Category Archives: Legislation

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City of New Orleans Offering Amnesty Late Fee Forgiveness Program

By Andre Burvant and Cami Fergus on Posted in Legislation, Tax News
In an effort to spur the payment of unpaid back taxes and fees, the City of New Orleans is currently offering an Amnesty Late Fee Forgiveness Program, which began June 3rd and runs through September 3rd, 2019. Certain tax deficiencies, as well as parking and certain camera tickets, code enforcement violations, and even library fines … Continue Reading

June 2019 Louisiana Remote Sellers Commission Meeting Brings Good News and… No News

By Andre Burvant on Posted in Jones Walker Announcements, Legislation, Tax News
Monday’s meeting in Baton Rouge of the Louisiana Sales and Use Tax Commission for Remote Sellers (the “Commission”) included two pieces of good news for just about everyone involved in or affected by the state’s effort to centralize the collection and remittance of sales taxes for remote sales. Unfortunately, there still remains a lack of … Continue Reading

Louisiana’s New Remote Sellers Law: What Does H.B. 547 Have in Common with a Box of Donuts?

By Bill Backstrom and Andre Burvant on Posted in Judicial Decisions, Legislation, Regulations, Tax News
As members of the Jones Walker SALT Team sat around the table in our office kitchen staring into a box of donuts provided by our firm on National Donut Day (the day after the close of the 2019 Regular Session of the Louisiana Legislature), we pondered this question: what does that box of tasty treats … Continue Reading

Louisiana’s Uniform Local Sales Tax Board Issues Adopted Regulation Regarding Uniform Voluntary Disclosure Program and Related Voluntary Disclosure Agreements (VDAs)

By Matt Mantle on Posted in Legislation, Regulations, Tax News, Tax Procedure
Louisiana’s Uniform Local Sales Tax Board (“ULSTB”) has now issued its adopted regulation at Louisiana Administrative Code (“LAC”) 72:I.105 (“Voluntary Disclosure Agreements”) regarding a uniform voluntary disclosure program and corresponding uniform voluntary disclosure agreement (VDA) for Louisiana local sales and use tax purposes.  The final, adopted regulation contains the same language as the prior proposed … Continue Reading

Louisiana Remote Seller Commission Issues Second Information Bulletin – RSIB 18-002 – Addressing Definition of “Remote Seller” and Further Guidance to Remote Sellers

By Matt Mantle and Andre Burvant on Posted in Legislation, Tax Procedure
The Louisiana Sales and Use Tax Commission for Remote Sellers (the “Commission”) has now officially issued its second information bulletin – Remote Sellers Information Bulletin (“RSIB”) 18-002 – which provides a general definition for “remote sellers,” as well as further administrative guidance regarding current and future registration, collection, remittance, and reporting requirements for “remote sellers.” … Continue Reading

Not So Fast: Louisiana State and Local Sales Taxes in a Post-Wayfair World

By Andre Burvant and Matt Mantle on Posted in Judicial Decisions, Legislation, Tax News
As word spread about the Supreme Court’s opinion in South Dakota v. Wayfair, Inc., Dkt. No. 17-494, 485 U.S.        (June 21, 2018), tax administrators around the country popped open bottles of champagne and began toasting the end of the “physical presence” substantial nexus standard.  The sounds of celebration were, at least initially, particularly deafening in … Continue Reading

Louisiana Department of Revenue Issues New “Taxable Rate” Chart to Explain State Sales Tax Changes Following Enactment of Recent Tax Revenue Bill

By Matt Mantle on Posted in Legislation
The Louisiana Department of Revenue has now issued a revised “Taxable Rate” chart (Form R-1002) to provide the Department’s understanding of the new Louisiana state-level sales/use/lease tax rates following the Louisiana legislature’s enactment of the sales tax revenue measure Act 1 (HB 10) in the recently-concluded third special session of the legislature, effective July 1, 2018. A … Continue Reading

Louisiana Governor Issues Call for Second Special Session of 2018 to Address Fiscal Cliff

By Matt Mantle on Posted in Legislation, Tax News
Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards (D) has now issued his anticipated call for a second special legislative session in 2018 (from May 22nd to June 4th).  This 14-day special session is meant to address a stated $648 million budget shortfall, commonly known as the “fiscal cliff.”  This will be the sixth special session called since January of … Continue Reading

John Fletcher: How the SCOTUS hearing on Wayfair may affect internet industries and small businesses in MS

By Jones Walker LLP on Posted in Judicial Decisions, Legislation, Tax News
JW SALT Team member, John Fletcher, published an article in the Mississippi Business Journal on how the US Supreme Court hearing of South Dakota vs. Wayfair will affect internet industries and small businesses in Mississippi.   The Court wrestled over whether it should abandon or uphold its longstanding physical presence requirement and, if oral arguments were any indication, … Continue Reading

Transcript and Audio of United States Supreme Court Oral Arguments in Wayfair Case Available Online

By Jones Walker LLP on Posted in Judicial Decisions, Legislation, Tax News
Now that the fascinating oral argument has concluded at the United States Supreme Court in the case of South Dakota v. Wayfair, copies of both the transcript and audio recording of the oral argument are available to the public for download and/or streaming on the Court’s website. Stay tuned to Cooking with SALT for more on … Continue Reading

COST Issues Call to Action…: Tell Congress to Pass the Mobile Workforce Act As Soon As Possible

By Joe Landry on Posted in Legislation, Tax News
A call to action from our friends at COST: COST and the Mobile Workforce Coalition urge you and your company leadership to send letters during the week of March 5 asking the House and Senate leadership to enact the Mobile Workforce State Income Tax Simplification Act as soon as possible. The Coalition is working to add … Continue Reading

