Regulatory Analysis

Posted July 26, 2017 by Andrew Decker
Washington State Taxes Bottled Water Once Again

Effective August 1, 2017, the State of Washington will extend its retail sales tax to sales of bottled water. The sales tax expansion is part of a revenue bill (HB 2163) passed to raise funds for the recently enacted state budget. Bottled water was taxable until 2004, and was then tax exempt for the next […]

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Posted July 26, 2017 by Paul Ogawa
Singapore Publishes Updates to CRS Frequently Asked Questions

Singapore recently published an update to their CRS Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs). Last updated in February 2017, the July 2017 update provides clarity and additional guidance in a number of areas that concern Singaporean financial institutions reporting under the Common Reporting Standard. These updates include the following sections. Section B.5, Reserved Investment Power Trusts: […]

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Posted July 26, 2017 by Tom Hospod
Better Care Reconciliation Act Fails – Four Senators Now Oppose Procedural Motion

With Senators Rand Paul and Susan Collins stating their opposition to the revised Better Care Reconciliation Act (BCRA) last week, Majority Leader Mitch McConnell could not afford to lose any more votes on the procedural vote to bring the bill to the Senate floor. Last night, Senators Mike Lee and Jerry Moran both announced that […]

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Posted July 26, 2017 by Sovos
Senate Passes Motion to Proceed on Health Care

On Tuesday, the Senate passed a motion to proceed on health care by a vote of 51-50 with Vice President Pence casting the tying vote. This was only a procedural vote and not any sort of repeal or replace vote. As a result of this motion passing, the Senate can begin to debate on the […]

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Posted July 25, 2017 by Erik Wallin
Washington State Jumps on the Remote Seller Notice Bandwagon

Washington State recently enacted House Bill 2163 in conjuncture with the State’s recently passed budget. Included in this bill are provisions imposing sales tax obligations on internet sales to Washington consumers. Starting on January 1, 2018 remote sellers who make retail sales of $10,000 a year or more into Washington will be required to either […]

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Posted July 24, 2017 by Ramón Frias
Puerto Rico Governor Signs Bill Requiring 2 Monthly Sales Tax Payments

The Governor of Puerto Rico has signed into law a bill (PC 1133) that changes the frequency of sales tax remittance. As reported earlier in this forum, the new rule requires most taxpayers to pay sales tax in the same month as it’s collected, in two monthly installments: The first payment is required on the […]

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Posted July 19, 2017 by Ramón Frias
Tax Reform on the Horizon in Puerto Rico

The Secretary of the Treasury for the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico announced that they plan on encouraging the local legislature to adopt significant tax reform measures, including a number of items that will impact sales tax (locally known as IVU). The details of the proposed reforms have not been released but the Secretary has indicated […]

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Posted July 19, 2017 by Kevin Diffily
House Appropriations Subcommittee Introduces Bill with Potential to Affect ACA Reporting

A House Appropriations subcommittee has introduced H.R. 3280 – a draft of which was released during the July 4th Recess. This appropriations bill provides funding for government and financial services – including the IRS – for the upcoming fiscal year. As part of the IRS funding, it includes a provision that could impact the reporting […]

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Posted July 19, 2017 by Alex Forbes
SII Reporting to be Adopted in the Basque Region

Organizations operating in the Basque region of Spain will soon be required to comply with SII reporting requirements. As reported in this forum, effective July 1 most companies operating in Spain are now required to transmit information to the Spanish Tax Administration (AEAT) regarding purchase and sale transactions within a few days of invoicing. Today, […]

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Posted July 17, 2017 by Tom Hospod
Revised BCRA Maintains Employer Reporting Provisions

As written, revised Better Care Reconciliation Act will not operate to eliminate either of the reporting requirements on 1094/1095 series forms. The Senate’s second draft of the Better Care Reconciliation Act would maintain employer information reporting obligations under Internal Revenue Code §§ 6055 and 6056. Changes to minimum essential coverage provisions may give rise to a potential modification […]

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Posted July 17, 2017 by Tom Hospod
Mexico Extends FATCA and CRS Deadlines

Along with new deadlines, Mexico tax authority releases additional CRS specifications.   The Mexican Tax Administration Service (SAT) has published additional AEOI material, including a calendar with relevant deadlines and specifications for CRS transmittals. The AEOI Calendar indicates that the FATCA and CRS testing window will now end on July 14, 2017. At that time, the production period […]

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Posted July 12, 2017 by Jesse Rooney
Illinois Releases New Tax Tables and Withholding Allowance Certificate

Illinois’s Department of Revenue has lately released new tax tables and a new withholding allowance certificate in conjunction with it an increase in the state’s tax rate.  Effective July 1, 2017, the income tax rate in Illinois is 4.95%, increased from 3.75%. Booklet IL-700-T, “Illinois Withholding Tax Tables,” has been updated effective July 1, […]

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Posted July 11, 2017 by Adam Rivera
IRS Releases ACA Business Rules and Schemas for 2017

The IRS has released ACA Information Returns (AIR) Schemas, Business Rules and Crosswalks for Tax Year 2017. The business rules, schemas and crosswalks are for Forms 1094-B, 1094-C, 1095-B, and 1095-C. There are a number of changes from last year’s with many of the changes coming in the form of name changes for certain data […]

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Posted July 11, 2017 by Tom Hospod
Virginia Issues Revised eForms W-2 – 1099 Guide

Virginia Tax has published a revision of its eForms W-2 – 1099 Guide, which filers should utilize in order to ensure accurate and complete online submissions. The Business iFile system allows the use of eForms, which is a free, secure online service that allows employers and payers to electronically file forms W-2, 1099-R, and 1099-MISC directly […]

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Posted July 11, 2017 by Tom Hospod
Idaho Publishes Revised Guide to Income Tax Withholding

The Idaho State Tax Commission has issued a revised Guide to Income Tax Withholding. The revision is a routine update of the tables for withholding computation methods for 2017. These tables are periodically adjusted for inflation. Although these figures are effective for 2017, withholding agents are not required to adjust the withholding amounts for the months of […]

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Posted July 11, 2017 by Jesse Rooney
Belgium Delays CRS Reporting Deadline for 2017

Belgium recently announced it will extend the deadline for CRS reporting this year.  Reporting was originally due at the end of June, but Belgium has delayed reporting until the end of July.  This delay is only for CRS and does not affect FATCA reporting which was due at the end of June.  The announcement of […]

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Posted July 11, 2017 by Tom Hospod
OECD Secretary General Issues Report on CRS for G20 Leaders

At last week’s G20 summit, OECD Secretary General Angel Gurría reported to world leaders that the past year has seen progress on multiple fronts in the fight against tax avoidance and evasion – thanks in large part to the Convention on Mutual Administrative Assistance in Tax Matters. The official report explores the key areas of progress, including the […]

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Posted July 10, 2017 by Andrew Decker
Jammu and Kashmir Enacts GST

The state of Jammu and Kashmir has joined the rest of India by enacting the GST, a week after it was introduced to the rest of the country. Amidst strong opposition, the government of Jammu and Kashmir passed the Jammu and Kashmir Goods and Services Tax Act on July 7th.  The Act, and related orders, can be […]

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