State and local tax news — from state income tax quirks to property tax fights, because not all tax battles happen in Washington.
Taxpayer asks: Dear Taxgirl,Congress has passed a bill allowing a tax deduction for the sales tax on the purchase of a new car. Does that differ from the current Schedule A deduction possible for additional tax for major items? Is this “much sound and fury signifying nothing?” The devil is in the details. Best regards,…
A New York judge seems to think so. Administrative Law Judge Catherine M. Bennett has ruled that the eloquently named Nite Moves, a strip club in Albany, NY qualifies for the “dramatic arts” sales tax exemption under New York tax law. Why? The choreography, of course. It takes a simple stripper and makes her an…
Following in the footsteps of a handful of other governors, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin has indicated that she will take only 55% of the federal economic stimulus money being offered to Alaska. If that sounds like fiscal responsibility, don’t get too excited. Per capita, Alaska already receives more federal funding than any other state in…
Illinois residents have been willing to deal with some pretty steep tax increases. But Gov. Pat Quinn may have gone too far this time: Quinn wants to tax coffee and sweetened tea products in grocery stores in the same manner as soft drinks. Gov Quinn has also suggested raising taxes and fees on driver’s licenses…
New York state needs money has found its moral center – and it’s in Brooklyn. New York Assemblyman Felix Ortiz, who represents Brooklyn, has proposed a new tax on strip clubs. The bill would impose a $10 per patron tax for any business that provides for any adult entertainment business featuring nude or partly nude…
We have a winner! See comments! Our next tax trivia question is: What’s the only state to charge sales tax on prescription medicines? Don’t forget: the first correct answer wins free CCH tax prep software. What’s your guess?
Massachusetts has always been a little – we’ll call it different – when it comes to politics. And in some cases, it’s paid off. It’s true that you can drive through the state without being assaulted by billboard after billboard. And the state is, relatively speaking, free of litter and there’s very little in the…
We have a winner! See comments! Our next tax trivia question is: In 2007, a midwestern state made news (and not in a good way) for opting to impose a sales tax on a popular food item unless the taxpayer could prove the purchase was to be eaten and not used as a decoration. Amid…
Traditionally, taxpayers who owned homes could only deduct state and local real estate taxes if they opted to itemize their deductions. However, for the tax years 2008 and 2009, taxpayers who opt for the standard deduction are getting a break: there is an additional standard deduction for those who pay state or local real estate…
Every year, you hear a bunch of folks, supposedly on the fringe, touting the advantages of the legalization of marijuana. And every year, bills come and go with proponents wondering exactly what it would take to convince legislators to take them seriously. Maybe what it would take is a budget crisis. With a major budget…