State & Local
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July 24, 2025
Pa. House Bill Seeks Sales, Biz Tax Breaks For Steelmakers
Pennsylvania would establish a sales and use tax exemption for steel products made in the state and provide tax credits for companies that invest in steel production facilities and meet certain job creation requirements under a bill introduced in the state House of Representatives.
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July 24, 2025
Minn. Liquor Retailer Challenges Indirect Audit At High Court
The Minnesota Tax Court was wrong to find that an indirect audit of a liquor retailer provided sufficient evidence of its sales tax liability, the business told the state Supreme Court in a petition seeking review of the case.
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July 24, 2025
NC Urges 4th Circ. Not To Block Vape Regs During Appeal
North Carolina officials are urging the Fourth Circuit to deny a bid by vape interests to block enforcement of a new state vaping regulation while they appeal their case, saying the plaintiffs have already tried, and failed, three times to show they deserve an injunction.
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July 23, 2025
Tax Guidance Still Vital Amid Waning Deference, Atty Says
A decline in judicial deference to state agencies' interpretations of statutes and regulations shouldn't dissuade state tax administrators from promulgating guidance on their tax laws, a Federation of Tax Administrators attorney said Wednesday.
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July 23, 2025
Fund Manager Drops Case Over NYC Tax ALJ Shortage
A New York fund manager that claimed in federal court that a shortage of administrative law judges in New York City's Tax Appeals Tribunal gave it no avenue for its assessment challenge has dropped the federal case.
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July 23, 2025
Ore. Tax Court Upholds Farm Value Over Owner's Claim
An Oregon farm owner failed to show that his property was overvalued by a local assessor, the state tax court said, rejecting the owner's argument that the assessor misclassified the soil on the land.
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July 23, 2025
NJ Power Broker Blasts AG's Bid To Revive RICO Case
Garden State power broker George E. Norcross III on Wednesday urged a New Jersey appeals court to affirm the dismissal of the state's explosive racketeering indictment, arguing the trial court was right to toss the charges because there are no factual allegations in the indictment that amount to a crime.
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July 23, 2025
Rising Star: Freshfields' Joe Soltis
Joe Soltis of Freshfields LLP has advised companies on several multibillion-dollar transactions, including Cencora's $4.6 billion acquisition of Retina Consultants of America, earning him a spot among the tax law practitioners under age 40 honored by Law360 as Rising Stars.
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July 23, 2025
Oregon Gov. Calls Special Session For Transportation Funds
Oregon lawmakers will convene a special legislative session to address transportation funding needs, the governor said, as they did not approve a package in the regular session.
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July 23, 2025
Katten Welcomes Ex-Gibson Dunn Tax Pro In New York
Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP announced on Tuesday that it has added a former Gibson Dunn & Crutcher LLP of counsel to its transactional tax planning practice, noting her extensive experience in the finance space.
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July 23, 2025
IRS Cuts May Hamper State Tax Enforcement, Officials Warn
Heads of state tax agencies warned Wednesday that recent cuts in IRS staffing may cause gaps in state-level tax enforcement, as agencies rely on information from the federal government to bolster auditing efforts.
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July 23, 2025
Pa. Trial Court Must Redo Properties' Valuations, Ruling Says
A Pennsylvania trial court incorrectly changed the valuation of two taxpayers' properties and overstepped its authority when it combined the assessments of the taxpayers and the city, the Commonwealth Court ruled.
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July 23, 2025
Texas House Bill Seeks Study Of Sales And Use Taxes
Texas would direct its comptroller to study the state's sales and use tax system and submit a report to the governor and state lawmakers under a bill introduced in the state House of Representatives at the start of a special session.
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July 23, 2025
Why Private REITs Are Having A Moment
Investments in private real estate investment trusts are surging, and that trend may strengthen as state regulators mull limiting investments in other, quasi-public REITs, while securities regulators have recently eased accreditation requirements for investors raising private capital.
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July 22, 2025
Wash. Appeals Court Affirms Biz Tax Rule For Drop Shippers
The Washington Court of Appeals upheld the state's rule on Tuesday that out-of-state wholesalers in drop shipment transactions are subject to a business tax when the customer that ultimately receives the product is within the Evergreen State's borders, rejecting a challenge from California IT distributor Synnex.
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July 22, 2025
FTA Communicating With IRS On New Federal Tax Changes
The Federation of Tax Administrators has talked with the Internal Revenue Service about how the recent federal tax changes will be carried out, and it plans to communicate with state representatives to help them with the new law, the FTA's top official said Tuesday.
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July 22, 2025
Mo. High Court Says Counties Can't Tax Pot In Certain Areas
Counties can't add their own taxes on sales of adult-use cannabis in incorporated areas such as cities that impose their own tax, Missouri's highest court said Tuesday, reversing a lower court decision that upheld the county taxes.
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July 22, 2025
Streamlined Sales Tax Board Eyes Bundling Rule Overhaul
The Streamlined Sales Tax Governing Board is likely in the coming months to revisit its model for taxing products sold in a bundle, an official with the board said Tuesday.
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July 22, 2025
Colo. Panel Hears Proposals To Apply TABOR To More Fees
Colorado would apply its Taxpayer's Bill of Rights to a wider range of fee increases under a group of proposed ballot initiatives heard by state officials Tuesday, with proponents saying work remained to be done on language in the measures.
