Insights

Is your sourcing strategic?

April 02, 2014.
Logistics Publications

Strategy is a plan of action, or policy, designed to achieve an overall aim. Sourcing is the buying of a product or service delivery from a supplier. Strategic Sourcing is an organized and collaborative approach to leveraging targeted spending across locations with select suppliers that are best suited to create...

President Signs Ukraine Related Executive Order

April 01, 2014.
Trade Publications

The president of the United States has signed a new executive order that prohibits transferring or exporting US property to anyone who is furthering the current situation in the Ukraine. http://www.treasury.gov/resource-center/sanctions/OFAC-Enforcement/pages/20140317.aspx All property and interests in property that are in the...

Ask Your Logistics Expert... What is EEI and who needs to take care of this?

March 30, 2014.
Logistics Publications

Q: What is EEI and who needs to take care of this? A: Foreign Trade Regulations and determining if an Electronic Export Information (EEI) is required. Mandatory EEI filing through the Automated Electronic System (AES) went into effect on October 2, 2008. This required specific filing for tangible cargo with a...

EU Proposes Measures for Conflict Mineral Importers

March 29, 2014.
Trade Publications

The European Union (EU) has proposed a set of measures to encourage the responsible trading of tin, tungsten, tantalum, and gold in an effort to reduce the financing of armed groups in conflict areas (such as the Democratic Republic of Congo). The proposed rule is similar to the United States...

House’s 7 Principles for Internet Sales Tax Bill

March 28, 2014.
Tax Publications

House Judiciary Committee Chairman, Bob Goodlatte, (R-Va.) released seven principles for devising an Internet Sales Tax Bill on September 18. This is a follow-up to the passage of the Senate legislation in May of 2013. In a press release, Goodlatte said, "The aim of the principles is to provide a...

Qualities of a Fair State Tax Administration Part 2 – Even-Handed Statute of Limitations and Interest Rates

March 28, 2014.
Tax Publications

This is the second in a series of posts about the qualities of a fair state tax administration. These measurements were used by the Council on State Taxation (COST) to analyze each state’s fairness in administering its taxes. The qualities discussed in this article are even-handed...

Qualities of a Fair State Tax Administration Part 1 – Independent Appeals

March 27, 2014.
Tax Publications

This is the first in a series of posts about the qualities of a fair state tax administration. These measurements were used by the Council on State Taxation (COST) to analyze each state’s fairness in administering its taxes. Their fifth annual report is found here. The...

Louisiana Enacts Amnesty Program

March 26, 2014.
Tax Publications

The Louisiana Department of Revenue (LDR) has implemented a tax amnesty program applicable to all the taxes they administer except motor fuel taxes and penalties for failing to submit information reports not based on an underpayment of tax. Periods in Which Taxpayers Can File There are two remaining periods in...

Is Your Company Subject to Sales Tax?

March 25, 2014.
Tax Publications

If your company has recently expanded or begun doing business in a different way, you may have unknowingly triggered an act that subjects you to state or local sales tax. Some of the items that could trigger sales tax nexus include: • You have opened up offices...

What is required to ship cargo out of the US, i.e. a rig?

March 24, 2014.
Logistics Publications

Q: What is required to ship cargo out of the US, i.e. a rig? A: The seller has the responsibility of organizing several documents. There are some instances where freight forwarders complete the majority of the paperwork that is needed as well, however, the shipper or customer is responsible...

Drop Shipment Challenges to Sales Tax Compliance

March 20, 2014.
Tax Publications

In sales transactions between two parties, a consumer and a seller, it is generally easy to determine whether to collect sales tax and from whom. If the seller has nexus and is registered in the consumer’s state, then the seller must collect and remit sales tax in...

Unclaimed Property: Delaware Receives a “D-” Score

March 16, 2014.
Tax Publications

Delaware, “the first state”, may be called the “worst state” when it comes to grades for unclaimed property laws. The Council on State Taxation (COST) recently assigned a D- to the state. The full report is found here. Unclaimed property laws were originally implemented...