Regulatory Analysis

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). […]

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Posted July 4, 2017 by Adam Rivera
IRS Releases Bulletin No. 2017-26 Highlighting Certain Information Return Updates and Changes

The IRS recently released Bulletin No. 2017-26. The bulletin is noteworthy particularly because part of this Bulletin will be repurposed into Publication 1179. Below is a list of the changes the IRS has specifically highlighted for attention: Vendor code. The use of a vendor code is encouraged in place of a form printer EINs. See […]

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Posted July 4, 2017 by Paul Ogawa
IRS Releases 2017 Guam Wage & Tax Statement

The IRS recently published the 2017 version of Form W-2GU, the Guam Wage and Tax Statement. This form is used to report Guam wages, and should not be used to report wages subject to U.S. income tax withholding. While the form itself remains the same, there are minor changes made to the instructions attached […]

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Posted July 4, 2017 by Adam Rivera
IRS Releases Publication 1179, General Rules and Specifications for Substitute Forms 1096, 1098, 1099, 5498, and Certain Other Information R

The IRS has released an updated Publication 1179 for Tax Year 2017. This publication provides guidelines for those who create and provide substitute information returns to follow.  There are a few changes from the previous revision:   Vendor codes The use of a vendor code is encouraged in place of a form printer EINs The […]

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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. […]

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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. […]

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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 […]

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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 […]

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Posted July 1, 2017 by Paul Ogawa
Delaware Advances Filing Due Date for 1099-MISC

Filing extended for 1099-MISC Forms reporting non-employee compensation now in line with federal calendar.  Delaware recently amended legislation pertaining to information returns, and part of this legislation advances the filing due date for 1099-MISC forms reporting non-employee compensation in Box 7. This brings the filing deadlines in line with the federal calendar. 1099-MISC forms […]

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Posted June 30, 2017 by Tom Hospod
IRS Releases Drafts of Form W-8IMY and Instructions

The IRS has published draft versions of its revised Form W-8IMY, Certificate of Foreign Intermediary, Foreign Flow-Through Entity, or Certain U.S. Branches for United States Tax Withholding and Reporting, and instructions for filers of this form. There are a number of significant updates to this form of which filers should be aware: Qualified […]

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Posted June 30, 2017 by Tom Hospod
IRS Reminds Financial Institutions to Renew FFI Agreements

The IRS released an updated FFI Agreement for Financial Institutions with FATCA obligations on December 30, 2016. Those FFIs whose agreements expired at the end of last year, and that wish to retain their GIINs, are required to renew their FFI Agreements. They can do so through the FATCA FFI Registration System. The FFIs will be […]

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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 […]

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Posted June 29, 2017 by Jesse Rooney
Virginia Releases Updated Electronic Payment Guide

Virginia has lately released an updated copy of its Electronic Payment Guide.  This guide details the instructions necessary to complete an ACH payment to the Department of Taxation.  No material changes were made to instructions for filing or paying taxes related to withholding or information returns.  Some changes were made to the instructions for […]

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Posted June 29, 2017 by Paul Ogawa
South Carolina Releases Updated Withholding Tax Coupon

South Carolina recently released an updated Form WH-1601, Withholding Tax Coupon. This form/coupon is used to submit payment to the South Carolina Department of Revenue. This form/coupon also has an electronic counterpart on the South Carolina MYDORWAY online portal for those who make their payments electronically. There was one minor change to the preliminary […]

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Posted June 29, 2017 by Paul Ogawa
South Carolina Releases Updated Interest Rates for Overpayments and Underpayments

The South Carolina Department of Revenue recently published Information Letter #17-9, detailing interest rates for overpayments and underpayments relating to withholding tax through September 2017. South Carolina publishes these Information Letters periodically throughout the year, and these letters are the primary method of notifying the taxpaying public about changes in withholding tax interest. The […]

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Posted June 28, 2017 by Tom Hospod
Senate Delays Vote on Health Care Bill until after July 4th Recess

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell announced Tuesday afternoon that the Senate would not hold a vote this week on the Better Care Reconciliation Act of 2017, as had been originally planned. Senate leadership cited a need for further revision to the original draft, as five Senators have vowed to vote against the bill in its current form. A […]

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Posted June 28, 2017 by Sovos
United Kingdom Publishes Guidance on Supply-Splitting Tax Avoidance Schemes

On June 26, 2017 Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC) published Spotlight 38, which divulges the HMRC position on supply-splitting tax avoidance schemes. The publication makes clear that HMRC considers any type of VAT supply-splitting arrangements, when designed to reduce the amount of VAT owed, to be tax avoidance. The publication goes on to state […]

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Posted June 27, 2017 by Tom Hospod
CBO Scores Senate Healthcare Bill–22 Million Additional Uninsured

The Congressional Budget Office has handed down its report on last week’s discussion draft of the Senate’s Better Care Reconciliation Act of 2017. By the CBO’s estimate, the Senate bill would result in an additional 22 million Americans being uninsured over the next 10 years – on top of the current estimated 28 million who […]

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