Alston & Bird Tax Blog

Michael Giovannini

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About Michael Giovannini

Michael is a senior associate in the firm's State & Local Tax Group, focusing his practice on advising clients and providing practical planning services with respect to various state and local tax and unclaimed property issues.

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UP Front: A 2021 Sightline for Unclaimed Property Professionals

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Our Unclaimed Property Team provides a line of sight into the developing trends, ongoing policy debates, and litigated disputes that may shape the future of unclaimed property law and compliance. Legislation, both federal (H.R. 8696) and state (RUUPA)State compliance and enforcement programs (audits and VDAs)Holder planning and implementation of compliance and risk-management best practicesHolder/state litigation perhaps no longer a “last resort” Read the full advisory here. [...]Read more

Pushing Beyond the Limit: Examining the Scope of Subpoenas Issued During Unclaimed Property Audits

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A Delaware court quashed a subpoena aimed at an unclaimed property holder, but the victory may be short-lived. Our Unclaimed Property Team explores the latest court decision addressing a subpoena for records dating back to the 1990s. The subpoena asked for every check issued from 27 accounts over 20 years, including cleared and voided checks and checks issued to payees in other statesThe court found the subpoena too expansive and unreasonableThe third-party auditor’s incentives and motives were called into question Read the full advisory here. [...]Read more

Colorado’s New Revised Uniform Unclaimed Property Act Should Prompt Holder Action

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Our Unclaimed Property Team examines the potential adverse impacts on holders as Colorado joins the list of states updating their unclaimed property laws by adopting a version of RUUPA that repeals its existing $25 reporting deduction but preserves the state’s existing treatment of gift cards.

Impacted holders should consider redomestication
Will the state apply the repeal retroactively and attempt to claw back deducted funds?
Gift cards and gift certificates – maintaining the status quo

Read the fill advisory here. [...]Read more

Thanks for the Memories, Quill: The Supreme Court Adopts a New Nexus Standard for Use Tax Collection

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The U.S. Supreme Court’s Wayfair decision overturns decades-old precedent and fundamentally changes the use tax collection landscape while leaving a number of questions unanswered. Our State & Local Tax Group explains how this decision has huge implications for online retailers, states’ coffers, and consumers’ wallets.

The physical-presence standard under Quill is no more
What is the new standard?
Retroactivity and a host of other unresolved issues

Read the full advisory here. [...]Read more