Univar, Chapter Two: Only a Pair of Constitutional Claims Survive Dismissal (For Now)

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Our Unclaimed Property Team breaks down the many individual issues at stake in the continuing epic of Univar’s struggle against Delaware and its use of a third-party auditor, and how the courts are deciding in light of earlier Third Circuit rulings. The procedural due process and equal protection claims survive The other claims were dismissed, but could be revived later The next chapter will be set (again) in chancery court Read the full advisory here. [...]Read more

Proposed Regulations Classifying Cloud Transactions and Digital Content Released

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As the computer transactions of the 21st century continue to evolve, our International Tax Group downloads Treasury and the IRS’s attempt at updating the tax implications to keep up. Refreshing the 1998 regulations Classifying cloud transactions Key concerns and looking ahead Read the full advisory here. [...]Read more

False Claims Act Is Again in Focus, This Time in New York

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Last week, our Unclaimed Property Team uncovered the broader implications of a New York court’s False Claims Act ruling that could create a new risk for holders that report past-due property. Overview of the action brought by the relator The court’s decision Implications for holders Read the full advisory here. [...]Read more

Treasury’s Section 482 Regulation Losses

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Do what Treasury said, not what it says it meant. Earlier this month, our Federal Tax Group explains why the circuit court affirmed one Tax Court decision and reversed another in the name of consistency – and why it means regulation preambles are more important than ever. Affirming in Amazon, reversing in Altera Holding the IRS to literal terms of the regulation Similarity to the Supreme Court ruling on the census citizenship question Read the full advisory here. [...]Read more

Old Law, New Tricks: Long-Awaited PFIC Guidance Proposed

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Our International Tax Group highlights new guidance on fundamental issues and points out a few sources of potential headache for taxpayers in response to the IRS and Treasury proposing the most significant regulations on passive foreign investment companies (PFICs) in nearly 30 years. Clarifications for the Income and Asset Tests Updates to the PFIC exceptions and look-through rules PFIC stock attribution Read the full advisory here. [...]Read more

Questioning Old Regulations

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In response to the Third Circuit's SIH Partners v. Commissioner ruling, our Federal Tax Group reflects on the decision and suggests taking a second look at old Treasury regulations that might not survive judicial scrutiny. The court worked hard to save Section 956 How much deference will a court give Treasury? For example: Section 951 Read the full advisory here. [...]Read more

Altera Redux – The Ninth Circuit Once Again Holds in Favor of the IRS

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Last week, our International Tax Group examines the Ninth Circuit repeating itself in reversing a unanimous Tax Court holding on the validity of the Treasury's regulations under Section 482. We examine the reconstituted  panel's significant decisions, which in many ways follow the first panel's conclusions. Altera v. Commissioner, Parts 1, 2, and now, 3 What is the meaning of “commensurate with income”? What does this case say about previous standards under Chevron? Read the full advisory here. [...]Read more

Indian Tribe Taxes in the States

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In response to a Supreme Court decision on state taxation of an Indian tribe, our Federal Tax Group parses the meaning of what is actually being taxed and the broader implications for taxpayers. The Treaty of 1855 Two points of broader significance Identifying the right arguments Click here to read the full advisory. [...]Read more

U.S. Supreme Court Carves a Narrow Taxpayer Win on Due Process in Kaestner

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One year after dropping the landmark Wayfair decision, our State & Local Tax Group examines why this year’s Supreme Court decision in North Carolina Department of Revenue v. Kimberley Rice Kaestner 1992 Family Trust won’t leave much of a mark. Kaestner focuses narrowly on the trust at issue in the case The Court goes out of its way to ensure that the decision does not affect precedent The decision reaffirms the due-process test of Quill Read the full advisory here. [...]Read more

New York Assembly Introduces a Bill on the Escheat of Virtual Currency

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New York Assembly Bill 8314, introduced on June 13, 2019, would provide for the escheat of virtual currency. The bill, which also directs the comptroller to create regulations establishing when electronic communication qualifies as “written contact” from an owner, defines “virtual currency” as “any type of digital unit that is used for  a  medium of exchange or a form of digitally stored value.” The definition is meant to be broadly construed and includes decentralized currencies and those with a central depository or administrator. However, the bill excludes online gaming currencies, [...]Read more