News & Tips

Here you can read up on significant developments in the world of sales and use tax. Find the latest legislative updates and helpful tips to keep you in compliance across all 50 states. You can filter news items by topic and/or a jurisdiction of interest.

Illinois Caps Vendor Discount

Effective January 1, 2025, a provision of Illinois HB4951 goes into effect which caps the sales tax vendor discount to $1,000 per month. The original idea behind offering this discount was as a form of compensation to businesses meant to…

Washington State Rules that Packaging, Packing, and Distribution Machinery Does Not Qualify for Manufacturing Exemption

A taxpayer protested Washington State auditors’ conclusions that a facility operated by the taxpayer was not entitled to a manufacturing exemption for equipment used at a facility.

Illinois Updates Destination Based Sourcing Rules

Effective January 1, 2025, a provision of Illinois S.B. 3362 goes into effect which makes certain Illinois retailers responsible for destination-based sourcing for sales tax purposes.

Pennsylvania Rules Cloud Computing and Support Services for Canned Computer Software as Taxable

The Board of Finance & Revenue of Pennsylvania recently reviewed petitions filed by One Market Data LLC, challenging the revocation of its sales tax license and the assessment of tax, penalties, and interest for the period between January 2020 and December 2022.

Illinois Enacts New Requirements for Direct Pay Permit Holders

Illinois has enacted sales and use tax legislation that creates new requirements for direct pay permit holders.

Massachusetts Authorizes Tax Amnesty Program for 2025

Massachusetts’s recently enacted budget bill authorizes the Department of Revenue to establish a 60-day tax amnesty program in fiscal year 2025 to end no later than June 30, 2025.

Missouri Enacts Sales Tax Exemption for Utility Infrastructure and Electricity Generation

Missouri has enacted Senate Bill 872, bringing significant changes to the state\’s sales tax regulations for the utility sector.

Missouri Unplugs Local Franchise Fees for Streaming

Missouri Governor Michael L. Parson signed into law S.B. 872 and H.B. 2057, exempting streaming and satellite TV companies from local franchise fees.

Tennessee Adopts New Sourcing Provisions

House Bill 323 (H.B. 323), the Tennessee Works Tax Act, enacted on May 11, 2023, introduced significant changes to Tennessee’s sales and use tax laws.

Pennsylvania Court Rules on Sales Tax for Perrier Water

In a recent decision by the Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania, taxpayer Jennifer Montgomery\’s petition for a refund of sales tax paid on Perrier non-flavored mineral water was denied.

Tennessee Issues Letter Ruling on Repair Services for Traffic Management Equipment

The Tennessee Department of Revenue (DOR) has issued a letter ruling to a company regarding the taxability of repair services performed in Tennessee on traffic management equipment which is shipped to out-of-state customers.

Colorado Rules That DNA Testing with Tangible Personal Property is Nontaxable Service

The Colorado Department of Revenue (DOR) issued a private letter ruling regarding a company’s sales of ancestral and health reports and the saliva kits used to collect customers’ DNA for generating the reports.

Sales and Use Tax Clarified for Samples by Manufacturers and Retailers

The West Virginia Tax Department has issued guidance on the sales and use tax implications for samples distributed by manufacturers and retailers.

Washington Court of Appeals Upholds Renton’s Utility Tax on TracFone

In a recent ruling, the Washington Court of Appeals affirmed that TracFone Wireless, Inc. is liable for municipal utility taxes under the City of Renton’s ordinance.

North Carolina Repeals Transaction Count from Economic Nexus Threshold

Effective July 1, 2024, North Carolina has enacted legislation that repeals the 200-transaction count from its economic nexus threshold for remote sellers.

Ohio Expands 2024 Sales Tax Holiday

Ohio\’s sales tax holiday, running from July 30, 2024, through August 8, 2024, has been expanded under Ohio House Bill 33.

Wayfair Sues Colorado City and Department of Revenue Over Undue Burdens on Out of State Taxpayers

Wayfair LLC, the defendant in the landmark 2018 ruling that created the standards for economic nexus, has filed suit in Colorado to challenge the nexus standards of the state and its home rule cities, arguing that the state\’s tax regime violates the US constitution and the standards laid out in the 2018 case.

North Carolina Imposes Economic Nexus Threshold

Remote sellers exceeding North Carolina’s economic nexus threshold must register and collect tax by November 1, 2018.

New York Tax Tribunal Finds Taxpayer Cannot Take Credits For Refunds Paid To Lessees

New York Tax Tribunal Finds Taxpayer Cannot Take Credits For Refunds Paid To Lessees

Alabama Tax Certificates of Exemption for Governmental/Statutorily Exempt Entity Projects

Alabama Tax Certificates of Exemption for Governmental/Statutorily Exempt Entity Projects

Florida Introduces Sales and Use Tax Exclusion for Certain Motor Vehicle Leases

Florida\’s Department of Revenue implemented a new sales and use tax exclusion for specific motor vehicle leases or rentals.

New Jersey Assembly Repeals Annual Sales Tax Holiday

The New Jersey Assembly Budget Committee has announced the repeal of the annual sales tax holiday for retail sales of computers, school supplies, instructional materials, and sports or recreational equipment.

Oklahoma Enacts Exemption for Machinery Used in Digital Asset Mining

Oklahoma has enacted a sales tax exemption for sales of machinery and equipment and electricity used for commercial mining of digital assets purposes in a colocation facility.

Kentucky Changes Filing Thresholds and Adds Exemptions

Kentucky enacted legislation effective July 15, 2024, that expands sales tax exemptions and changes definitions and filing thresholds.