 2025
Kan. Bill Would Create Task Force For Property Tax Study
Kansas would create a task force to study the state's property taxes and make recommendations under a bill introduced in the state Senate.
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February 05, 2025
Mo. Committee Tells Senate To OK Biz Tax Threshold Increase
Missouri would increase the threshold for businesses that localities can impose business license tax on under a bill that a state Senate committee recommended Wednesday for passage by the full Senate.
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February 05, 2025
Ark. Tax Revenue Through Jan. Up $44M From Estimate
Arkansas' total net revenue from July through January beat budget estimates by $44 million, according to a report by the state Department of Finance and Administration reported.
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February 05, 2025
Ala. Tax Collection Through Jan. Drops $76M From Last Year
Alabama's revenue collection from October through January fell $76 million compared with collections made during the same period last fiscal year, the state Department of Revenue said.
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February 05, 2025
DC Requires Copies Of Federal Returns For High Incomes
The District of Columbia will require individuals and businesses with income above certain thresholds to submit a copy of their federal income tax return with the filing of their district tax return under regulatory amendments adopted by the district's Office of Tax and Revenue.
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February 05, 2025
Minn. Senate Bill Would Phase Out Estate Tax
Minnesota would lower its estate tax rates by 1.6 percentage points each year until each rate is zero under a bill introduced in the state Senate.
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February 04, 2025
Mich. Supreme Court Says City's Electricity Fee Is Illegal Tax
A franchise fee added to East Lansing, Michigan, residents' energy bills is a disguised tax, the Michigan Supreme Court ruled Monday, saying the fee was used to raise revenue for the city without first being approved by voters.
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February 04, 2025
Key State And Local Tax Takeaways From January
January saw the U.S. Supreme Court decline to hear a Philadelphia resident's claims that the city's refusal to credit Delaware state taxes against her city wage tax liabilities was unconstitutional, while state legislatures returned for their 2025 sessions, marking another eventful month in state and local tax.
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February 04, 2025
Kostelanetz Adds Tax Pro From Lowenstein Sandler
Kostelanetz LLP said a former partner at Lowenstein Sandler LLP has joined the firm as a partner in the Washington, D.C., office.
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February 04, 2025
Ariz. Bill Seeks Lawmaker Review Of Tax Law Interpretations
The Arizona Department of Revenue would be required to notify the chairs of the legislative tax policy committees if an interpretation or provision of tax law will adversely affect taxpayers under legislation introduced Tuesday.
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February 04, 2025
Wash. Gov. Orders Look At Data Centers' Tax Revenue Impact
Washington's governor issued an executive order directing the state's Department of Revenue to create a work group to examine the impact of data centers on the state's tax revenue and economy and recommend policies to address tax revenue needs in relation to other priorities.
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February 04, 2025
Pa. Gov. Proposes Corp. Tax Cuts, Energy Credits
Pennsylvania would accelerate cuts to its corporate net income tax rate, expand and repurpose tax credits to fund energy projects and make other tax changes under a budget proposal announced Tuesday by Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro.
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February 04, 2025
Fla. Gov. Pitches End To Business Rent Tax In Budget
Florida would eliminate its tax on commercial real estate leases under Gov. Ron DeSantis' proposed budget, a change he said would save businesses in the state a collective $1.6 billion.
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February 04, 2025
Kan. Bill Would Exempt Some Repair Services
Kansas would exempt the installation of material used in reconstruction, remodeling and repair from state sales and use tax under a bill introduced in the state Senate.
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February 04, 2025
Walmart Gets Arbitration In Fla. Delivery Fee Tax Fight
An accusation that Walmart unlawfully charged Florida customers sales tax on delivery fees will go to arbitration, a federal judge ruled Tuesday, saying shoppers agreed to arbitration when they accepted the terms of use of the retailer's website.
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February 04, 2025
Mellon Heir's Estate Defends $29M Tax Refund Request
A Pittsburgh billionaire made a "bona fide" deal to indemnify the trustees for his Mellon family millions as he drained a family trust account, so a $200 million settlement to partly replenish the fund for his heirs should be deductible and produce a $29 million refund of his Pennsylvania estate taxes, the estate's lawyer told a state appellate court Tuesday.
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February 04, 2025
Pa. Governor Puts Cannabis Legalization In Budget Proposal
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro on Tuesday announced a plan to legalize recreational cannabis later this year as part of his budget proposal.
