Ohio Constitutional Challenge Settled Before Deadline for U.S. Supreme Court Review

DALLAS, April 20, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Instead of seeking U.S. Supreme Court review of Ohio's bright-line economic nexus test for the Commercial Activity Tax (CAT), three taxpayers in a consolidated suit decided to settle their disputes with the state and comply with the tax. Three taxpayers consolidated under Crutchfield Corp. v. Testa, had been challenging Ohio's bright-line test for economic nexus, which was implemented in 2005. The CAT test is imposed for the privilege of doing business in Ohio. Out-of-state businesses are subject to the tax with more than $500,000 in gross sales in Ohio, regardless of physical presence in the state. These taxpayers challenged the constitutionality of the bright-line test by raising the following issues:

• Does Ohio CAT tax violate the U.S. Constitution's Commerce Clause by imposing the tax on businesses with no physical presence in Ohio?
• Is the bright-line presence rule sufficient to determine if a business has the required substantial nexus with the state to be subjected to a tax on the privilege of doing business?

The Supreme Court of Ohio determined that the privilege of doing business tax does not require in-state business activities. The Court distinguished the CAT tax from a sales and use tax, and therefore, the tax did not violate the physical presence requirement of the Commerce Clause as dictated by Quill. The Court found that the CAT tax was in the same constitutional class as an income tax, which has traditionally not required physical presence.

The Crutchfield case had important national significance in that the U.S. Supreme Court could have had the opportunity to revisit the physical presence requirement. The demise of this case will most likely disappoint those hoping for an extension of the physical presence requirement to income tax, as well as sales and use tax. Ohio's success may also lead other states to adopt the bright-line economic nexus test to equalize taxation of in-state and out-of-state businesses.  

About Ryan
Ryan is an award-winning global tax services firm, with the largest indirect and property tax practices in North America and the seventh largest corporate tax practice in the United States. With global headquarters in Dallas, Texas, the Firm provides a comprehensive range of state, local, federal, and international tax advisory and consulting services on a multi-jurisdictional basis, including audit defense, tax recovery, credits and incentives, tax process improvement and automation, tax appeals, tax compliance, and strategic planning. Ryan is a five-time recipient of the International Service Excellence Award from the Customer Service Institute of America (CSIA) for its commitment to world-class client service. Empowered by the dynamic myRyan work environment, which is widely recognized as the most innovative in the tax services industry, Ryan's multi-disciplinary team of more than 2,100 professionals and associates serves over 12,000 clients in more than 40 countries, including many of the world's most prominent Global 5000 companies. More information about Ryan can be found at ryan.com.

TECHNICAL INFORMATION CONTACTS:

Mark L. Nachbar
Principal
Ryan
630.515.0477
[email protected]

Mary Bernard
Director
Ryan
401.272.3363
[email protected]

SOURCE Ryan

Related Links

http://www.ryan.com