Category Archives: California

BOE Approves Use Tax Table for Indviduals

Posted on July 28, 2011 by Russ

The Board of Equalization approved a tax table that individuals can use (if they wish) to report Use Tax for their 2011 tax returns (filed in 2012). Use Tax is owed by individuals and businesses when they buy products where … Continue reading →

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Class Action Approved for Los Angeles Phone Tax Lawsuit

Posted on July 26, 2011 by Russ

The City of Los Angeles’ telephone tax used to be based on the Federal telephone excise tax. The federal tax, collection of which began to fund the Spanish-American War (Remember the Maine?), ended when almost every circuit Court of Appeal … Continue reading →

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Only in California: $440.5 Million in Extra Revenue Is $350 Million Short

Posted on July 13, 2011 by Russ

Here in the Bronze Golden State, the state income numbers for June have just come in. Collections came in better than forecast by $440.5 Million. That seems good, but it’s not quite good enough to meet California’s budget. That budget … Continue reading →

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California Passes Amazon Tax; California to Lose Tax Revenue

Posted on June 30, 2011 by Russ

As part of the recent budget, California implemented an Amazon tax. There were two components of the tax. First, any business with affiliates in the Bronze Golden State must collect sales tax on Internet sales. Second, any business with subsidiaries … Continue reading →

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California Sales and Income Tax Rates Decrease Tomorrow

Posted on June 30, 2011 by Russ

As part of one of California’s bad budget deals, sales and income tax rates were temporarily increased by 1% and 0.25%, respectively, for two years. Despite the protests of Jerry Brown and Democrats in the California legislature, those temporary tax … Continue reading →

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Democrats Invent Revenue; Budget to Pass Later Today

Posted on June 28, 2011 by Russ

Jerry Brown faced one reality yesterday: The votes aren’t there for extension of the temporary tax increases passed two years ago. However, he and Democratic leaders of the California legislature will be passing a budget today that will on paper … Continue reading →

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Chiang Docks the Legislature; Was Budget Just $1.86 Billion Off?

Posted on June 22, 2011 by Russ

California Controller John Chiang announced today that the budget proposed by the Democrats was not balanced and that therefore he would stop paying the legislature until a balanced budget is voted on. Mr. Chiang stated, “The numbers simply did not … Continue reading →

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Unhappy Clients of Roni Deutch Talk to the Bee

Posted on June 21, 2011 by Russ

If you want to follow the Roni Deutch case, I strongly urge you to read the coverage in the Sacramento Bee. For example, on Sunday they spoke with several unhappy clients of Ms. Deutch. For the most part it appears … Continue reading →

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Partisan Budget Passed by Democrats, Vetoed by Gov. Brown

Posted on June 17, 2011 by Russ

In the latest episode of As the Budget Churns, last night Democrats in the California legislature passed a budget but received no Republican votes for it. The budget that passed was typical for the last few years: Full of gimmicks … Continue reading →

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Just Say No, Sacramento Style

Posted on May 30, 2011 by Russ

It’s been a while since I’ve reported on the California budget situation, but it seem apropos given that June is right around the corner and with it the constitutional deadline for California to have a balanced budget. Democratic Governor Jerry … Continue reading →

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