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State Taxation of Compensation and Benefits (Portfolio 1750)

Product Code: TPOR44
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State Taxation of Compensation and Benefits , written by Richard Reichler, Esq., Meltzer, Lippe, Goldstein & Breitstone LLP,focuses on the impact of state taxation on executive and employee compensation. A state's ability to assert jurisdiction to tax individuals that earn money in connection with the performance of services is based either on the individual's domicile or residence in the state, or because the individual, although a nonresident, has earned money in the state through the performance of services attributed to the state. Because there has been a significant increase in the multistate activities of key executives, the scope of source taxation of nonresidents has also increased.  

State Taxation of Compensation and Benefits acknowledges these challenges and responds by providing readers with discussions and analysis regarding:

  • Source taxation of nonresidents, including allocation of business income generally, allocation of employee source income, employee v. independent contractor, etc.,
  • Source issues with respect to other compensatory payments to nonresidents: bonus payments, severance payments, phantom stock plans, and non-statutory stock options
  • Withholding and special accruals,
  • Congressional action under the Commerce Clause: Public Laws No. 86-272 and 104-95, and
  • State law considerations in securing deferred compensation, including the impact of state law priorities on funded plans, foreign trusts, ERISA coverage and funding, and state income tax treatment of non-qualified trust income. 

This Portfolio includes several working papers, including charts comparing taxation of deferrals to Section 401(k) plans by state and state-by-state residency requirements. 

State Taxation of Compensation and Benefits allows you to benefit from: 

  • Hundreds of hours of original research on specific tax planning topics from leading practitioners in this area.
  • Invaluable practice documents including tables, charts and lists.
  • Plain-English guidance from world-class experts.
  • Real-world and in-depth analysis that lets you explore various options.
  • Time-saving access to relevant sections of tax laws, regulations, court cases, IRS documents and more.
  • Alternative approaches to both common and unique tax scenarios.

This Portfolio is part of the Premier State Tax Library, a comprehensive series, which covers major state tax transactions and issues with expert, in-depth analysis, and offers commentary on a wide range of multi-state and state-specific taxation topics, including Sales and Use, Corporate Income, Individual Income, Property, Gross Receipts, Limitations on States' Authorities to Tax, Credits and Incentives, Electronic Commerce, Mergers and Acquisitions, Procedure and Administration, Special Industries, and more.

 

