AICPA Applauds Passage of Mobile Workforce State Income Tax Act

The American Institute of CPAs (AICPA) applauded the U.S. House of Representatives for passing the Mobile Workforce State Income Tax Simplification Act of 2017, H.R. 1393.  The bill would simplify state income tax reporting and withholding rules for employees who sometimes work outside their home states.

“The House’s passage of the Mobile Workforce State Income Tax Simplification Act of 2017 is a victory for taxpayers and their employers,” Barry C. Melancon, CPA, CGMA, president and CEO of the AICPA, stated.  “Enactment of H.R. 1393 would eliminate the need for much of the complex recordkeeping that employers face when their employees cross state lines to work.  It also would relieve many workers of the burden of filing state income tax returns for states in which they worked only a few days during the year.” 

Melancon explained that the legislation would create a uniform national standard that would eliminate the compliance maze many employers and employees currently face because they have to keep track of numerous state income tax withholding laws and varying de minimis exemption periods imposed on nonresident workers.  Employee earnings would not be subject to state income tax and withholding outside their home state unless the employee worked in a state for more than 30 days during the calendar year.