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
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 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
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 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
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
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
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 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
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 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
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
State & Local Tax partner Matt Mantle was recently quoted in the Bloomberg BNA article “Louisiana Law Requires Parishes Equal Access to Exemptions,” regarding optional local-level exemptions in Louisiana and the recent Louisiana Supreme Court decision (Arrow Aviation Co, LLC v. St. Martin Parish, La., No. 2016-CA-1132, 12/6/16) addressing the issue of whether a pointed … Continue Reading
Originally published by Tax Law360. Taxation by states of out-of-state online retail sales remains a hotly contested issue. Louisiana is now part of that national sales tax nexus conversation. In March of 2016, during a special legislative session called by new Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards (D) to address the State’s current budget shortfalls, the … Continue Reading
It is somewhat rare for the Louisiana Supreme Court to entertain three tax cases in one year. It is even rarer for the Court to hear three state and local tax cases in back-to-back sessions. However, that is exactly what the Court will be doing! On January 25th and 26th, the Court will hear oral … Continue Reading
Newly elected Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards recently outlined his short-term and long-term plans to close the $750 million budget gap in the current fiscal year and tackle the $1.9 billion gap in the upcoming fiscal year. The current fiscal year ends June 30. A full copy of the Governor’s plan showing short-term and long-term … Continue Reading
Jones Walker State & Local Tax Partner Kimberly Lewis Robinson has been tapped by Louisiana Governor-elect John Bel Edwards to serve as the new Secretary of Revenue for the State of Louisiana. Kim ‘s appointment was announced yesterday afternoon by Governor-elect Edwards during a press conference in Baton Rouge. In her new role, Kim will lead … Continue Reading
As we reported in prior posts, the Louisiana Legislature passed several revenue raising bills this year in an attempt to address an apparent $1.6 billion budget hole for the 2016 fiscal year. One of those new bills, HB 624 (now Act 123), provides a 28% reduction to certain corporate income tax exclusions and deductions, including … Continue Reading
Trick or Treat! Louisiana’s 2015 Tax Amnesty program begins at 12:00 AM on November 16, 2015 and closes on December 15, 2015. The 2015 iteration of the amnesty program offers a 33% waiver of penalties and 17% waiver of interest for taxpayers that apply and pay 100% of delinquent taxes. Here’s a scary thought: This … Continue Reading
There’s a children’s book, “The Goose That Almost Got Cooked,” which tells the story of a Canadian goose who takes a break from her flight south for the winter to rest at a lovely farm where the other geese are fed three meals a day. The Canadian goose thinks this is the life until discovering one … Continue Reading
Attention business taxpayers! The Louisiana legislative session is now over, and your Summer plans have now changed. Cancel your June beach trip, and prepare to get to work. ACTION ITEM: You should consider filing your 2014 Louisiana Income Tax Returns and 2015 Louisiana Franchise Tax Returns by June 30, 2015 to avoid many of the … Continue Reading
Our own Bill Backstrom enjoys a tasty treat in honor of National Doughnut Day! In honor of the 77th annual celebration of National Doughnut Day, the New Orleans contingent of the Jones Walker SALT Team brought in their favorite doughnuts from all over the City. And while it appears there is still some ongoing debate and controversy over the … Continue Reading
The Louisiana Legislature’s ever-evolving tax and revenue “gumbo pot” is now really getting hot! And, as of this moment, the business community is still being served up as the main course. On May 18th, the Senate Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Committee moved forward several key tax bills that have already passed out of the Louisiana House of … Continue Reading
Don’t blink! Pay close attention, because things are moving quickly right now at the Louisiana Legislature! The Senate Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Committee met Monday, May 11th to hear a series of tax bills, including bills to implement combined reporting and an add-back provision for corporate income tax and clean-up provisions for the Louisiana Board … Continue Reading