Detailed Analysis

1750.01. Background

A. Introduction

B. State Taxing Authority In General

1. Nexus

2. Residence/Domicile

3. Funding in Trusts

4. Allocation of Income

5. Federal Limitations

1750.02. The State Income Tax Base – Conformity to Federal Base

A. General Rule

B. Other Conformity Issues

1. Joint Returns

2. Determination of Income

3. Determination of Tax Rate

C. Tax Credits

D. Exemptions

E. Itemized and Standard Deductions

1750.03. Residence or Domicile

A. In General

B. State Definitions of “Resident”

1. In General

2. Domicile

3. New York Audit Guidelines

C. Changing to a Foreign Domicile

D. Statutory Nonresidents

E. Statutory Residents

F. Residence Controversies

G. Areas of Practitioner Concern

H. Relief from Multiple Taxation

1. In General

2. Constitutionality of Taxation of the Entire Income of a Statutory Resident

3. Taxation in the Case of a Change in Residence

4. Income Earned Before, But Received After a Change of Residence

5. Change of Residence and the Accrual of Income

6. Determination of Income Accruing In Connection with a Change in Residence

7. The Economic Benefit Doctrine

1750.04. State Law Considerations in Securing Deferred Compensation

A. In General

1. Contract Protections Used in Pay–As–You–Go Arrangements

2. Creditor Rights and Employer Security

a. Present Creditors

b. Potential Subsequent Creditors

c. Bankruptcy

3. Funding Deferred Obligations

a. Rabbi Trusts

b. Secular Trusts

B. Impact of State Law Priorities on Funded Plans

C. Foreign Trusts

D. ERISA Coverage and Funding

E. State Income Tax Treatment of Non–Qualified Trust Income

F. State Taxation of Undistributed Subchapter J Earnings

1750.05. Source Taxation of Nonresidents

A. Allocation of Business Income Generally

B. Allocation of Employee Source Income

C. Employee v. Independent Contractor

D. Allocation of Nonresident Employee Source Compensation

E. Source Allocation Rules Applicable to Compensatory Payments

1. Deferred Compensation

2. Stock Options

3. Inconsistent Allocation Rules

4. Ballplayers and Artists – Special Rules

F. Income from Intangible Property Not Source Income

G. Deemed Intangibles

H. Intangible v. Source Income

I. Appreciation in Nonresident Compensatory Income – Intangible Income or Compensatory Income

1. Exposition of the Issue

2. Precedents with Respect to the Issue

1750.06. Source Issues With Respect To Other Compensatory Payments to Nonresidents

A. Bonus Payments

B. Severance Payments

C. Phantom Stock Plans

D. Non–Statutory Stock Options – What about the Bells and Whistles?

1750.07. Withholding and Special Accruals

1750.08. Congressional Action under the Commerce Clause

Introductory Material

A. Public Law No. 86-272

B. Public Law No. 104-95

1. In General

2. Committee Report

3. “Retirement Income” Described

4. Tax-Deferred Funding Vehicles Listed in Public Law No. 104-95

a. Qualified Plans Under I.R.C. 401(a) that are Exempt under 501(a)

b. Simplified Employee Pensions under I.R.C. 408(k)

c. Annuity Contract Plans under I.R.C. 403(a)

d. Annuity Contract Plans under I.R.C. 403(b)

e. Individual Retirement Plans under I.R.C. 7701(a)(37)

f. Deferred Compensation Plans under I.R.C. 457

g. Governmental Plans under I.R.C. 414(d)

h. Trusts under I.R.C. 501(c)(18)

i. I.R.C. 3121(v)(2) Payments

(1) In General

(2) Section 3121(v)(2)

(3). Stock Option Bells and Whistles

(4) Exclusion of Severance and Other Welfare Benefits

(5) When a Plan is Established

(6) Time and Rate of Payment

(7) Ratable Payment

(8) Excess Benefit Plans

5. Constitutionality of Pub. L. No. 104-95

1750.09. Interests in Limited Liability Companies and Partnerships

1750.10. Constitutional Issues Relating to State Taxation

A. In General

B. Equal Protection

C. Privileges and Immunities

D. Due Process Clause

E. Commerce Clause

F. Taxes Discriminating Against the Federal Government

1750.11. Collection of Tax

A. In General

B. Minimum State Contacts to Establish a Withholding Obligation

Working Papers

Item Description Sheet

Worksheet 1 State of New York - Department of Taxation and Finance Income Tax - District Office Audit Manual Nonresident Allocation 5/4/98

Worksheet 2 [Reserved.]

Worksheet 3 [Reserved]

Worksheet 4 Pub. L. No. 104-95

Worksheet 5 H.R. No. 104-389 (Dec. 7, 1995) - Committee Report To Accompany Pub. L. No. 104-95

Worksheet 6 State Comparison Chart Taxation of Deferrals to Section 401(k) Plans

Worksheet 7 State-by-State Residency Requirements

Bibliography

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Richard Reichler
Mr. Reichler was formerly an Attorney Advisor, Office of the Chief Counsel Internal Revenue Service in Washington, D.C. and Vice President, Tax Planning and Services and Deputy General Counsel, of the Long Island Lighting Company. He also acted as the National Director of Executive Compensation Planning while a Senior Tax Partner at Ernst & Young, P.C.'s New York office. He is currently with the law firm of Meltzer, Lippe, Goldstein & Breitstone, LLP. Mr. Reichler is a 1955 graduate of Columbia College and a 1957 graduate of Columbia University Law School. He is a member of the New York State Bar Association (Tax Section), the International Fiscal Association, and the BNA Tax Management Advisory Board. Mr. Reichler is the author of “Leveraged Buyout Financing in Business Combinations and Restructuring,” and “The Limited Partnership as an Investment Vehicle.”