Louisiana Governor Calls Special Legislative Session to Address Tax Issues and Looming “Fiscal Cliff”

By Matt Mantle on Posted in Legislation, Tax News
It’s now official.  Louisiana Governor Jon Bel Edwards (D) has finally released his Call for a special legislative session to begin February 19th and conclude March 7th.  The Call, released today, February 9, 2018, is intended to allow the Louisiana legislature to address the long-term issue of its current taxing and spending structure, as well as the … Continue Reading

Louisiana Governor Provides Draft of 2018 Tax & Budget Priorities to Address Looming Fiscal Cliff and Long-Term Tax Reform

By Matt Mantle and Jay Adams on Posted in Legislation, Tax News
Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards (D) recently met with leaders from the Louisiana Legislature to discuss his draft 2018 Tax & Budget Priorities, including recommendations for how the State should address the long-term issue of its current taxing and spending structure, as well as the short-term issue of the $1 billion “fiscal cliff” looming in … Continue Reading

Louisiana Voters Pass Ad Valorem Tax Exemption for Construction Projects

By Jones Walker LLP on Posted in Legislation, Tax News
On October 21, 2017, Louisiana voters resoundingly voted in favor of a Constitutional Amendment to the Louisiana Constitution (Act 428 of the 2017 Regular Session of the Louisiana Legislature). The Amendment clarifies a long standing practice that construction materials delivered to a construction site are exempt from ad valorem tax during the pendency of the … Continue Reading

Tax Clearance Now Required for Louisiana State Sales Tax Resale Certificates and Approval of Certain State Procurement Contracts

By Matt Mantle on Posted in Legislation, Tax News, Tax Procedure
The Louisiana Department of Revenue has now issued formal guidance regarding the new requirement that taxpayers receive a Louisiana state tax clearance in order to obtain: (i) a new or renew an existing Louisiana state sales tax resale certificates; and (ii) approval of certain Louisiana state procurement contracts. Specifically, the Department has issued the following new Revenue … Continue Reading

Mississippi Takes Next Step Toward Finalizing Remote Use Tax Collection Regulation

By John Fletcher on Posted in Judicial Decisions, Legislation, Tax News
Files Questionable Economic Impact Statement with Secretary of State On Tuesday, the Mississippi Department of Revenue filed an economic impact statement with the Secretary of State addressing its proposed regulation adopting use tax economic nexus standards and remote seller collection obligations. Readers may recall the Department issued the proposed regulation in January and held a … Continue Reading

Mississippi Authorizes Contingent-Fee Tax Head Hunters

By John Fletcher on Posted in Judicial Decisions, Legislation
Department of Revenue Now Authorized to Hire Auditors and Expert Witnesses on Contingency Fees $1,000,000 Appropriation to Fund Contingency Contracts RFPs Quickly Issued for Transfer Pricing Audits and Underreported Cash Sales The Mississippi Legislature recently authorized the Department of Revenue to hire third party tax auditors and expert witnesses and to pay them contingency fees … Continue Reading

Mississippi’s Sales Tax Regulatory Smorgasbord Continues—Internet Sellers and Commercial Contractors on the Menu!

By John Fletcher on Posted in Legislation, Tax News
UPDATE:  On October 17, 2017, the Department filed a notice formally withdrawing this proposed amendment to the contractor’s tax regulation.  No explanation was given for the withdrawal, and we will monitor future filings in the event a new amendment proposal is made. The Mississippi Department of Revenue’s recent flurry of regulatory activity continues unabated with … Continue Reading

Jones Walker LLP and the BCNO Host Discussion on Federal Tax Reform led by Derek Theurer, Tax Counsel to U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy

By Jones Walker LLP on Posted in Jones Walker Announcements, Legislation
Jones Walker LLP and the Business Council of New Orleans and the River Region recently hosted a discussion on federal tax reform and its potential impact on businesses and individuals. The discussion was led by Derek Theurer, Tax Counsel to U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. Sen. Cassidy serves on the Senate Finance Committee and will … Continue Reading

Much Ado About Nothing: Louisiana’s 2017 Regular Session Legislative Wrap-Up

By Joe Landry and Matt Mantle on Posted in Legislation, Tax News
The Louisiana Legislature’s 2017 Regular Session has now concluded, and as previously reported, numerous tax measures were proposed.  Ultimately, however, much of the proposed legislation addressing long-term tax reform was largely rejected by the Legislature during the Regular Session, leaving questions currently unanswered as to how the state will ultimately address the long-term issue of … Continue Reading

Mississippi Governor Announces Special Session for June 5

By John Fletcher on Posted in Judicial Decisions, Legislation, Tax News
Mississippi Governor Phil Bryant announced Tuesday afternoon on Facebook that he would call a special session of the Mississippi Legislature to begin June 5. The 2017 regular session ended earlier this year without having approved 2018 fiscal year budgets for the Department of Transportation or the Attorney General’s office, and the special session is intended … Continue Reading

Louisiana CAT Cannot Claw Its Way Out of Committee: Bill Voluntarily Deferred by Sponsor

By Bill Backstrom and Matt Mantle on Posted in Legislation, Tax News
The hotly contested new Commercial Activity Tax (“CAT”) proposal in Louisiana – H.B. 628 – may now have officially run out of lives. After hours of debate over two days of hearings in the Louisiana House Ways & Means Committee, Governor Edwards’ (D) proposed CAT was voluntarily deferred by the bill’s sponsor, Rep. Sam Jones.  … Continue Reading
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