Alex J. Pilawski

October Meadows Collier Monthly Webinar... [ read ]

Texas Comptroller Briefing... [ read ]

TXCPA Panhandle Chapter Tax Institute... [ read ]

Texas Bank and Trust - Longview, TX... [ read ]

Texas Bank and Trust - Tyler, TX... [ read ]

Meadows Collier February 2024 Monthly Webinar... [ read ]

Grant Thornton In-House Presentation... [ read ]

Meadows Collier June Webinar... [ read ]

Texas Budgetary Surplus & Tax Legislation Considerations... [ read ]

Texas Management Group (TMG) Annual Meeting (Day One)... [ read ]

August 2022 Meadows Collier 1-Hour Monthly Webinar... [ read ]

May 3, 2022 Webinar... [ read ]

Meadows Collier February 2022 One-Hour Free Monthly Webinar... [ read ]

Industrial Auctioneers Association- 25th Annual Conference and Members Meeting... [ read ]

21st Annual Meadows Collier Tax Conference... [ read ]

Central Texas Chapter/TXCPA CPE Expo... [ read ]

East Texas Chapter/TXCPA CPE Expo... [ read ]

Community Bank & Trust and the Central Texas Chapter/TSCPA Speaking Engagement... [ read ]

2018 Meadows Collier Annual Tax Conference... [ read ]

Metroplex Practice Management Group (MPMG)... [ read ]

Lorman Education Services... [ read ]

Wichita Falls Chapter/TSCPA... [ read ]

"The Eggshell IRS Exam: What to Do?"... [ read ]

Recent Legislation Gives Taxpayers Greater Access to District Court in Challenging the Texas Comptroller's Denial of a Refund Claim or Assessment of Tax... [ read ]

Among the various bills that became law in the 87th Texas Legislature of 2021 are two amendments to the Texas Tax Code that will significantly impact the procedures available for challenging the denial of tax refund claims and assessments by the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts in district court. Both of these bills (SB 903 and HB 2080) are intended to make district court more accessible to taxpayers.

Texas Comptroller Prevails in a Texas Franchise Tax Sourcing Case involving Satellite-Radio Programming — But Taxpayers Could Also Benefit in Other Contexts... [ read ]

In a case with potentially broad implications, the Third Court of Appeals recently agreed with the Texas Comptroller that revenues received by a taxpayer from subscription-based satellite-radio programming could be sourced to the location of the subscribers for Texas franchise tax purposes rather than to where the programming actually occurred.

The Texas Supreme Court Holds that the Sale of Military Aircraft to the U.S. Government for Foreign Buyers Could not be Sourced to Texas for Franchise Tax Purposes... [ read ]

In a recent decision involving the apportionment factor for Texas franchise tax purposes, the Texas Supreme Court held that the sale of certain military aircraft to the U.S. Government for ultimate delivery to foreign buyers could not be sourced to Texas, even though legal title and possession transferred in Texas, where the U.S. Government's involvement was statutorily required under federal law. In so holding, the Court disclaimed deciding whether tangible personal property must be sold to a buyer located in Texas or simply delivered to a point in Texas before the sale can be sourced to Texas. See Lockheed Martin Corp. v. Hegar, 2020 WL 2089741 (Tex. 2020). As discussed below, the decision is potentially significant both with respect to what it holds and also what it expressly disclaims to hold.

The Texas Supreme Court Denies a Cost of Goods Sold Deduction for Costs Associated with Picking up and Delivering Heavy Construction Rental Equipment... [ read ]

In one of three recent decisions issued by the Texas Supreme Court involving the Texas franchise tax, the Court held that certain costs associated with the rental of heavy construction equipment could not be included in the cost of goods sold deduction.

The Texas Supreme Court Denies a Cost of Goods Sold Deduction to a Movie Theater Company in a Texas Franchise Tax Case... [ read ]

In the recent case of American Multi-Cinema, Inc. v. Hegar, Cause No. 17-0464 (Tex. Apr. 3, 2020), the Texas Supreme Court held that a taxpayer engaged in exhibiting movies in movie theaters could not claim a cost of goods sold for the costs it incurred in exhibiting its movies. This case, which has been closely monitored by taxpayers and practitioners alike, addresses important questions regarding the definition of "tangible personal property" for cost of goods sold purposes. The Court ultimately concluded that American Multi-Cinema, Inc. ("AMC") did not qualify for the cost of goods sold deduction because it did not sell tangible personal property.

