In 2012, a case shook the tax world for Florida’s wholesale tobacco distributors. Specifically, a case called Micjo was decided in favor of tobacco distributors at Florida’s appellate court level. Micjo taught us that if a taxpayer disagrees with a department’s tax decision, then it should fight for its money…
Articles Posted in Sales and Use Tax
An Overview of Cloud Computing Trends
As the internet becomes essential to our everyday lives, states are consistently inconsistent in their attempt to tax cloud computing systems. Cloud computing is “the practice of using a network of remote servers hosted on the Internet to store, manage, and process data, rather than a local server or a…
State Agency Requests Records – Just Say No!
In just another case where the Department of Business and Profession Regulation (“DBPR”) attempts to be larger than the law, a Recommended Order was issued on May 29th, 2015, stopping DBPR in its tracks. In Thompson Cigars, Case No: 14-3471, Judge Alexander agreed with the taxpayer, that DBPR’s inspection authority…
What’s the True Object of the Transaction? Portable Toilets Case Finds Its Way to LA Supreme Court
It never ceases to amaze me, the wide variety of companies that state agencies attempt to extort money from. I mean, how could a portable toilet company possibly have a sales tax problem? Most states impose a sales tax on the sale or rental of tangible personal property, but do…
Taxpayer Wins In United States Supreme Court in DMA Case
Direct Marketing Association has continued its fight for consumer privacy with Colorado. In September, 2014, I wrote about how DMA has taken its challenge up to the Supreme Court of the United States. DMA filed its opening DMA Brief.pdfin the Supreme Court of the United States on September 9, 2014…
FLORIDA DABT LOSES – BLUNT WRAPS NOT TAXABLE
For the past few years, I have been writing a number of blogs and articles recently discussing the Department of Business and Professional Regulation here in Florida and its potentially unfair audit tactics. Many of you have seen cigar wrappers, or the more scientifically described “blunt wraps,” at convenience stores…
Click Through Nexus – Michigan Latest to Enact Click-Through Nexus
Although nexus sounds like a terrible disease, it is just a fancy word meaning a connection or link. If a company has enough of a connection or link to a state, then the state can impose its power of the company. With nexus, a state can impose its laws on…
Amazon Fulfillment – Customer Convenience or Sales Tax Disaster
Now more than ever Amazon has been a one stop shop for many consumers. Not only can you buy just about anything you can think of on the Amazon website, but you can also receive lightning fast delivery of whatever you buy. Over the past few years, Amazon has taken…
Illinois Tries Again with Nexus Law
On March 28, 2013, Overstock and Amazon lost their challenge of a state tax on online sales in New York’s highest court. Further, the the Supreme Court of United States declined hearing the case, because the court determined that such a law did not violate the federal Commerce Clause. Following…
Florida Welcomes Amazon!
This month, May 2014, Amazon was welcomed with open arms to the sunshine state. Florida should be happy by its theoretical increase as Amazon will begin charging, collecting and remitting tax in Florida. Sparking the collection agreement was the fact that Amazon has built two large distribution centers in Florida,…