{"id":10343,"date":"2022-05-12T15:49:26","date_gmt":"2022-05-12T15:49:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/taxops.com\/?p=10343"},"modified":"2022-05-12T15:49:28","modified_gmt":"2022-05-12T15:49:28","slug":"new-tax-on-amazon-web-services-in-colorado","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/taxops.com\/new-tax-on-amazon-web-services-in-colorado\/","title":{"rendered":"New Tax on Amazon Web Services in Colorado"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div style=\"height:53px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-1 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"536\" data-id=\"10346\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-src=\"https:\/\/taxops.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Amazon-Web-Services-in-Colorado-1024x536.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-10346 lazyload\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/taxops.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Amazon-Web-Services-in-Colorado-1024x536.png 1024w, https:\/\/taxops.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Amazon-Web-Services-in-Colorado-980x513.png 980w, https:\/\/taxops.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Amazon-Web-Services-in-Colorado-480x251.png 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 980px) 980px, (min-width: 981px) 1024px, 100vw\" \/><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"536\" data-id=\"10346\" src=\"https:\/\/taxops.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Amazon-Web-Services-in-Colorado-1024x536.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-10346 lazyload\" srcset=\"https:\/\/taxops.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Amazon-Web-Services-in-Colorado-1024x536.png 1024w, https:\/\/taxops.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Amazon-Web-Services-in-Colorado-980x513.png 980w, https:\/\/taxops.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Amazon-Web-Services-in-Colorado-480x251.png 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 980px) 980px, (min-width: 981px) 1024px, 100vw\" \/><\/noscript><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:53px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p><em><em><em><em><em>Colorado has new statute pertaining to mainframe computer access that might subject services such as Amazon Web Services (AWS) to sales tax.<\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">By <a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/alexander-korzhen-10905318\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" title=\"\">Alexander Korzhen<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/judyvorndran\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" title=\"\">Judy Vorndran<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:40px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How do the new taxes on Amazon Web Services (AWS) in Colorado work?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:15px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Colorado, along with many other states, has introduced legislation that adds sales tax to Amazon Web Services (AWS) and similar services by targeting mainframe computer access.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">While a business may be receiving these services outside of Colorado, if their \u201cmainframe\u201d or center of operations is in Colorado, they are subject to sales tax on these services.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Even if your server is somewhere else in the nation, you could receive the bill in Colorado because the sale is in Colorado or the server was built in Colorado. A business that relies heavily on AWS &nbsp;should carefully consider the sourcing of these services as the additional tax burden can be significant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:40px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How are states targeting AWS?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:15px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This is a relatively new area of tax, and the Colorado Department of Revenue (DOR) has released little administrative guidance thus far. As a result, we don\u2019t yet know how this tax will be enforced by the DOR. The statute leaves a lot open to interpretation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">With this tax expansion, Colorado appears to be singling out AWS and similar services. Because this situation is still developing, if your business uses services like AWS, it is important to keep an eye on the changing tax landscape.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For more guidance, reach out to the tax professionals at <a href=\"https:\/\/taxops.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" title=\"TaxOps.com\">taxops.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:50px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link\" href=\"https:\/\/taxops.com\/contact\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Let&#8217;s Talk Tax<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:47px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">More Tax News<\/h3>\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-latest-posts__list wp-block-latest-posts\"><li><a class=\"wp-block-latest-posts__post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/taxops.com\/auditor-independence-in-the-age-of-private-equity\/\">Auditor Independence in the Age of Private Equity: What CFOs Need to Know<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a class=\"wp-block-latest-posts__post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/taxops.com\/r-d-credits-for-software-companies\/\">R&amp;D Credits for Software Companies: Scrum Teams, Qualifiers, and Section 174 After OBBBA<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a class=\"wp-block-latest-posts__post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/taxops.com\/section-174-decoupling-what-tax-pros-need-to-know-state-by-state\/\">Section 174 Decoupling: What Tax Pros Need To Know State By State<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a class=\"wp-block-latest-posts__post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/taxops.com\/sean-espy-new-partner\/\">TaxOps Welcomes Sean Espy as Partner, Tax Minimization<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a class=\"wp-block-latest-posts__post-title\" href=\"https:\/\/taxops.com\/state-nexus-demystified-navigating-tax-compliance-after-wayfair-episode-1-2\/\">Your Tax Footprint Is Probably Bigger Than You Think: What Finance Leaders Need to Know About State Nexus<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<div style=\"height:47px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link\" href=\"https:\/\/taxops.com\/contact\/#subscribe\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Subscribe to Tax News<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:47px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Colorado has new statute pertaining to mainframe computer access that might subject services such as Amazon Web Services (AWS) to sales tax. By Alexander Korzhen and Judy Vorndran How do the new taxes on Amazon Web Services (AWS) in Colorado work? Colorado, along with many other states, has introduced legislation that adds sales tax to [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":10346,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"off","_et_pb_old_content":"<!-- wp:spacer {\"height\":\"53px\"} -->\n<div style=\"height:53px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n<!-- \/wp:spacer -->\n\n<!-- wp:gallery {\"linkTo\":\"none\"} -->\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped\"><!-- wp:image {\"id\":10182,\"sizeSlug\":\"large\",\"linkDestination\":\"none\"} -->\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img src=\"https:\/\/taxops.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Texas-High-Court-Clarifies-Service-Receipt-Apportionment-1-1024x536.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-10182\"\/><\/figure>\n<!-- \/wp:image --><\/figure>\n<!