Dan is a member of the firm's Tax Practice. Licensed to practice in New York, California and Florida, Dan focuses on a variety of state and local tax matters in jurisdictions across the United States. Dan has assisted clients with over 1,000 tax and other legal matters, regularly advising individuals and businesses on different aspects of personal income tax, sales and use tax, corporate franchise tax, and several other lesser-known taxes. While focused on tax matters, Dan often counsels clients on a wide variety of legal matters, teaming up with his colleagues in different disciplines to deliver effective and efficient solutions.
Dan’s clients frequently rely on his guidance for tax planning around significant liquidity events; changing or establishing state and local tax residency; income, franchise and sales tax substantial nexus issues; complex business income and earnings allocation issues; and related matters. He has extensive experience representing taxpayers in audits conducted by several tax jurisdictions, and also represents taxpayers at various levels of tax controversy dispute resolution and appeal.
Dan enjoys the opportunity to share his views on current state and local tax topics and legislative developments through speeches and in articles published in a variety of state and local tax publications.
Hodgson Russ Attorneys Daniel Kelly and Joseph Tantillo published “Coast-to-Coast Tax Residency: New York & California Case Studies” for The New York State Society of CPAs TaxStringer.
During the spring of 2014, Hodgson Russ LLP (“Hodgson”) received a letter from the Minnesota Department of Revenue (“Minnesota Revenue”) that attempted to establish a new low in the states’ “race to the bottom” to establish the most minimal constitutional standard required to satisfy substantial nexus with an out-of-state taxpayer. Minnesota Revenue asserted that under suspect provisions of the Minnesota tax code, Hodgson had nexus with the state of Minnesota based upon a single, un-audited fact: between the 2004 and 2012 tax years, Hodgson received federal Forms 1099 from payors using a Minnesota mailing address. On account of this single fact – with no revenue floor or other safeguards – Minnesota Revenue asserted that Hodgson had nexus with Minnesota, and was therefore required to file Minnesota franchise tax returns and apportion its business income to the state.
Piggy-backing on my colleague Drew’s sales tax update last week on new use tax rules for yachts already in effect, I’m writing with another timely update on New York’s soon-to-be-effective sales and use exemption rules for “general aviation aircraft”.
In less than 40 days, the exempt status previously reserved only for “commercial aircraft” will be extended to include “general aviation aircraft” in New York, which include recreational planes, private and corporate jets and helicopters, etc.—basically, aircraft used in civil aviation that aren’t “commercial aircraft.” As part of the 2015-2016 budget bill, the New York Legislature adjusted the rules imposing sales and use tax on nonresident—and resident—aircraft owners alike. The Legislature added a new exemption to Tax Law section 1115 for general aviation aircraft, which is defined to include all aircraft “used in civil aviation,” except commercial aircraft used to transport persons or property for hire. It joins the exemption already on the books for sales and use tax on commercial aircraft primarily engaged in intrastate, interstate, or foreign commerce. The new rule will also exempt sales of machinery or equipment installed on the aircraft. The rule does not exempt drones—sorry, all you early adopters out there.
New York’s driver’s license suspension program, used to encourage and enforce delinquent tax collection, is still in its infancy. Two of my colleagues wrote an informative piece about the mechanics of the program, which began in 2013, and they also detailed appeals strategies in the event a taxpayer receives a suspension notice from the New York Tax Department that wasn’t warranted.
Civic
Advisory Board Member, Co-Treasurer: Salvation Army, Buffalo Area Services
Board of Directors Member, Secretary: The First Tee of Western New York
Joe and Dan continue their discussion on California’s tax residency rules, and they delve into the complexity and ambiguity of California’s temporary/transitory purpose test. They highlight the unique rules associated with the test, and they discuss how California leans on the objective factors in its “closest connections test” when the temporary/transitory analysis doesn’t result in a firm domicile determination.
California Tax Residency Rules (Part 1): Domicile
In this episode of State Tax Talks, Joe brings in California tax professional and Hodgson Russ Partner, Daniel Kelly for a nuts and bolts overview of California’s rules on changing your residency for tax purposes. The two start at the top with a discussion on California’s law surrounding domicile as well as a few safe harbor provisions included in the California tax law. California, much like New York, utilizes a complex analysis for making a determination as to whether someone has successfully abandoned their California residency. Dan and Joe look to peel back the layers of the primary test for our listeners.
Happy Minute 2 – The Convenience Rule Continued: Matter of Zelinsky
Joe and guests Chris and Dan continue their conversation about New York State’s Convenience of the Employer Rule. They focus their discussion on one of the most famous court cases to ever challenge the Convenience Rule, Matter of Zelinsky v. Tax Appeals Tribunal of the State of New York. They also discuss Professor Zelinsky’s renewed challenge to the Convenience Rule, the challenge’s chances of success, and the best arguments against upholding the rule as constitutional.
Happy Minute 1—The Convenience Rule
Welcome to the first edition of the Happy Minute: a laid back, round-table style discussion of contemporary tax issues that pique our interest. Joe is joined by guests, Chris Doyle and Dan Kelly, to discuss the Convenience of the Employer Rule used by New York and a handful of other states to tax the wage income of remote employees. This is a nonresident allocation rule that can be confusing to many taxpayers, especially those working remotely for New York employers. Joe, Chris, and Dan talk about how the rule works, why it negatively impacts remote employees, and whether it is fair for states to use a convenience rule.
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