General Course Descriptions for Terms: state and local taxation
868 - State and Local Taxation
This course examines how state and local governments raise revenue through a variety of taxes and fees, including business and personal income taxes, retail sales and use taxes, and the property tax. It examines constitutional and statutory provisions—including the Commerce Clause, Due Process Clause, intricate state statutes and regulations, and certain federal statutes—that govern the ability of states to impose taxes. It also addresses core doctrines that govern when a state or local government has jurisdiction to tax (often referred to as “nexus”) and how to determine the fraction of income of a multistate business that a state can tax. Because a substantial and increasing portion of the economy relates to services and intangibles – such as software, patents, copyrights, trademarks and digital products – the course also addresses issues relating to these items. As the demand for tax professionals increases, this course will be an excellent addition to a student’s resume. Even for those who do not plan to pursue a career in tax law, this course will help students to think critically and with rigorous curiosity regarding the constant interplay between federal, state, and local governments and the policy objectives that inform tax legislation at each of these levels.