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Showing 16 posts in Sales Tax.

Maryland’s Digital Ad Tax: The Next Frontier in State and Local Taxation

Digital Kickstarter AdvertisementOn Friday February 12, the Maryland State Senate voted to override Maryland’s governor to pass a bill creating a tax on annual gross revenues derived from digital advertising services in Maryland. Maryland’s digital advertising tax is the first of its kind in the United States. Read More ›

Categories: Sales Tax, Tax, Tax Disputes

Streamlined Sales Tax System After Wayfair

This article was written specifically for MICPA members examining the far-reaching impact of the Supreme Court’s decision in South Dakota v. Wayfair, Inc. Read More ›

Categories: Sales Tax, Tax

When Will a Company's Website Create Nexus with a State for Sales Tax Purposes Post-Wayfair?

This is the fifth in a series of articles written for MICPA members examining the far-reaching impact of the Supreme Court’s decision in South Dakota v. Wayfair, Inc. Read More ›

Categories: Sales Tax, Tax

Michigan Department of Treasury Sheds Light on Nexus Standards Related to Michigan Business Taxes

Some businesses are (unpleasantly) surprised when they learn they are responsible for taxes -such as sales and income taxes - in states in which they have no physical presence. What gives rise to liability in these situations is “economic nexus,” which relates to a business’ activity, such as the generation of sales without a physical presence, in a state. Nexus, therefore, can be a hidden trap for businesses with multistate sales and other activities, particularly because what gives rise to nexus is often uncertain and unexplained by a state’s taxing authority.

Michigan Department of Treasury (the “Treasury”) has shed light on what constitutes nexus in Michigan through the issuance of a release that explains the nexus standards for Michigan business taxes. The release (the “Release”) addresses the sales and use tax presumption for out-of-state sellers; the nexus standards for the corporate income tax; and the nexus standards for flow-through entity withholding. Read More ›

Categories: Corporate Income Tax, News & Events, Sales Tax, Use Tax

Michigan Sales and Use Tax Audits: What You Need to Know

Sales and Use taxes are basically a 6 percent tax on the sale, use and consumption or storage of tangible personal property in the state of Michigan. Michigan has ramped up its enforcement of these two taxes. In short, Michigan is getting less revenue from its traditional tax basis so the state is really looking to enforce compliance with the sales and use tax more than what they used to. What does that mean for you? It means that you might get audited. Learn more about what you should do if you get audited in the video below.

Categories: Sales Tax, Use Tax

Michigan Other Deductions Manual – A Helpful Resource for Sales and Use Tax Exemptions

The Michigan Department of Treasury has published its Other Deductions Manual (the “Manual”). The Manual provides a listing and analysis of the common sales and use tax exemptions. 

If you are a business subject to Michigan sales or use tax, then the Manual is a helpful resource to have on file.

The Manual can be downloaded by clicking this link.  

Categories: Sales Tax, Use Tax

Online Retailers Beware: Michigan “Click-Through” and Affiliate Nexus

Are you an out-of-state business making Internet sales into Michigan? If so, take notice.

The Michigan Main Street Fairness Act (the “Act”) is now effective. Designed to level the playing field between “brick and mortar” retailers and out-of-state Internet sellers, the Act creates two new tests whereby out-of-state sellers are presumed to have Michigan nexus. 

A quick reminder – if an out-of-state seller has Michigan nexus, then it is required to collect and remit 6 percent Michigan sales tax on all sales to Michigan residents.

Test #1 is the affiliate nexus test. Under the affiliate nexus test, an out-of-state retailer will be presumed to have Michigan nexus (i.e., required to collect and remit 6 percent Michigan sales tax on all Michigan sales) if the seller or an affiliate of the seller:  Read More ›

Categories: Compliance, Sales Tax

Notice of New Sales and Use Tax Requirements for Out-Of-State Sellers

Under a new law effective October 1, 2015, an out-of-state seller may be required to remit sales or use tax on sales into Michigan if the seller has nexus under amendments to the Michigan General Sales Tax Act (MCL 205.52b) and Michigan Use Tax Act (MCL 205.95a). The new law creates a presumption that a seller is engaged in the business of making sales at retail in Michigan if the seller, or another person on the seller’s behalf, engages in certain activities in Michigan.  In addition, a seller will be presumed to be making sales in Michigan if the seller enters into an agreement with one or more Michigan residents under which the resident, for a commission or other consideration, refers potential purchasers to the seller, such as by a link on a website). This is sometimes referred to as “click-through” nexus. If you are a seller that sells into Michigan on or after October 1, 2015, and you are not already registered with the Department of Treasury and remitting sales or use tax, you may need to register for Michigan sales and use tax. For information regarding Michigan’s tax registration and remittance requirements, please contact a member of Foster Swift's State and Local Tax group.

Categories: Sales Tax, Use Tax

Michigan Passes New “Amazon Tax” Law Requiring Internet Sales Tax Collection

Online shopping continues to increase in popularity. But it's not just the convenience of having a package arrive at one's doorstep without having to trudge to the mall that many shoppers prefer. Some online retailers do not collect sales tax on purchases, meaning that online shoppers in Michigan have historically been able to avoid paying Michigan's 6 percent sales tax - which Michigan bricks and mortar retailers are required to collect at the time of purchase. That's not to say that online purchases are tax free, as Michigan residents are obligated to report online purchases on their tax returns and pay 6 percent use tax. But most taxpayers ignore - or are not even aware of - this obligation.

Michigan retailers have long lamented what they perceive as an un-level playing field in their battle with online retailers, and the state government estimates that hundreds of millions of dollars in tax revenue is not collected every year on online purchases. If a recently passed law has its intended effect, sales tax collections on online purchases should experience a surge. Read More ›

Categories: News & Events, Sales Tax, Use Tax

Michigan Sales and Use Tax Audits

Every year, the Michigan Department of Treasury audits Michigan businesses for compliance with the Sales and Use tax laws. Oftentimes, those audits result in tax assessments that are disputed by the taxpayer. But, how does a taxpayer navigate the audit process and challenge a tax assessment? Read More ›

Categories: Sales Tax, Tax, Use Tax