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Articles Posted in Sales and Use Tax

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The U.S. Supreme Court Changes Sales and Use Tax Collection Nexus

TAKEAWAYS The Court holds that the South Dakota law satisfies the Commerce Clause “substantial nexus” requirement based on the “economic and virtual contacts” with the State. The Wayfair decision does not prohibit the retroactive application of this new standard for Commerce Clause “substantial nexus.” The decision strikes a blow to the…

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Sales Taxation of Digital Commerce in the United States

On April 13, Pillsbury senior counsel Richard Nielsen presents “Sales Taxation of Digital Commerce in the United States” during the the “Digital Economy in the Crosshairs” panel session at the American Bar Association’s 18th Annual Tax Planning Strategies U.S. and Europe Conference.

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How States Are Trying New Strategies To Collect Sales Tax

(This article originally was published by Law360 on October 10, 2017.) States historically have had one major impediment to their ability to collect sales tax—the decision in Quill Corporation v. North Dakota to uphold a physical presence test standard for determining nexus.[1] Since the Quill decision, states have applied various…

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Nortel, Lucent and Taxing Embedded Software in California Under a Technology Transfer Agreement

As consumer products become more high tech, the line between computers and traditional devices has blurred. Even basic products, such as toothbrushes, alarm clocks, doorbells, smartphones, cameras, home security systems, printers and copiers now include technical software that enables new functionality options for the device. As a general principle, tangible…

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United States Supreme Court to Review Ruling in Direct Marketing

On July 1, 2014, the United States Supreme Court agreed to review the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals decision in Direct Marketing Association v. Brohl.1 The Court of Appeals held that federal courts lack jurisdiction under the Tax Injunction Act (TIA) to address Direct Marketing Association’s (DMA) challenge to Colorado’s…

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Between a Rock and a Hard Place: Third-Party Enforcement Actions

With the significant rise of third-party enforcement actions—especially consumer class actions and qui tam actions involving state tax questions—corporate taxpayers are being forced to assess a significant set of risks in connection with their compliance obligations. Continue Reading ›

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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),…