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Supreme Court strikes down Maryland tax law

WASHINGTON —The Supreme Court on Monday struck down as unconstitutional a Maryland tax that has the effect of double-taxing income residents earn in other states.

Maryland officials say the 5-4 ruling means the loss of hundreds of millions of dollars in tax revenues. It also could affect similar tax laws in nearly 5,000 local jurisdictions in other states, including New York, Indiana, Pennsylvania and Ohio.

The justices agreed with a lower court that the tax is invalid because it discourages Maryland residents from earning money outside the state.

The unusual split wasn’t along ideological lines. Writing for the court, Justice Samuel Alito said the tax “is inherently discriminatory” under the Constitution’s Commerce Clause. The court has interpreted that provision to ban states from passing laws that burden interstate commerce.

Alito was joined by Chief Justice John Roberts and Justices Anthony Kennedy, Stephen Breyer and Sonia Sotomayor.

Read More Here:  http://www.wbaltv.com/money/supreme-court-strikes-down-maryland-tax-law/33082896

House approves 7.5% natural gas tax, highest in the Marcellus Shale states

March 26, 2012

By Daniel Menefee
Dan@MarylandReporter.com

House lawmakers Monday night passed a 7.5% state severance tax on natural gas in a 82-51 vote, after the delegates on Saturday fended off an amendment from Del. Wendell Beitzel, R-Garrett, that would cap state and local taxes on natural gas extraction at 7.5% combined.

“The amendment would incorporate all severance taxes,” Beitzel said. “Local, county and state taxes together could not exceed 7.5%.”

Garrett County currently has a severance tax of 5.5%, which means the state could assess a severance tax of only 2% under Beitzel’s amendment. Allegany County’s severance tax of 7% would limit the state’s share to just 0.5%.

Read more: http://marylandreporter.com/2012/03/26/house-approves-7-5-natural-gas-tax-highest-in-the-marcellus-shale-states/#ixzz1qKPvRldz
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