-- \/wp:gallery -->\n\n<!-- wp:spacer {\"height\":\"53px\"} -->\n<div style=\"height:53px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n<!-- \/wp:spacer -->\n\n<!-- wp:quote -->\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote\"><p><em><em>The Texas Supreme Court has ruled in favor of apportioning service receipts to the location of personnel or equipment, a position providing clarity to taxpayers on whether to source receipts from services performed versus where customers are at.<\/em>&nbsp;<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<!-- \/wp:quote -->\n\n<!-- wp:quote -->\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote\"><p><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<!-- \/wp:quote -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>By <a href=\"https:\/\/taxops.com\/tram-le\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" title=\"Tram Le\">Tram Le<\/a> <\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>On March 25, 2022, the Texas Supreme Court held in favor of the taxpayer that services revenue is apportioned to the location where services are performed, consistent with Texas law.<sup>1<\/sup> The Court found that the performance of service is located where the taxpayer\u2019s personnel or equipment is physically doing useful work for the customer.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>The case involves Sirius XM (Sirius XM Radio, Inc. v. Hegar, Tx. Sup. Ct. No. 20-0462 (3\/25\/22)), whose headquarters, transmission equipment and production studios used in providing a subscription-based satellite radio service are largely located outside of Texas. In the 2010 and 2011 tax years, Sirius XM apportioned tax based on costs of activities in Texas and outside of Texas. Under Texas rules, service revenue is apportioned to Texas based on the \u201cfair value of the services\u201d rendered in Texas where services are performed in more than one state.<sup>2<\/sup>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>For those tax years, the Texas Comptroller adjusted on audit to base the tax on the percentage of Sirius XM\u2019s Texas subscribers. The Comptroller argued that service revenue is sourced to Texas if the \u201creceipt-producing, end-product act\u201d takes place in Texas. In this case, such an act was considered the decryption of the satellite network and enabling of each subscriber\u2019s radio to receive Sirius XM\u2019s signal. However, Sirius XM argued that its services \u2013 the production and broadcasting of radio content \u2013 was mainly performed outside of Texas.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>The Texas Supreme Court ultimately agreed that Sirius XM was providing satellite radio content and those services are performed in Texas if the labor employed in that service is doing the work in Texas. This constitues a natural reading of the law, which requires taxes due \u201cwhere service [is] performed in this state.\u201d This rejects the Comptroller premise of service taking place at the customer location. The Court also rejected the use of the \u201creceipt-producing, end-product\u201d test to determine where a service is being performed.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Although the Court ruled in favor of the taxpayer, the case was remanded to the Appellate court for further review of Sirius XM\u2019s cost of performing services and evidence to support its \u201cfair value of services\u201d performed in Texas.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>The Texas Supreme Court opinion provides clarification in apportioning service revenue in Texas and determining whether services are performed in the state. Taxpayers doing business in Texas should carefully review business operations, nature of services, i.e., properly characterizing the services provided to customers and location of equipment, facilities, and personnel to properly apportion revenue.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>In addition, if services are being performed in Texas and outside of Texas, taxpayers must properly evaluate methods of determining the fair value of services and maintain sufficient evidence to support what revenue is apportioned to Texas. Contact a TaxOps advisor is you need assistance assessing nexus and taxability in the state of Texas and everywhere you do business.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Tram Le is a member of the SALTovation team at TaxOps and an adjunct professor at the University of Texas at Arlington. She writes about hot topics in state and local tax affecting business operations and growth strategies and the Spreading SALTovation column for Tax Notes.&nbsp;Reach out to Tram at <a href=\"mailto:tle@taxops.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" title=\"Tram Le\">tle@taxops.com<\/a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:spacer {\"height\":\"53px\"} -->\n<div style=\"height:53px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n<!-- \/wp:spacer -->\n\n<!-- wp:buttons -->\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons\"><!-- wp:button -->\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link\" href=\"https:\/\/taxops.com\/contact\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Let's Talk Tax<\/a><\/div>\n<!-- \/wp:button --><\/div>\n<!-- \/wp:buttons -->\n\n<!-- wp:spacer {\"height\":\"47px\"} -->\n<div style=\"height:47px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n<!-- \/wp:spacer -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":3} -->\n<h3>More Tax News<\/h3>\n<!-- \/wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:latest-posts \/-->\n\n<!-- wp:spacer {\"height\":\"47px\"} -->\n<div style=\"height:47px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n<!-- \/wp:spacer -->\n\n<!-- wp:buttons -->\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons\"><!-- wp:button -->\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link\" href=\"https:\/\/taxops.com\/contact\/#subscribe\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Subscribe to Tax News<\/a><\/div>\n<!-- \/wp:button --><\/div>\n<!-- \/wp:buttons -->\n\n<!-- wp:spacer {\"height\":\"47px\"} -->\n<div style=\"height:47px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n<!-- \/wp:spacer -->","_et_gb_content_width":"","spt_transcript":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[229,226],"tags":[252,967,284,12,126,265,968,913,19,101,80,964],"class_list":["post-10343","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-state-and-local","category-tax-news","tag-accountant","tag-amazon-web-services","tag-cfo","tag-colorado","tag-cpa","tag-finance-professional","tag-mainframe-access","tag-new-tax","tag-sales-tax","tag-state-tax","tag-tax-provider","tag-tax-service"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/taxops.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Amazon-Web-Services-in-Colorado.png","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/taxops.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10343","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/taxops.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/taxops.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/taxops.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/taxops.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=10343"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/taxops.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10343\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":10573,"href":"https:\/\/taxops.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10343\/revisions\/10573"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/taxops.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/10346"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/taxops.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10343"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/taxops.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=10343"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/taxops.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=10343"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}