Tag Archives: texas tax

Southwest Royalties: No New Manufacturing Exemption for Oil & Gas, Texas Supreme Court Says

Today, the Texas Supreme Court released its long-awaited opinion in Southwest Royalties, Inc. v. Hegar.  It held that oil and gas above-ground and downhole production equipment doesn’t qualify for the manufacturing exemption from Texas sales and use tax, affirming the ruling of both the Third Court of Appeals and the trial court.  This case has […]


No Resale Exemption for Health Club Equipment, Appeals Court Finds

The Texas Third Court of Appeals issued its opinion today in Fitness International, LLC v. Hegar.  It held that certain equipment, such as cardio machines and weight racks, that a health club purchased for its customers’ use, was not exempt from Texas sales and use tax under the sale for resale exemption.  The court based […]


Appeals Court Finds Bill Pay Service Not Taxable

The Texas Fourteenth Court of Appeals issued its opinion Tuesday in Hegar v. CheckFree Services Corporation.  It held that an online bill pay service was not a taxable data processing service under the Texas sales tax.  The court based its ruling on the fairly extensive role of individuals with specialized, professional knowledge in providing the […]


Texas Supreme Court: Margin Tax Apportionment Rule Invalid

The Texas Supreme Court issued an opinion today in Hallmark Marketing Co., LLC v. Hegar. The opinion invalidated a Texas Comptroller rule regarding apportionment under the Texas franchise tax (also known as the Texas margin tax).  The rule required taxpayers to reduce net gains from sales of capital assets and investments by the amount of […]


Texas Legislative Recap for State and Local Taxes 2015

While the 2015 Texas Legislature gave taxpayers a significant franchise tax (margin tax) rate cut and repealed some smaller taxes (some of which had not been collected in years), it otherwise left much of the Texas tax code otherwise unchanged.  In this Texas legislative recap, we’ll tell you about the changes the Texas Legislature made […]


Judge Finds Texas School Finance System Unconstitutional

A Travis County District Court judge ruled Thursday that Texas’s school finance system violates the Texas Constitution.  The judgment and associated findings of fact and conclusions of law are available here.  Review of the decision will go directly to the Texas Supreme Court.  The judge wrote that his ruling would not be implemented until July […]


Third Court of Appeals Defers to Comptroller on Manufacturing Exemption for Oil & Gas

As we reported earlier, the Third Court of Appeals ruled in Southwest Royalties, Inc. v. Combs that oil and gas above-ground and downhole production equipment doesn’t qualify for the Texas sales tax manufacturing exemption.  This case has drawn a fair amount of attention due to the large potential financial impact on the State of Texas […]


Texas Supreme Court Won’t Weigh in on Prepayment Requirement for Court Access

Today, the Texas Supreme Court denied the Texas Comptroller’s Petition for Review in the Richmont Aviation case.  As a result, the Third Court of Appeals’ decision in the taxpayer’s favor becomes final, but the Texas Supreme Court has taken no position on the Third Court of Appeals’ holding in Richmont Aviation, leaving some uncertainty in […]


Taxpayers’ first appellate margin tax win becomes final

The Third Court of Appeals’ decision in Combs v. Newpark Resources, Inc. became final today, marking Texas taxpayers’ first appellate margin tax win.  The Texas Comptroller did not file a timely appeal with the Texas Supreme Court, so the Third Court of Appeals issued its mandate today.  The opinion, originally handed down this past December, […]


Another Taxpayer Win in Texas Margin Tax Case

The Third Court of Appeals’ recent opinion in Titan Transportation v. Combs is another big win for taxpayers under the revised Texas franchise tax (also known as the Texas margin tax).  In opinion, the Third Court of Appeals rejected the Texas Comptroller’s narrow, restrictive interpretation of the revenue exclusion for certain payments to those who […]


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