The California Franchise Tax Board has issued a chief counsel ruling stating that a registered broker-dealer must include the entire sales price received from the sale of securities—including the return of capital—in the sales apportionment factor. Interestingly, the chief counsel determined that California’s alternative apportionment provisions do not apply to…
Articles Posted in Issues
California Tax Board Provides Guidance on the Broadened Definition of “Retailer Engaged in Business in This State”
On May 30, 2012, the State Board of Equalization (SBE), approved pro-posed amendments to the California Code of Regulations, Title 18, section 1684. The Proposed Regulation attempts to provide guidance as to the meaning of the broadened statutory definition of “retailers engaged in business in this state.” The statutory definition…
New California Sales and Use Tax Audit Procedures
California Sales and Use Tax Regulation 1698.5, which sets forth comprehensive procedures for sales and use tax audits, has been approved by the California Office of Administrative Law. The new regulation, which was proposed by the California Board of Equalization (BOE), goes into effect August 18, 2010. According to the…
Changes Likely for Section 530 Relief in Employee Vs. Independent Contractor Classifications
Taxpayers who have been relying upon Section 530 to provide relief with respect to their classification of service providers as independent contractors rather than employees should take note of the fact that Section 530 is now under attack from Congress and the Obama Administration. Background of Section 530 Section 530…
California Revenue & Taxation Code Section 6010.9: Taxability of Custom Computer Software
For purposes of the California sales and use tax law, a “sale” and “purchase” do not include the design, development, writing, translation, fabrication, lease or transfer for a consideration of title or possession of a custom computer program. An issue that often arises with respect to a custom computer program…
California Revenue & Taxation Code Sections 19331 and 19385: When Can a Taxpayer Consider a Claim for Refund Deemed Denied?
Pursuant to Cal. Rev. & Tax. Code Section 19306(a) a claim for refund typically must be filed within for years from the date the return was filed, four years from the last day prescribed for filing the return (determined without regard to any extension of time for filing the return),…
California Revenue & Taxation Code Section 17014 and Title 18, California Code of Regulations Section 17014: Intent Not Enough to Establish Residency
Taxpayers intending to change their residency for California personal income tax purposes should be aware that intent alone is insufficient to establish new residency. Moreover, intent coupled with physical acts of starting to move or transition to another state is also insufficient to establish new residency. The California courts have…
California Revenue & Taxation Code Section 17951: California Source Income and Its Many Quandaries
Pursuant to Cal. Rev. & Tax. Code Section 17041, a California resident is taxed on all income, from whatever sources derived. In contrast, Cal. Rev. & Tax. Code Sections 17041(b) and 17951 state that nonresidents and part-year residents of California are only taxable on income from sources within California. Exactly…
California Revenue & Taxation Code Section 17016: No Presumption of Nonresidence When the Taxpayer Spends Less Than Nine Months in California
Pursuant to Cal. Rev. & Tax. Code Section 17014(a), a resident is an individual who (1) is in California for “other than a temporary or transitory purpose” or (2) is “domiciled” in California but is outside California for “a temporary or transitory purpose.” Presence within California for more than nine…
California Revenue & Taxation Code Section 19322.1: Informal Claims for Refund
In situations where the taxpayer has not paid the tax in full but has otherwise filed a valid claim for refund, Cal. Rev. & Tax. Code Section 19322.1 allows a taxpayer to file an informal claim for refund tolling (delaying the expiration of) the statute of limitations. Practitioners should be…