Those of you that read my previous blog, 5 Sales and Use Tax Tips You Can Learn From Britney Spears, will appreciate this latest entry where I tie-in Adele to Sales Tax Outsourcing. (Sometimes it’s hard to make sales tax “hip” and “cool”. But we try.) You know Adele right? She’s only the most popular musician on the planet right now breaking records left and right with her recent album release “25.” Selling more than 3.38 million copies in the first week of her November 20th release, Adele continues to set new records each week and is selling out her first concert in five years, Adele Live 2016, in a matter of minutes.
Recent posts by Noelle Ard
22 min read
5 Sales & Use Tax Tips You Can Learn From Britney Spears
You just read that right – SALES TAX & BRITNEY SPEARS! Those that know me, know I’m a fan…. how could you not be? Please don’t even humor me with your response…I get it.
While you all have shrugged off my girl over the last 15 years, I’ve been taking note of the Sales & Use Tax Tips I learned from Brit Brit!
2 min read
A Sales Tax Holiday for Weed?
Weed Wednesday
In Colorado, “Back to School” sales tax holidays are so passé. Fast forward to 2015 where sales tax holidays are for more than teachers, parents and students – that’s right, everyone who uses Marijuana recreationally or medically in Colorado will have a sales tax holiday on the blissful bud come September 16, 2015.On September 16, 2015 the 10% state retail marijuana sales tax and the 15% state retail marijuana excise tax rates will be reduced to 0%. The 2.9% state general sales tax and any tax levied by local jurisdictions must still be levied on September 16, 2015.
Really, a sales tax holiday for Marijuana? Just wait until you read why!
This is a tax reduction for one day only and is due to the requirements of Colorado House Bill 15-1367, which states:
If for the fiscal year 2014-2015, fiscal year spending is greater than twelve billion eighty million dollars ($12,080,000,000.00) or if the revenue from retail marijuana taxes is greater than sixty-seven million dollars ($67,000,000.00), then on September 16, 2015 the rate of the tax imposed under subparagraph (i) of this paragraph (a) is reduced as specified in section 20(3)(c) of article x of the state constitution.
That is right – sales greater than $67M!
Colorado began selling marijuana in January 2014, and has collected over $117M in excise taxes since the start date per the Colorado DOR website. While this amount is small in comparison to the annual budgets that encompass all jurisdictions within Colorado, $117M in unplanned excise tax collections from recreational use of marijuana certainly does not hurt!
The Huffington Post recently reported that the State of Colorado designates a significant part of the marijuana excise tax revenues to the local school systems, providing them with over $23M in funds to support the “Building Excellent Schools Today” (BEST) grant program. This provides “needy” jurisdictions with grant money to bring school communities and systems up to par with their higher performing schools.
Additionally, Matt Ferner, with The Huffington Post, writes how the “blunt bucks” have contributed over $8M to assist with medical marijuana research, specifically, the effects of cannabis oil. So all in all, the legalization of marijuana for recreational use in the state of Colorado has been a success. J. Skyler McKinley, deputy director of Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper's (D) Office of Marijuana Coordination, told the Huffington Post, “Colorado officials look at marijuana the same way they look at any other commodity market in Colorado -- just another place where the state gets some revenue, but doesn't stake its whole budget on it.”
So if you are in or around Colorado, make sure you are taking advantage of this sales tax break and support your local marijuana retailers on “Weed Wednesday,” September 16, 2015.
Want to learn more about Colorado sales tax? Read our blog EYE ON Colorado Sales Tax.
Topics: sales tax sales tax news sales tax filing
2 min read
The Final Countdown
In the words of the popular 80’s band, Europe: It’s the final countdown!!!
Okay, we actually have about 139 days until the end of the year, however, when you are in sales and use tax compliance, the days and the months go by in a blink of an eye!
Topics: sales tax compliance sales tax news sales tax filing
1 min read
City of White Hall, AL – Going Home Rule!
In a time when most of the headlines regarding sales tax are focused on simplification (see Marketplace Fairness), the City of White Hall, AL is bucking the trend. Historically, a taxpayer would report sales tax for White Hall to the Alabama Department of Revenue. Moving forward, sales tax will be reported directly to White Hall via the Revenue Discovery System (RDS) process.
Topics: sales tax sales tax news
2 min read
Is South Carolina Requesting a Do Over? DOR Promises New Improved Taxpayer Portal
It has only been a few short months since South Carolina Department of Revenue announced their new and improved website, originally launched on December 19, 2014, that promised the latest and greatest audience focused platform designed to provide taxpayers a more “delightful” experience.
1 min read
Louisiana Adds Taxing Jurisdiction
Are you a vendor in Louisiana? If so, be advised that a new taxing jurisdiction has been created in Iberville Parish (City of Gabriel) called The University Club Center Economic District (UCC EDD).
Topics: sales tax nexus sales tax calculation sales tax news
2 min read
A Bogus Notice?
It looks like the “bogus notice” is making a comeback!
Topics: sales tax compliance sales tax filing
2 min read
Michigan – What is MTO all about?
Some say the day would never come, but it has! Michigan has launched the Michigan Treasury Online for Business Services (MTO).
Topics: sales tax news
1 min read
South Carolina Announces A New Department of Revenue Website!
The South Carolina Department of Revenue launched a new website recently. While a new DOR website may not be BIG news outside the sales and use tax compliance industry, this is a great step for taxpayers! Although South Carolina’s upgrades may not provide the benefits that Arizona is incorporating into their “Transaction Tax Simplification” project (for more details on the Arizona Transaction Tax Simplification project see my previous posting); certainly we can all agree that anything to enhance the South Carolina e-filing experience is a benefit!
Topics: sales tax sales tax news
2 min read
Arizona – Targeting Sales Tax Simplification – To Be Continued
As I wrote back in July, in May 2012, Arizona’s Governor, Jan Brewer signed an Executive Order establishing a Transaction Privilege Task Force in hopes of simplifying Arizona’s tax code in order to reduce taxpayer frustration, and improve compliance with the task of filing transaction privilege taxes.
Topics: sales tax compliance sales tax sales tax news
3 min read
Arizona - Targeting Sales Tax Simplification
In May 2012, Arizona’s Governor, Jan Brewer signed an Executive Order establishing a Transaction Privilege Task Force in hopes of simplifying Arizona’s tax code in order to reduce taxpayer frustration and improve compliance with the task of filing transaction privilege taxes (aka sales tax).
Topics: sales tax compliance sales tax sales tax news
2 min read
Outsourcing Your Sales Tax Department or Just the Returns?
A few years ago, I left the sales tax outsourcing service provider that I spent 11 years with to embark on a new journey – one with my client, a Fortune 100 company where I would serve as an Indirect Tax Manager for Compliance within their Indirect Tax group. Few people have the opportunity to work on both the provider and client sides, and I was thrilled to make the transition.
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