Corporate Income Tax E-Commerce Special Report

Thomson Reuters has released a Checkpoint Catalyst special report, Corporate Income Tax: E-Commerce Study, the first to examine which states impose corporate income taxes on out-of-state companies that sell purely digital products and services to in-state customers. To date, much of the debate surrounding pure e-commerce transactions has centered on sales and use taxes, but experts agree that the corporate income arena poses equally urgent issues and fewer answers.

Thomson Reuters Checkpoint Catalyst launched a 50-state overview of these issues last year. Now, in a further effort to assist lawyers, accountants, and businesses in navigating this uncertain landscape, the Checkpoint Catalyst editorial team sent a detailed survey to state taxing agencies seeking guidance on their approach to a large cross-section of pure e-commerce transactions, including cloud computing, digital products, and much more. The survey focused on the fine points of corporate income tax nexus and apportionment. That is, whether a state can impose tax on a seller whose only contact with the state is engaging in purely digital transactions and, if so, how the state sources receipts from those transactions.

“Companies are increasingly conducting business with customers in states without any of the traditional touch points associated with commerce,” said Salim Sunderji, Managing Director, Checkpoint, with the Thomson Reuters Tax & Accounting business. “Our study was designed to shine a spotlight on how state taxing agencies are classifying these transactions, because greater transparency will only serve to benefit future economic growth prospects for both businesses and the government.”