The Texas Supreme Court Provides Important Guidance in Construing Two Statutory Provisions Dealing with Real Property Work for Texas Franchise Tax Purposes... [ read ]

In one of three recent cases addressing the Texas franchise tax, the Texas Supreme Court held that a company engaged in performing work on offshore oil-and-gas drilling rigs could not claim a cost of goods sold deduction with respect to certain costs incurred with that work, but could exclude payments to subcontractors from total revenue.

Texas Supreme Court Issues Three Decisions Addressing Various Aspects of the Texas Franchise Tax... [ read ]

In a monumental day for Texas franchise tax, the Texas Supreme Court issued on Friday, April 3rd, three much-anticipated decisions addressing different aspects of the Texas franchise tax.

Texas Comptroller Delays Implementation of New Policy Regarding the Taxability of Medical Billing Services Until After 2021 Legislative Session... [ read ]

Last week, the Texas Comptroller issued an important memo regarding the taxation of medical billing services. The memo is dated March 19, 2020 and follows up on a prior memo dated November 19, 2019, which had previously announced the reversal of a long-standing Comptroller policy treating medical billing services as nontaxable.

The Texas Comptroller Issues Potential Life-line for Struggling Businesses: But Proceed with Caution!... [ read ]

This week, the Texas Comptroller issued a potential life-line to businesses that are struggling to pay their taxes in light of COVID-19, but taxpayers should proceed with caution.

COVID-19 May Cause Defaults in Compromise and Settlement Agreements with the Texas Comptroller... [ read ]

Along with the many ails COVID-19 brings to the table is the possibility that it will cause a default on payments due under Compromise and Settlement Agreements with the Texas Comptroller.

Texas Comptroller Proposes Revisions to Texas Franchise Tax Rule 3.586, Implementing Wayfair... [ read ]

The Texas Comptroller's office issued a draft set of proposed revisions to Comptroller Rule 3.586 (Margin: Nexus) today in response to the U.S. Supreme Court's decision last year in South Dakota v. Wayfair, Inc., 138 S.Ct. 2080 (2018).

U.S. Supreme Court Overturn's Physical Presence Rule in Holding States Can Require Out-of-State Sellers to Collect Sales Tax... [ read ]

On June 21, 2018, the United States Supreme Court issued its opinion in South Dakota v. Wayfair, Inc., et al. In a 5-4 decision, the Court held a state can require out-of-state sellers with no physical presence in the state to collect sales tax on sales of goods or services delivered into the state.

The Third Court of Appeals in Agri-Plex Finds that a Business Buyer May Not Be Able to Escape Successor Liability for Hidden Tax Liabilities Assessed After Purchase... [ read ]

On January 19, 2017, the Texas Third Court of Appeals (the "Court") in Agri-Plex Heating and Cooling, LLC v. Hegar found that a business buyer may not be able to escape successor liability for hidden tax liabilities assessed after the purchase occurs. Agri-Plex Heating and Cooling, LLC v. Hegar, No. 03-15-00813-CV (Tex. App.-Austin January 19, 2017, no pet. h.) (mem. op.)). As a result and moving forward, a buyer purchasing a business should be cautious and plan accordingly because it could be liable for taxes incurred by the seller before the purchase but not known or ascertainable by either party at the time of closing.

Recently Revised Opinion in American Multi-Cinema, Inc. v. Hegar Narrows Its Previously Broad Scope... [ read ]

On January 6, 2017, the Texas Third Court of Appeals (the "Court") withdrew their opinion and judgment in American Multi-Cinema, Inc. v. Hegar from April 30, 2015 to substitute a revised opinion (No. 03-14-00397-CV (Tex. App.—Austin January 6, 2017, no pet. h.) (mem. op.)). The revised opinion upholds American Multi-Cinema, Inc.'s ("AMC's") cost of goods sold ("COGS") deduction for its film exhibition costs while leaving unresolved whether AMC's products are "perceptible to the senses" and thus qualify as "tangible personal property" under Texas Tax Code Section ("Section") 171.1012(a)(3)(A)(i).