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.
Following Maryland’s Lead? We Guess Everyone Wants to Go to Court. Icy Challenges to Nebraska’s Advertising Services Tax Act Start to Emerge
By Stephen P. Kranz, Mark Nebergall and Jonathan C. Hague on Jan 18, 2024
Posted In Constitutional Issues, Nationwide Importance, Nebraska, Sales Tax, Tax Base
Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen’s ambitious plan to provide $2 billion in property tax relief via an increase in the sales tax rate and an expansion of the sales tax base is stirring significant debate. Part of his proposal is embodied in the newly introduced Legislative Bills 1310 and 1354, known as the “Advertising Services Tax...
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New York Formally Adopts Corporate Tax Reform Regulations
By Stephen P. Kranz, Richard C. Call, Michael J. Hilkin and David Jasphy on Dec 28, 2023
Posted In New York
On December 27, 2023, the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance (Department) adopted corporate tax reform regulations addressing New York’s corporate tax reform effective in 2015. The adopted regulations are consistent with the proposed regulations released in August 2023 and only include what the Department has called “minor clarifying and technical changes.” Although...
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Action Required: Maryland Denies All Ad Tax Refund Claims
By Stephen P. Kranz, Eric D. Carstens and Mark Nebergall on Oct 27, 2023
Posted In Maryland, Nationwide Importance, Procedure
The Maryland Comptroller appears to have denied all refund claims for the 2022 digital advertising gross revenues (DAGR) tax! The denial notices were seemingly dated on or around October 11, 2023, and were sent via certified mail two weeks ago. The denial notices require immediate action by taxpayers. Read more here.
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Massachusetts Adopts Single-Sales-Factor Apportionment; Manufacturing Classification Becomes Less Controversial
By Stephen P. Kranz, Richard C. Call and David Jasphy on Oct 11, 2023
Posted In Allocation/Apportionment, Massachusetts
On October 4, 2023, Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey signed House Bill 4104 into law. The most significant change it introduces is the adoption of single-sales-factor apportionment (SSF) for all corporate taxpayers, not just manufacturers and mutual fund service corporations. Massachusetts joins more than 30 other states that have adopted either mandatory or elective SSF. The...
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Texas Taxing 130% of Marketplace Sales
By Stephen P. Kranz, Mark Nebergall and Eric D. Carstens on Oct 3, 2023
Posted In Audits, Nationwide Importance, Sales Tax, Texas, Transaction Taxes
Proving that everything is bigger in Texas, the state’s Comptroller is now assessing marketplace providers on 130% of their sales. It seems a sales tax on 100% was not big enough for tax officials in the Lone Star State. The additional 30% is a tax on the portion of the product sales price kept by...
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Maryland Ad Tax Denials Coming: Are You Ready for Tax Court?
By Stephen P. Kranz, Mark Nebergall and Eric D. Carstens on Sep 18, 2023
Posted In Maryland, Nationwide Importance, Procedure
Winter is coming, and so are denials of taxpayer refund claims for return of the illegally extracted Maryland digital ad tax (DAT). Sources in Annapolis report the Maryland Comptroller is preparing denial notices imminently. Taxpayers need to be prepared for quick action once that happens. According to our intelligence, the denial letters will inform recipients...
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At the 10-Yard Line: New York Formally Proposes Corporate Tax Reform Regulations
By Stephen P. Kranz, Richard C. Call, Michael J. Hilkin and David Jasphy on Aug 11, 2023
Posted In Allocation/Apportionment, Income Tax, Local Tax, Nationwide Importance, New York, Nexus, Unitary Business
On August 9, 2023, the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance (Department) released 417 pages of proposed regulations, an important step toward concluding a now almost decade-long process to implement corporate tax reform. The journey began in 2014 with the enactment of legislation modernizing the state’s corporate tax law. Thereafter, the Department released...
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As Minnesota Moves Toward GILTI Taxation, New Jersey May Be Moving Away from It
By Stephen P. Kranz, Michael J. Hilkin and Diann Smith on May 23, 2023
Posted In Allocation/Apportionment, Federal Tax, Income Tax, Minnesota, Nationwide Importance, New Jersey, Tax Base, Unitary Business
We previously reported that the Minnesota Legislature was considering imposing mandatory worldwide combined reporting through an omnibus tax bill. Subsequent to our report and in the face of numerous criticisms, Minnesota Senate leaders backed away from the proposal. But ominously, those same leaders said they would examine other tax increases to make up for the...
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Be Careful What You Wish For: Minnesota May Be on the Precipice of Enacting Worldwide Combined Reporting at the Worst Possible Time
By Stephen P. Kranz, Michael J. Hilkin and Diann Smith on May 4, 2023
Posted In Federal Tax, Income Tax, Local Tax, Minnesota, Nationwide Importance, Tax Base, Unitary Business
It has been widely reported that the Minnesota Legislature has advanced an omnibus tax bill that would require the inclusion of the “entire worldwide income” of combined corporate income tax filers engaging in a unitary business. Tax press outlets have made the broad claim that mandatory worldwide combined reporting will “add foreign subsidiaries’ profits” to...
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Massachusetts Department of Revenue Releases Guidance on a De Minimis Exception for Use Tax on Rolling Stock
By Richard C. Call, Stephen P. Kranz and Jonathan C. Hague on Mar 28, 2023
Posted In Audits, Local Tax, Massachusetts, Nationwide Importance, Sales Tax
The Massachusetts Department of Revenue (DOR) recently released Directive 23-1, which outlines the conditions for a de minimis exception where the Commissioner will not require a taxpayer to pay the use tax for rolling stock used or stored within the state. This directive comes at a time when the DOR is auditing many companies that...
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