Stephen P. Kranz
Subscribe to Stephen P. Kranz's PostsStephen (Steve) P. Kranz is a tax lawyer who solves tax problems differently. Over the course of his extensive career, Steve has acquired specific skills and developed a unique approach that helps clients develop and implement holistic solutions to all varieties of tax problems. He combines strategic thinking with effective skills for the courtroom, the statehouse and the conference room. Read Stephen Kranz's full bio.
An End to the Madness? Delaware Bill Introduced to End Contingent Fee Unclaimed Property Audits
By McDermott Will & Emery, Diann Smith and Stephen P. Kranz on May 20, 2014
Posted In Delaware, Unclaimed Property
Any holder who has been involved in an unclaimed property audit has experienced frustration when dealing with third party contingent fee auditors. Delaware’s increasing aggressiveness in collecting unclaimed property has been inextricably tied to the use of these auditors, who are known for taking liberties with unclaimed property laws, harassing holders and inflating the values...
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Alenia Decision May Benefit D.C. Corporate Taxpayers
By Diann Smith and Stephen P. Kranz on May 13, 2014
Posted In Allocation/Apportionment, Constitutional Issues, District of Columbia, Income Tax, Tax Base
The recent decision in Alenia N. America, Inc. v. District of Columbia Office of Tax and Revenue in the District of Columbia Office of Administrative Hearings (OAH) could present opportunities for District taxpayers to receive corporate franchise tax refunds by including their joint ventures’ apportionment factors in the taxpayers’ District apportionment percentage calculation. Alenia N....
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Revise Your Tax Matrix: Remote Access of Software Exempt in Michigan and Idaho
By Diann Smith and Stephen P. Kranz on May 6, 2014
Posted In Idaho, Michigan, Nationwide Importance, Sales Tax, Tax Base, Transaction Taxes
A trend is developing in response to aggressive Department of Revenue/Treasury policymaking regarding cloud computing. The courts and legislatures are addressing the issue and concluding that the remote access to software should not be taxed. Here are two recent developments that illustrate the trend: Michigan – Auto-Owners Insurance Company v. Department of Treasury On March...
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Multistate Tax Commission Appoints Keith Getschel as Director of Joint Audit Program
By Diann Smith and Stephen P. Kranz on May 6, 2014
Posted In Audits, Income Tax, Nationwide Importance, Sales Tax
Beginning June 16, Keith Getschel will succeed Les Koenig as the Director of the Multistate Tax Commission (MTC) Joint Audit Program. Les Koenig is retiring as of July 31. Mr. Getschel comes from the Minnesota Department of Revenue, having held the position of Assistant Commissioner for Business Taxes since 2012. Mr. Getschel has worked in...
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Oklahoma Supreme Court KOs the Constitution
By McDermott Will & Emery, Diann Smith and Stephen P. Kranz on May 5, 2014
Posted In Constitutional Issues, Incentives, Income Tax, Nationwide Importance, Oklahoma, Tax Base
On April 22, the Supreme Court of Oklahoma released its opinion in CDR Systems Corp. v. Oklahoma Tax Commission. Case No. 109,886; 2014 OK 31. The Oklahoma Supreme Court, overturning the decision of the Court of Civil Appeals, held that an Oklahoma statute, which grants a deduction for income from gains that result from the...
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Best Practices for State Engagement of Private Unclaimed Property Auditors
By Diann Smith and Stephen P. Kranz on Apr 29, 2014
Posted In Delaware, Nationwide Importance, Unclaimed Property
The U.S. Chamber Institute for Legal Reform has released a report detailing current problems with states using private companies for unclaimed property audits and paying those auditors based on the amount recovered. The report begins with an example of what can go wrong when private auditors are paid on a contingent basis. The nightmare story...
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MTC State Transfer Pricing Program Looms on the Horizon
By McDermott Will & Emery, Diann Smith and Stephen P. Kranz on Apr 7, 2014
Posted In Nationwide Importance, Transfer Pricing
More formal, rigorous, and perhaps more frequent, state transfer pricing audits appear to be looming on the horizon, as the Multistate Tax Commission (MTC) is set to launch a design and development project tasked with presenting a preliminary draft program by year’s end, with a final program recommendation due by the MTC’s annual meeting in...
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U.S. Supreme Court Denies Certiorari to Review New York’s Click-Through Nexus Law
By Mary Kay McCalla Martire and Stephen P. Kranz on Dec 5, 2013
Posted In New York, Nexus, Sales Tax
The U.S. Supreme Court has declined to consider the constitutionality of New York’s “Amazon” click-through sales tax nexus law, leaving it in effect and emboldening other states’ similar efforts. Unless federal legislation is enacted, interstate retailers are facing an era of unprecedented uncertainty as states seek to apply their new laws to compel tax collection...
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National Conference of State Legislatures to Tackle Key State Tax Policy Questions
By Arthur R. Rosen, Diann Smith, Jane Wells May and Stephen P. Kranz on Mar 7, 2013
Posted In Constitutional Issues, Nationwide Importance, Procedure
The National Conference of State Legislatures’ (NCSL) Executive Committee Task Force on State and Local Taxation has expanded its scope to include all significant tax policy issues facing the states. As part of its expanded scope, the task force has met with industry representatives to identify tax policy topics that would benefit from the task...
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