County Assessors across California believe that the property located in their counties is worth substantially more this year than it was last year. Each Assessor is required to prepare an annual assessment roll consisting of all taxable property in their county. In many counties, roll values increased substantially: San Francisco (↑10.80 percent), San Mateo (↑8.03 … Continue Reading
The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) placed a $10,000 annual limit on the deductibility of state and local taxes (SALT). In response to and attempting to work around that limitation, several states enacted programs that create charitable entities, contributions to which would entitle the donor to a credit reducing their property tax. This would … Continue Reading
Although the sales tax collection obligation of online retailers was the focus of last month’s momentous U.S. Supreme Court case South Dakota v. Wayfair, it will also impact state corporate and income tax obligations. Companies may now be exposed to state income tax as a result of the Wayfair case and should examine their activities … Continue Reading
On June 21, the U.S. Supreme Court decided South Dakota v. Wayfair, allowing states to tax online sales even if the retailer does not have a physical presence in the state. This decision, abandoning a 26 year-old precedent (based on a case heard 25 years before that) has shaken the retail industry. This case will … Continue Reading
On June 21, 2018, the U.S. Supreme Court in South Dakota v. Wayfair, Inc., et al., decided (5-4 although not the usual liberal/conservative split) that an online retailer does not have to maintain a physical presence in a state in order to be required to collect the state’s sales and use tax. This opinion overturns … Continue Reading
This week the U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments for South Dakota v. Wayfair, regarding whether physical presence is required within a state for sales and use tax purposes, specifically addressing internet sellers. The case is challenging the Court’s 1992 decision in Quill v. North Dakota, 504 US 298, which upheld a decision from 1967 … Continue Reading
California’s Documentary Transfer Tax Act (Rev. & Tax. Code §§ 11901, et seq.) is based upon the former federal Documentary Stamp Tax Act first enacted by Congress to raise revenues for the Spanish-American War. The federal law was repealed, effective Jan. 1, 1968, and simultaneously California, like many other states, picked up the tax with … Continue Reading
The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) limited the deduction for state and local taxes (SALT) to $10,000 for federal tax purposes. For those living in states that impose a personal income tax, this limitation may result in an increase in federal tax if their deductions for property taxes and income taxes paid to states … Continue Reading
Several states are considering proposals in an attempt to reduce the impact of federal tax reform’s $10,000 limit on state and local tax (SALT) deductions. In New York, the Governor’s budget proposal includes establishing two charitable organizations (one for health care and one for education) that will enable taxpayers to make a contribution to those … Continue Reading
Recently proposed legislation would require sellers to collect sales and use tax on the sales price of certain services to California businesses. On Feb. 5, 2018, California Senator Robert Hertzberg introduced a bill, which if enacted, would impose sales and use tax on purchases of services by businesses for benefit and use in California, effective … Continue Reading
The following is a summary of the real estate provisions of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) signed into law by President Trump on Dec. 22, 2017. Individual Rates (Temporary) General tax rate and bracket reductions for individuals (top rate of 37 percent applies to income above $600,000 for joint filers, $500,000 for single … Continue Reading
U.S. Supreme Court grants certiorari in South Dakota v. Wayfair, et al. The U.S. Supreme Court will review the validity of a South Dakota law which requires remote retailers to collect the state’s sales and use tax even if the retailer does not have a physical presence there. If this state law is upheld by … Continue Reading
Many U.S. taxpayers are trying to prepay their 2018 real property taxes by Dec. 31 in order to avoid the $10,000 cap on deductibility of state and local taxes that will go into effect for the 2018 tax year under the new tax law signed by President Trump last week. The IRS said in a … Continue Reading
Whether to be closer to family member or a new job opportunity, individuals are increasingly relocating to another state. If reduction in the applicable state income tax is a motivating reason, avoiding dual-residency should be a primary objective. It is very common for owners of certain assets (closely-held businesses, highly-appreciated assets, and/or highly compensated executives … Continue Reading
A bill that would simplify state income tax compliance for employers when they send employees on temporary assignment to another state passed the House on Sept. 21. Many state government interests oppose the bill, so its future in the Senate is uncertain. Employers face a major state tax compliance headache when they send an employee on … Continue Reading
