Tag Archives: Louisiana Legislature

Save the Date! Join us for a Legislative Update Webinar

By Jones Walker LLP on Posted in Jones Walker Announcements, Presentations
With a business-friendly state legislature in Louisiana, significant pro-business tax reform remains front and center on the state’s legislative agenda for 2021. The upcoming legislative session is a fiscal session; therefore, the focus is almost exclusively on tax legislation; many tax bills will be filed and heard, and the scope of the tax session will … Continue Reading

JW SALT Team Presents Webinar: Legislative Update 2020 – Get the Scoop on Louisiana’s Efforts at Tax Reform

By Jones Walker LLP on Posted in Jones Walker Announcements, Presentations, Tax News
With a heavily business-friendly state legislature, before the pandemic, significant pro-business tax reform was on the legislative agenda. Please join members of the Jones Walker SALT team and special guest Senator R.L. “Bret” Allain, II, Louisiana State Senate, as we discuss what did pass, what did not, and what the future may hold for further … Continue Reading

Louisiana Supreme Court “Deals” a Win to Wal-Mart.com and other Online Marketplaces

By Matt Mantle and Cami Fergus on Posted in Judicial Decisions, Tax News, Tax Procedure
Today, in a case of first impression that has captured national attention, the Louisiana Supreme Court held in a 4-3 decision that Wal-Mart.com (an online marketplace facilitator) is not required to collect and remit Jefferson Parish sales tax on behalf of its third-party sellers. See Normand v. Wal-Mart.com USA, LLC, 2019-263 (La. 12/29/19), __ So. … 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

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

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

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

Louisiana Governor’s Proposed Commercial Activity Tax (CAT) Bill Now Filed at Louisiana Legislature

By Matt Mantle on Posted in Legislation, Tax News
Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards’ (D) administration has now filed its bill proposing to create a new Commercial Activity Tax (CAT) in Louisiana. A full copy of the filed original bill, HB 628 (authored by Representative Sam Jones), can be found here. According to the Governor’s previously released 2017 Budget Stabilization Plan, the proposed new … Continue Reading

Louisiana Governor Announces 2017 Budget Stabilization Plan

By Bill Backstrom and Matt Mantle on Posted in Legislation, Tax News
Standing on the edge of a $1.3 billion fiscal cliff, Governor John Bel Edwards (D‑La.) announced his 2017 Budget Stabilization Plan, which he intends to pursue during the 2017 Regular Session of the Louisiana Legislature beginning on April 10, 2017.  The Plan notes that Louisiana is operating under a broken, outdated system, “that just simply does … Continue Reading

Louisiana Discussing Possible New Gross Receipts Tax As Part of Upcoming 2017 Regular Legislative Session

By Matt Mantle and Bill Backstrom on Posted in Legislation, Tax News
Louisiana is at it again! Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards and the Louisiana Department of Revenue are now seriously discussing and considering the recommendation of legislation to create a new gross receipts tax in Louisiana.  The Governor’s administration will likely be presenting this gross receipts tax option to the Louisiana Legislature as part of the … Continue Reading

Louisiana Governor Issues Call for Special Session

By Matt Mantle on Posted in Legislation
It’s official.  Louisiana Governor Jon Bel Edwards has now released his Call for a special legislative session to begin February 13th at 6:30 PM and conclude February 22nd at midnight.  The Call, released today, February 3, 2017, is intended to allow the Louisiana Legislature to plug a $304 million budget hole in the state’s FY … Continue Reading

Louisiana Governor Announces Intent to Issue a Call for Special Session

By Jones Walker LLP on Posted in Jones Walker Announcements, Legislation, Tax News
Today, January 27, Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards announced that he intends to issue a call to bring the Louisiana Legislature into a 10-day special session beginning February 13 and ending February 23. The special session will address a FY 2017 budget deficit estimated to be in excess of $300 million. The Governor has explained … Continue Reading

Louisiana 2017 Special Session Possible

By Matt Mantle on Posted in Legislation
The Louisiana Revenue Estimating Conference met Friday, January 13, 2017, to determine the state’s budget deficit for fiscal year 2017. Based on tax collections, which are below expectations, Louisiana’s economists estimate either a $340M or $502M deficit. The Revenue Estimating Conference ultimately concluded the state’s budget deficit for fiscal year 2017 is $340M, of which … Continue Reading

Louisiana Task Force Releases Recommendations to Reform Louisiana Tax Policy

By Jones Walker LLP on Posted in Tax News
The Louisiana Task Force on Structural Changes in Budget & Tax Policy recently released its recommendations to reform Louisiana’s sales and use tax, individual income tax, corporate income & franchise taxes, ad valorem property tax and economic development incentives. The highlights of the Task Force’s recommendations include: Sales and Use Tax: Expand the sales and use … Continue Reading

Backstrom Quoted in Law360, ‘La. Voters Refuse to Get Rid of Corporate Tax Deduction’

By Jones Walker LLP on Posted in Legislation
Jones Walker SALT Team Leader, Bill Backstrom, was quoted in the Law360 article, “La Voters Refuse to Get Rid of Corporate Tax Deduction” regarding the rejected ballot measure to scrap the corporate tax deduction for federal income taxes paid. The measure was rejected by 56.1 percent of Louisiana voters on Tuesday, November 8. Bill said … Continue Reading
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