Regulatory Analysis

Posted August 1, 2017 by Alex Samuel
Cook County Resumes Collection of Sweetened Beverage Tax

Cook County Illinois will resume collection of their sweetened beverage tax after a judge lifted a temporary restraining order and dismissed a lawsuit filed by the Illinois Retail Merchants Association preventing implementation of the tax. The sweetened beverage tax consists of a $0.01 tax on each ounce of sweetened beverage sold at retail. Retailers are […]

Read more
Posted July 28, 2017 by Charles Maniace
Expanded Nexus Obligations in Ohio Effective January 1, 2018

Online sellers should take immediate notice. House Bill 49 has been passed by the Ohio legislature, signed by the governor, and is set to take effect on January 1, 2018. Hidden within its depths, the language of the bill creates a rule that imposes a tax collection and remittance obligation (nexus) on sellers who use software or […]

Read more
Posted July 26, 2017 by Alex Samuel
Maine Passes Economic Nexus Bill

Maine recently enacted legislation which will require remote sellers to collect and remit sales and use tax on sales into the state of Maine effective October 1, 2017. A person selling tangible personal property, products transferred electronically or services for delivery into Maine will be required to collect sales tax if the person’s sales into Maine in the previous calendar […]

Read more
Posted July 26, 2017 by Jesse Rooney
Idaho Grocery Tax Will Continue Says State Supreme Court

Idahoans will still need to pay taxes on groceries following a recent decision by the state’s Supreme Court.  The Idaho Legislature had passed a bill (House Bill 67) exempting groceries from sales tax, this bill was subsequently vetoed by the Governor.  The Legislature mounted a legal challenge to the validity of the veto, stating it […]

Read more
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 […]

Read more
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, […]

Read more
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 […]

Read more
Posted July 8, 2017 by Alex Samuel
Cook County Suspends Collection of Sweetened Beverage Tax

Cook County Illinois suspended collection of their recently enacted sweetened beverage tax after receiving a temporary restraining order from Cook County Circuit Court. The sweetened beverage tax consisted of a $0.01 tax on each ounce of sweetened beverage sold at retail effective July 1, 2017. The Illinois Retail Merchants Association and several grocers sued the […]

Read more
Posted July 6, 2017 by Sovos
LA House Bill 629 becomes Act No. 424

On June 26, 2017, Governor John Bell Edwards signed House Bill 629 into law (Act No. 424).  Under this Act, polyroll tubing for commercial farm irrigation is now exempt from tax, as well as purchases and leases by qualifying radiation therapy treatment centers.  Act No. 424 also limits the exemption for fuels and gases to […]

Read more
Posted July 5, 2017 by Charles Maniace
Further Clarity of Pending Puerto Rico Sales Tax Legislation

As reported earlier on this forum, Puerto Rico is considering 2017-2018 budget legislation that may significantly impact remittance requirements for existing taxpayers in the immediate future. Specifically the bill which is currently sitting on the Governor’s desk, would require taxpayers whose average sales tax liability is at least $2000 per month (or who otherwise qualify […]

Read more
Posted July 4, 2017 by Sovos
LA restores the sales and use tax exemption for medical devices.

Last year, Louisiana re-vamped their tax code, and among the changes imposed was that medical devices went from being exempt to being taxed at a 3% rate.  This change was scheduled to expire on July 1, 2018.  However, on June 23, 2017, Governor John Bell Edwards signed Senate Bill 180 into law (Act No. 426). […]

Read more
Posted July 4, 2017 by Yujin Weng
Cook County Court Blocks Sweetened Beverage Tax

Just a day before it was slated to take effect, a Cook County Circuit Court granted an emergency motion that temporarily bars the enforcement of the Sweetened Beverage Tax. The ordinance, which was passed last November, would have imposed a $.01 per ounce tax on virtually all sales of sweetened beverages (and beverage syrups) in […]

Read more
Posted July 3, 2017 by Charles Maniace
Pending Puerto Rico Legislation Could Mean Significant and Immediate Changes for Taxpayers

Although details are currently scant, Puerto Rico’s 2017-2018 budget legislation, if passed, could make two changes that will require taxpayers to make immediate adjustments to their current sales tax processes:  The budget appears to require taxpayers who generally make payments in excess of $2000 monthly, to make two payments per month instead of one. The […]

Read more
Posted July 3, 2017 by Charles Maniace
Colorado Finalizes Emergency Rule on Reporting for Non Collecting Retailers

As previously reported in this forum, on July 1, 2017, Colorado’s long anticipated notice and reporting requirements for non-collecting retailers goes into effect. In the last few days, Colorado moved to finalize the details as to how the rule will be enforced, which are described in Emergency Rule 39.21-112.35. This law requires retailers that do […]

Read more
Posted July 3, 2017 by Sovos
Louisiana exempts coins and precious metals.

Under House Bill 396 (Act No. 340) Louisiana will permit full exemptions from sales and use taxes for platinum, gold, or silver bullion, valued on its precious metal content; numismatic coins with a sales price of no more than one thousand dollars; and numismatic coins sold at a national, statewide, or multi-parish numismatic trade show. […]

Read more
Posted July 3, 2017 by Sovos
Louisiana qualifies agricultural exemptions: feed, seed, and fertilizer

Senate Bill 97 (Act No. 378) qualifies the Louisiana sales and use tax exemptions for certain agricultural items.  Effective January 1, 2018, sales of seeds used for planting crops, pesticides used for agricultural purposes, liquefied petroleum gases used for farm purposes, and commercial farm irrigation equipment will only be exempt when made to commercial farmers. […]

Read more
Posted June 29, 2017 by Erik Wallin
Massachusetts Revokes Nexus Directive 17-1 Before it Takes Effect

Just two days before it was slated to take effect, the Massachusetts Department of Revenue revoked the highly controversial Directive 17-1 that sought to extend sales tax collection and remittance responsibilities on internet vendors that licensed software to Massachusetts customers, used cookies or contracted with marketplace providers located in the state. While Directive 17.2 revoking the earlier guidance is […]

Read more
Posted June 27, 2017 by Sovos
Spain Issues SII Filing Deadline Calculator

Spain is quickly and steadily marching towards the planned July 1 implementation of the new Supply of Information System (locally known as SII) reporting requirement. Under the law, businesses have four days from the time an invoice is issued or received to notify the Spanish Tax Administration (AEAT) of the transaction. Determining the exact day […]

Read more