State Taxation

Without notice or fanfare, the New York Department of Taxation updated guidance on its website to address the application of its “convenience of the employer” rule to COVID-19 telecommuters.  The question of whether New York would consider employees who are working remotely due to the pandemic as doing so for “convenience” or “necessity,” has been vexing employers and employees since April.  New York’s latest update, which is disappointing but not surprising, has come down on the side of convenience.  As a result, an employee whose principal office is in New York State but who is working outside of the state during the pandemic will generally remain subject to New York State income tax, and the employer should generally continue to withhold New York State tax from the employee’s compensation.
Continue Reading Bad News for New York Nonresident Telecommuters: New York Issues COVID-19 Telecommuting Guidance

New Jersey challenges its residents (and their employers) by diverging in significant and meaningful ways from Federal definitions of income.  In these ways, New Jersey shares much in common  although not all in common) with its western neighbor, Pennsylvania. Fortunately, New Jersey has entered into a reciprocal agreement with its…
Continue Reading The Curious Case of New Jersey and Ms. Darcey: New Jersey Taxation of Nonqualified Deferred Compensation