MultiTax Commission

An intergovernmental state tax agency whose mission is to promote uniform and consistent tax policy and administration among the states, assist taxpayers in achieving compliance with existing tax laws, and advocate for state and local sovereignty in the development of tax policy.

Nexus School 

Legal Principles, Investigation Tools, and Audit Techniques

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This course is designed to give state government personnel an introductory understanding of the law of state jurisdiction to tax (nexus) and practical guidance to conduct a nexus audit. 

nexus

At the end of the course, students will be able to

  • apply legal principles for establishing nexus for corporate business taxes and sales/use taxes.
  • use current investigative approaches and audit techniques, and conduct a nexus investigation of a multistate company.
  • use contacts made at the school to form an information sharing network regarding research techniques and best audit practices

AUDIENCE:

The program is designed for state revenue department auditors, attorneys and other agency personnel who have had limited exposure to nexus issues, but are not experts in the area.

PREREQUISITES:

None

PROGRAM LEVEL:

Basic

COURSE MATERIALS:

Participants will receive a comprehensive course binder. Upon registration participants will also receive information on how to access nexus information located on the Multistate Tax Commission’s website.

ADVANCE PREPARATION:

Read selected court cases and federal legislation (P.L. 86-272) which are distributed prior to the course.

INSTRUCTIONAL DELIVERY METHOD:

Group-Live with case illustration and case study by small groups

RECOMMENDED CPE CREDIT:

17 hours

FIELD OF STUDY:

Taxes  (View the Fields of Study) 

REGISTRATION INFORMATION:

Contact Sherry Tiggett at (202) 650-0296

 PROGRAM DAY ONE: 8:00 am – 5:30 pm
 Breakfast and lunch will be provided.
I. Constitutional Principles of Nexus for Sales and Use Taxation
An overview of the constitutional standards for sales and use tax nexus and review of court interpretations of those standards. Topics will include issues such as what constitutes in-state property, affiliate nexus, representational nexus, in-state deliveries, temporary presence, de minimis presence, trade show attendance, and duration of nexus.
Case Illustration
Participants will be given case studies to review for sales and use tax nexus issues. Group discussion will follow.
II. Scope of Protected Activities Under P.L. 86-272
Review of history leading to the enactment of Public Law 86-272. Discussion of protected and unprotected activities as interpreted by court cases that apply this federal law.
III. Constitutional Principles of Nexus for Income and Franchise Taxation
A discussion of the constitutional limitations on establishment of nexus for taxes and activities that fall outside the protection of P.L. 86-272. Will review theories of economic presence, nexus through intangibles, nexus created by financial services, and the emerging nexus issues applicable to electronic commerce. Review of court and administrative interpretations, and applications of those standards.
Case Illustration
Participants will be given case studies to review for income and franchise tax nexus issues under P.L. 86-272 and constitutional limitations. Group discussion will follow.

PROGRAM DAY TWO: 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
Breakfast and lunch will be provided.
IV. Identifying Potential Non-filers
Focus is on identifying and locating potential non-filers in your state. Speakers will discuss sources of leads; use of internal cross-references; examination of marketing materials, phone books, trade magazines, and how to develop leads into potential audits. Instructors will discuss conducting research via state databases, on-line services, and the Internet.
V. Nexus Investigations and Audits
This session will focus on conducting a nexus audit or nexus investigation.
What the auditor should do in advance to prepare for the audit; what questions the auditor should ask at the initial interview; how to ask for the information; what documents every auditor should look at; what the auditor should look for once he or she has the documents; how auditors prepare competent audit findings. There will also be a discussion of how to enforce out-of-state audit requests through the subpoena process.
VI. Case Study
Program participants will be divided into small groups and asked to conduct a nexus audit of a hypothetical company. Participants will be given a written description of the company’s structure and activities, and then allowed to request appropriate information from the company’s tax manager. The groups will then analyze the nexus consequences of the information received. The class will review and discuss each group’s results.

For more information on MTC’s training programs, please visit the Training Program page.