Stephen P. Kranz
Subscribe to Stephen P. Kranz's PostsStephen (Steve) P. Kranz is a tax lawyer who solves tax problems differently. Over the course of his extensive career, Steve has acquired specific skills and developed a unique approach that helps clients develop and implement holistic solutions to all varieties of tax problems. He combines strategic thinking with effective skills for the courtroom, the statehouse and the conference room. Read Stephen Kranz's full bio.
DC Council Introduces False Claims Expansion – Taxpayers Beware!
By Diann Smith, Eric D. Carstens and Stephen P. Kranz on Apr 24, 2017
Posted In District of Columbia, False Claims Act, Michigan, Nationwide Importance, Procedure
Last month, a bill (The False Claims Amendment Act of 2017, B22-0166) was introduced by District of Columbia Councilmember Mary Cheh that would allow tax-related false claims against large taxpayers. Co-sponsors of the bill include Chairman Jack Evans and Councilmember Anita Bonds. Specifically, the bill would amend the existing false claims statute to expressly authorize...
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Delaware Proposes Unclaimed Property Regulations – No April Fools
By Diann Smith, Eric D. Carstens and Stephen P. Kranz on Apr 7, 2017
Posted In Audits, Constitutional Issues, Delaware, Nationwide Importance, Procedure, Unclaimed Property
On Saturday, April 1, 2017, the Delaware Department of Finance (DOF) promulgated two regulations that would repeal all existing unclaimed property regulations and replace them with a single DOF regulation containing a revised Reporting and Examination Manual. The Secretary of State (SOS) also promulgated a regulation that outlines the method of estimation to be used...
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Unclaimed Property Gift Card Legislation to Watch
By Diann Smith, Eric D. Carstens and Stephen P. Kranz on Feb 7, 2017
Posted In New Hampshire, Oregon, Unclaimed Property
Most states are well off to the races with their 2017 legislative sessions and several states have gift card legislation pending that would impact unclaimed property holders. Oregon On January 9, 2017, a bill (SB 113) was introduced in the Senate that would create a new unclaimed property reporting obligation for gift cards, which would apply...
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Breaking News: Unclaimed Property Legislation Passes Delaware General Assembly
By Diann Smith, Eric D. Carstens and Stephen P. Kranz on Jan 26, 2017
Posted In Delaware, Nationwide Importance, Procedure, Uncategorized, Unclaimed Property
On January 26, 2017, the Delaware House approved comprehensive unclaimed property rewrite legislation (SB 13) that was passed by the Senate (with committee amendments) last week. Our summary of many of the key provisions of the bill (as introduced) is available here. Because the amended version of SB 13 has now passed both chambers of...
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NCSL Task Force on SALT Meets in Anticipation of Active Legislative Sessions
By McDermott Will & Emery, Eric D. Carstens and Stephen P. Kranz on Jan 17, 2017
Posted In Audits, Constitutional Issues, Federal Tax, Income Tax, Nationwide Importance, Nexus, Sales Tax, Tax Base, Transaction Taxes
On Saturday, January 14, the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) Task Force on State and Local Taxation (Task Force) met in Scottsdale, Arizona to discuss many of the key legislative issues that are likely to be considered by states in 2017. The Task Force consists of state legislators and staff from 33 states and...
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Breaking News: Delaware Unclaimed Property Legislation – Lipstick on a Pig?
By Diann Smith, Eric D. Carstens and Stephen P. Kranz on Jan 12, 2017
Posted In Delaware, Nationwide Importance, Procedure, Unclaimed Property
The Delaware General Assembly has introduced legislation that would significantly rewrite the Delaware unclaimed property statute by repealing the three current subchapters and replacing them with a single unclaimed property subchapter. This article highlights key proposed changes in the bill. Read the full article.
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BREAKING NEWS: US Supreme Court Denies Cert in Direct Marketing Association v. Brohl
By McDermott Will & Emery, Eric D. Carstens and Stephen P. Kranz on Dec 12, 2016
Posted In Alabama, Colorado, Constitutional Issues, Nationwide Importance, Nexus, Ohio, Sales Tax, South Dakota, Tennessee, Transaction Taxes
This morning, the US Supreme Court announced that it denied certiorari in Direct Marketing Association v. Brohl, which was on appeal from the US Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit. The denied petitions were filed this fall by both the Direct Marketing Association (DMA) and Colorado, with the Colorado cross-petition explicitly asking the Court...
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Revised Uniform Unclaimed Property Act Finalized for State Enactment—Legislative Drafting Notes and Interpretative Comments Added
By Diann Smith, Eric D. Carstens and Stephen P. Kranz on Nov 18, 2016
Posted In Audits, Constitutional Issues, Nationwide Importance, Procedure, Unclaimed Property
The fourth iteration of a uniform unclaimed property act—entitled the Revised Uniform Unclaimed Property Act (RUUPA or Act)—has been finalized by the Uniform Law Commission for state enactment. The new Prefatory Note, Legislative Notes, and Comments components offer further explanatory guidance on the Act. Read the full article.
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BREAKING NEWS: No Physical Presence Required for Ohio CAT Imposition
By Diann Smith, Eric D. Carstens and Stephen P. Kranz on Nov 17, 2016
Posted In Constitutional Issues, Income Tax, Nationwide Importance, Nexus, Ohio, Sales Tax
Today, the Ohio Supreme Court issued its much-anticipated slip opinions in the three companion cases challenging Ohio’s Commercial Activity Tax (CAT) economic nexus standard. See Crutchfield Corp. v. Testa, Slip Op. No. 2016-Ohio-7760; Newegg, Inc. v. Testa, Slip Op. No. 2016-Ohio-7762; and Mason Cos., Inc. v. Testa, Slip Op. No. 2016-Ohio-7768. In ruling 5-2 in...
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Digital Tax Update – Local Edition
By McDermott Will & Emery, Eric D. Carstens and Stephen P. Kranz on Oct 20, 2016
Posted In Alabama, Audits, California, Colorado, Local Tax, Nationwide Importance, Sales Tax, Tax Base, Transaction Taxes
After the highly publicized administrative lease transaction and amusement tax expansions in Chicago last year, more cities around the country are taking steps to impose transaction taxes on the sale or rental of digital content. Unlike tax expansion efforts at the state level (such as the law recently passed in Pennsylvania), which have almost all...
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