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July 22, 2025
Greenberg Traurig Adds State And Local Tax Pro From EY
Greenberg Traurig is bringing on a former principal in EY's national tax practice as a shareholder in the firm's Chicago office to advise on state and local tax matters.
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July 22, 2025
Colo. Ballot Plan Seeks 3% Funding Drop For Tax Rate Cut
Colorado would reduce general fund appropriations by 3% with the savings returned to taxpayers in the form of a lower tax rate under a ballot initiative proposed for the November 2026 statewide ballot heard by state officials Tuesday.
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July 22, 2025
NJ Requires State Buyback Of Unused Tax Credits
New Jersey's tax agency will be required to purchase certain unused tax credits for real estate development projects under a bill Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy signed Tuesday.
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July 22, 2025
Texas Resolution Proposes Vote On Ending Property Taxes
Texas would ask voters if the state should amend its constitution to abolish property taxes by 2030 under a joint resolution filed Tuesday in the state House.
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July 22, 2025
Colo. Ballot Proposal Seeks Tax Break For Overtime, Tips
Colorado would exempt overtime and tipped income from state taxation under a proposed 2026 ballot measure reviewed Tuesday by state officials.
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July 22, 2025
Archer & Greiner Lands Cullen And Dykman Tax Leader In NJ
Archer & Greiner PC has added the former leader of Cullen and Dykman LLP's tax department as a partner, who brings her expertise in mergers and acquisitions and other transactions to the firm.
Expert Analysis
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Meeting A New Tax Across The River: SALT In Review
From New York's revised congestion pricing for lower Manhattan to the reality of artificial intelligence in tax administration, RSM's David Brunori offers his thoughts on noteworthy state and local tax news.
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3 Ways To Train Junior Lawyers In 30 Minutes Or Less
Today’s junior lawyers are experiencing a skills gap due to pandemic-era disruptions, but firms can help bring them up to speed by offering high-impact skill building content in bite-sized, interactive training sessions, say Stacey Schwartz at Katten, Diane Costigan at Winston & Strawn and Lauren Tierney at Freshfields.
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The Bar Needs More Clarity On The Discovery Objection Rule
Almost 10 years after Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 34 was amended, attorneys still seem confused about what they should include in objections to discovery requests, and until the rules committee provides additional clarity, practitioners must beware the steep costs of noncompliance, says Tristan Ellis at Shanies Law Office.
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States, Taxes And Scorecards: SALT In Review
From the latest noteworthy rankings of the states' business tax regimes to results of ballot measures across the country, RSM's David Brunori offers his thoughts on noteworthy state and local tax news.
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So You Want To Move Your Law Practice To Canada, Eh?
Google searches for how to move to Canada have surged in the wake of the U.S. presidential election, and if you’re an attorney considering a move to the Great White North, you’ll need to understand how the practice of law differs across the border, says David Postel at Henein Hutchison.
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Promoting Diversity In The Selection Of ADR Neutrals
Excerpt from Practical Guidance
Choosing neutrals from diverse backgrounds is an important step in promoting inclusion in the legal profession, and it can enhance the legitimacy and public perception of alternative dispute resolution proceedings, say attorneys at Lowenstein Sandler.
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Considering Chevron's End Through A State Tax Lens
States took the lead in encouraging Chevron's demise, turning away from Chevron-type deference in state tax administration ahead of the U.S. Supreme Court’s Loper Bright decision, a trend likely to accelerate as courts take a more active role in interpreting tax laws, say attorneys at Eversheds Sutherland.
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Kentucky Tax Talk: Finally Better Online Records At Revenue?
The Kentucky Department of Revenue has not taken significant visible steps toward complying with legislation requiring it to post administrative guidance on its website starting no later than Nov. 15, and refusal to do so would widen the transparency gap between the state and its more business-friendly neighbors, say attorneys at Frost Brown.
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Striking A Balance Between AI Use And Attorney Well-Being
As the legal industry increasingly adopts generative artificial intelligence tools to boost efficiency, leaders must note the hidden costs of increased productivity, and work to protect attorneys’ well-being while unlocking AI’s full potential, says Ed Sohn at Factor.
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Overreach In Texas And An Acronym In Peril: SALT In Review
From the Council on State Taxation's take on a proposal in Texas to the potential end of a fundamental truth in Montana, RSM's David Brunori offers his thoughts on noteworthy state and local tax news.
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How Judiciary Can Minimize AI Risks In Secondary Sources
Because courts’ standing orders on generative artificial intelligence and other safeguards do not address the risk of hallucinations in secondary source materials, the judiciary should consider enlisting legal publishers and database hosts to protect against AI-generated inaccuracies, say attorneys at Lankler Siffert & Wohl.
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NY Tax Talk: Questions In Corporate Franchise Tax Regs Case
In the first challenge to New York's Corporate Franchise Tax regulations — Paychex v. Department of Taxation and Finance — the court has an important opportunity to provide clarity on a major retroactive application issue, say attorneys at Eversheds Sutherland.
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How Attorneys Can Break Free From Career Enmeshment
Ambitious attorneys can sometimes experience career enmeshment — when your sense of self-worth becomes unhealthily tangled up in your legal vocation — but taking the time to discover and realign with your core personal values can help you recover your identity, says Janna Koretz at Azimuth Psychological.