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February 04, 2025
Texas Revenue Collection Through Jan. Up 5% From Last Year
Texas' net revenue collection from September through January was 5% higher than the same period last fiscal year, according to the state Comptroller's Office.
Expert Analysis
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Don't Use The Same Template For Every Client Alert
As the old marketing adage goes, consistency is key, but law firm style guides need consistency that contemplates variety when it comes to client alert formats, allowing attorneys to tailor alerts to best fit the audience and subject matter, says Jessica Kaplan at Legally Penned.
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Think Like A Lawyer: Follow The Iron Rule Of Trial Logic
Many diligent and eager attorneys include every good fact, point and rule in their trial narratives — spurred by the gnawing fear they’ll be second-guessed for leaving something out — but this approach ignores a fundamental principle of successful trial lawyering, says Luke Andrews at Poole Huffman.
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The Art Of Asking: Leveraging Your Contacts For Referrals
Though attorneys may hesitate to ask for referral recommendations to generate new business, research shows that people want to help others they know, like and trust, so consider who in your network you should approach and how to make the ask, says Rebecca Hnatowski at Edwards Advisory.
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4 Ways To Refresh Your Law Firm's Marketing Strategy
With many BigLaw firms relying on an increasingly obsolete marketing approach that prioritizes stiff professionalism over authentic connection, adopting a few key communications strategies to better connect with today's clients and prospects can make all the difference, say Eric Pacifici and Kevin Henderson at SMB Law.
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Consider 2 Alternative Exit Plans In RE Distress Scenarios
In the face of an impending wave of foreclosures, lenders and borrowers alike should consider two exit strategies — deed-in-lieu of foreclosure and consent foreclosure — that can mitigate potential costs and diminution in property value that could be incurred during a lengthy proceeding, say attorneys at BCLP.
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SC's Courts Have It Wrong On Amazon Marketplace Sales Tax
The South Carolina Supreme Court should step in and correct the misguided change in tax law effectuated by lower court rulings that found Amazon owes state sales tax for marketplace sales made prior to the U.S. Supreme Court’s Wayfair v. South Dakota decision in 2018, says Hayes Holderness at the University of Richmond.
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Constitutional Shenanigans And Other Sports: SALT In Review
From a challenge to New York's end run on a federal law to voters' rejection of a sales tax that would aid Kansas City's major league teams, RSM's David Brunori offers his thoughts on noteworthy state and local tax news.
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This Earth Day, Consider How Your Firm Can Go Greener
As Earth Day approaches, law firms and attorneys should consider adopting more sustainable practices to reduce their carbon footprint — from minimizing single-use plastics to purchasing carbon offsets for air travel — which ultimately can also reduce costs for clients, say M’Lynn Phillips and Lisa Walters at IMS Legal Strategies.
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Weisselberg's Perjury At Trial Spotlights Atty Ethics Issues
Former Trump Organization executive Allen Weisselberg’s recent guilty plea for perjury in the New York attorney general's civil fraud trial should serve as a reminder to attorneys of their ethical duties when they know a client has lied or plans to lie in court, and the potential penalties for not fulfilling those obligations, say Hilary Gerzhoy and Julienne Pasichow at HWG.
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Practicing Law With Parkinson's Disease
This Parkinson’s Awareness Month, Adam Siegler at Greenberg Traurig discusses his experience working as a lawyer with Parkinson’s disease, sharing both lessons on how to cope with a diagnosis and advice for supporting colleagues who live with the disease.
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Why Supreme Court Should Allow Repatriation Tax To Stand
If the U.S. Supreme Court doesn't reject the taxpayers' misguided claims in Moore v. U.S. that the mandatory repatriation tax is unconstitutional, it could wreak havoc on our system of taxation and result in a catastrophic loss of revenue for the government, say Christina Mason and Theresa Balducci at Herrick Feinstein.
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For Lawyers, Pessimism Should Be A Job Skill, Not A Life Skill
A pessimistic mindset allows attorneys to be effective advocates for their clients, but it can come with serious costs for their personal well-being, so it’s crucial to exercise strategies that produce flexible optimism and connect lawyers with their core values, says Krista Larson at Stinson.
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Trump's NY Civil Fraud Trial Spotlights Long-Criticized Law
A New York court’s recent decision holding former President Donald Trump liable for fraud brought old criticisms of the state law used against him back into the limelight — including its strikingly broad scope and its major departures from the traditional elements of common law fraud, say Mark Kelley and Lois Ahn at MoloLamken.