Many individual and corporate taxpayers are becoming annoyed with rising tax rates. For many wealthy Americans, income is taxed federally and by many states at the corporate level and then taxed again when the income is distributed to the shareholders of the corporation. Without even taking into account state and…
It is difficult to change the channel without hearing some development this week in the Boston Marathon explosion. This week in April, 2013 has been mostly a dark one. However, as we tend to in the face of crisis, our nation has shown its resolve and unity. While it can…
I am sure many people, myself included, have seen the movements on the airwaves and social media discussing the same-sex marriage case out of California. From constant coverage online and on news stations, to many changing their Facebook default picture, the California same-sex marriage case has grabbed the national spotlight…
As many of you are aware, I have been closely following the Gate Fuel Services & Gate Petroleum in Florida. Those cases involved settled refund claims for gas stations that had purchased equipment for pollution control and were used in the manufacturing process. In January of 2013, a Virginia company…
Due to the rising cost and high taxes of cigarettes throughout the country, individuals and businesses are coming up with creative ways to avoid the tax on cigarettes and tobacco. From clubs, to specialty stores, and even peoples’ homes, establishments that allow smokers to make their own cigarettes are on…
A recent Virginia ruling brings up a topic that comes up in our state and local tax practice constantly. If a contractor in State X purchases materials and uses the material in a real property contract in State or Country Y, does the contactor owe use tax on purchases in…
In my daily routine of reading state and local tax cases across the country, I recently inquired to the State of Florida for the status of an innovative sales tax case unique to the gasoline and petroleum industry this week. As many of you know, I have had the pleasure…
It never ceases to amaze me as to the types of cases and industries that come up in our practice. In late 2012, a Taxpayer, or its representative, inquired to the Missouri Department of Revenue whether certain sales it made to its customers are subject to Missouri sales and use…
As a son to an owner of a family gas station business, I have heard every remark in the book of complaints for gas prices being too high. Next time you are looking to yell or criticize your gas station owner or distributor, remember the impact of taxes that contribute…
Everyone has seen the clever IPhone commercials, which promote its applications (“Apps”) and states the famous phrase “there’s an app for that!” Some sources even boast that as of the end of 2012, there were some 750,000 apps available on the Iphone App Store. From useful apps like ESPN, Shazam,…