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.
Unclaimed Property Hunger Games: States Seek Supreme Court Review in ‘Official Check’ Dispute
By Diann Smith, Eric D. Carstens and Stephen P. Kranz on Jun 10, 2016
Posted In Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Audits, Colorado, Constitutional Issues, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Montana, Nationwide Importance, Nebraska, Nevada, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Procedure, South Carolina, Texas, Unclaimed Property, Utah, West Virginia
Background As detailed in our blog last month, MoneyGram Payment Systems, Inc. (MoneyGram) is stuck in between a rock and a hard place as states continue to duel with Delaware over the proper classification of (and priority rules applicable to) MoneyGram’s escheat liability for uncashed “official checks.” The dispute hinges on whether the official checks...
Continue Reading
Breaking News: Texas Comptroller Publishes Retroactive Rule Targeting IT, Pharmaceutical Retailers; Clock Running on Comment Period
By Diann Smith, Eric D. Carstens and Stephen P. Kranz on May 20, 2016
Posted In Audits, Income Tax, Texas
On May 20, 2016, the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts published proposed amendments to 34 Tex. Admin. Code 3.584 – relating to the reduced rate available under the Texas Franchise Tax for retailers and wholesalers – in the Texas Register. As previously reported, these proposed revisions have the potential to double the tax rate for...
Continue Reading
Unclaimed Property Litigation Update – Spring 2016
By Diann Smith, Eric D. Carstens and Stephen P. Kranz on May 16, 2016
Posted In California, Delaware, Nationwide Importance, Pennsylvania, Unclaimed Property
Litigation over unclaimed property rules and obligations continues to accelerate. The first quarter of 2016 brought developments in several cases, including a much-watched contest over merchandise credits and a new battle between the states over which state gets the money. California Merchandise Credits Not Subject to Remittance as Unclaimed Property; Implicit Application of Derivative Rights...
Continue Reading
Alabama Appellate Court Finds Photos Merely Incidental to Nontaxable Photography Services
By McDermott Will & Emery, Eric D. Carstens and Stephen P. Kranz on May 6, 2016
Posted In Alabama, Audits, Nationwide Importance, Sales Tax, Tax Base, Transaction Taxes
Last Friday, the Alabama Court of Civil Appeals handed the Department of Revenue (Department) a significant loss in their continued attempt to tax non-enumerated services and tangible property provided in conjunction with those services under the sales tax. See State Dep’t of Revenue v. Omni Studio, LLC, No. 2140889 (Ala. Civ. App. Apr. 29, 2016)....
Continue Reading
No Surprises in Ohio CAT Nexus Oral Argument
By Diann Smith and Stephen P. Kranz on May 4, 2016
Posted In Audits, Constitutional Issues, Nationwide Importance, Nexus, Ohio, Sales Tax, Transaction Taxes
Oral argument before the Ohio Supreme Court took place on May 3 in the three cases challenging Ohio’s Commercial Activity Tax (CAT) nexus standard. Crutchfield, Inc. v. Testa, Case No. 2015-0386; Mason Cos. Inc. v. Testa, Case No. 2015-0794; Newegg, Inc. v. Testa, Case No. 2015-0483. Ohio imposes its CAT on a business that has...
Continue Reading
BREAKING NEWS: Sales Tax Battle Breaks Out in South Dakota; Quill’s Last Stand?
By McDermott Will & Emery and Stephen P. Kranz on Apr 29, 2016
Posted In Audits, Constitutional Issues, Nexus, Sales Tax, South Dakota, Transaction Taxes
This post is a follow-up to a previous post from April 21, 2016. Introduction On March 22, 2016, South Dakota Governor Dennis Daugaard signed into law Senate Bill 106, which requires any person making more than $100,000 of South Dakota sales or more than 200 separate South Dakota sales transactions to collect and remit sales...
Continue Reading
Should I Register in South Dakota?
By McDermott Will & Emery and Stephen P. Kranz on Apr 21, 2016
Posted In Constitutional Issues, Nationwide Importance, Nexus, Sales Tax, South Dakota, Transaction Taxes
Introduction On March 22, 2016, South Dakota Governor Dennis Daugaard signed into law Senate Bill 106, which requires any person making more than $100,000 of South Dakota sales or more than 200 separate South Dakota sales transactions to collect and remit sales tax. The requirement applies to sales made on or after May 1, 2016....
Continue Reading
Retailers, Such as IT and Pharmaceutical Vendors, Among Businesses Targeted by Texas Comptroller’s Proposed Rule Change
By Diann Smith and Stephen P. Kranz on Apr 19, 2016
Posted In Audits, Income Tax, Texas, Transaction Taxes
The Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts recently proposed amendments to 34 Tex. Admin. Code 3.584 relating to the reduced rate available under the Texas Franchise Tax for retailers and wholesalers. These proposed revisions, which appear to formalize elements of informal guidance issued in August of 2015, have the potential to substantially impact a great number...
Continue Reading
MTC Arm’s-Length Adjustment Service (Part II): “An Expression of Grief, Pity, or Concern”
By Diann Smith and Stephen P. Kranz on Apr 8, 2016
Posted In Audits, Income Tax, Nationwide Importance, Transfer Pricing
Executive Summary Multistate Tax Commission (MTC) transfer pricing program moving forward in some fashion; Priority includes information sharing among participating states (and possibly their third party vendors) on transfer pricing issues. Because a formal agreement was found necessary, the scope of the information shared is presumed to include taxpayer specific information; and States currently have...
Continue Reading
Viral Marketers Beware – In Alabama, Sales Tax Nexus Created for Out-of-State Bookseller Even Though In-State Teachers Not Acting on Behalf of Seller
By Diann Smith and Stephen P. Kranz on Mar 31, 2016
Posted In Alabama, Audits, Constitutional Issues, Nationwide Importance, Nexus, Sales Tax, Transaction Taxes
After a quarter of a century, the school book nexus cases continue to proliferate, delight and mystify. The latest installment in the saga is from Alabama. Scholastic Book Clubs, Inc. 2931 v. State Of Alabama Department Of Revenue, Ala. Tax Tribunal, Dkt. No. S. 14-374 (March 25, 2016). Like the other cases, the question addressed...
Continue Reading
