Tax Exemption

By Jaclyn Reiss, Town Correspondent Worried that a major employer might leave, Framingham town meeting members Tuesday night passed a measure forgiving taxes on a $143-million expansion of the TJX corporate headquarters in exchange for the company staying in town and adding jobs. The agreement calls for TJX to maintain 1,600 permanent jobs and create 225 new jobs over the next several years, and to invest $143 million for on-site expansion, renovations to existing buildings, and acquisition costs.

NextEra Energy Inc. cannot file for tax exemptions on facilities that operate only in emergencies, though it can claim them on systems that run regularly, the New Hampshire Supreme Court ruled unanimously Tuesday. The ruling is the latest step in a battle that began when the NextEra, the owner of Seabrook power plant, renewed its application for the tax exemptions in 2010 and the town objected. But the state ruled in 2011 that 21 facilities at the plant were eligible for exemptions to some extent, citing New Hampshire law that says a treatment facility is tax exempt if it is used to...

FALMOUTH - It is a tiny school, with an enrollment the size of a modest elementary school. There is no campus, just a small office building. Its 400 part-time students are invisible here, attending classes at off-site facilities across the country. Yet the National Graduate School of Quality Management awarded its president, Robert J. Gee, $732,891 in compensation two years ago. By comparison, the president of Tufts University, with 10,800 employees and 5,500 students, had nearly identical compensation the same year, $738,596.

A bill to exempt the purchase and maintenance of airplanes from Pennsylvania's 6 percent sales tax won a strong vote of confidence in the state House of Representatives. The House gave its final approval to the measure Tuesday by a vote of 179 to 19. It now goes to the Senate. Critics say this is not time for the state to be handing out tax breaks for wealthy individuals and corporations that will deprive the state of millions of dollars of badly needed revenue. Proponents say the bill would match tax exemptions available in neighboring states and make up the lost revenue by...

WASHINGTON -- About 60 charities, churches, and other tax-exempt groups are being investigated for potentially breaking federal rules that bar them from participating in political activity, the Internal Revenue Service said yesterday. Such violations would threaten their tax-exempt status, the IRS said. The investigations involve guidelines for 501(c)(3) groups, which grant tax-exempt status so long as organizations do not participate in political activities such as endorsing candidates or making campaign donations.

Lawmakers are considering an overhaul of the state's property tax laws for North Dakota home owners. All home owners would be eligible for a state property tax credit. An existing property tax exemption for North Dakota farm homes would be abolished. The North Dakota Legislature's Taxation Committee is going over a bill to make the tax changes. It's likely to get resistance from rural lawmakers. Montpelier Rep. Craig Headland says it would mean a tax increase on rural residents.

A bill to end Oklahoma's sales tax exemption for newspapers and magazines has been defeated in a Senate committee. The Senate Finance Committee on Tuesday soundly rejected the proposal by Tahlequah Democrat Sen. Jim Wilson to end the exemption from the state's 4.5 percent sales tax for newspapers and magazines. Citing figures from the Oklahoma Tax Commission, Wilson says the proposal would have freed up $17 million to use to fund bonuses for National Board Certified Teachers.

Texas businesses and shoppers are getting ready for this weekend's sales tax holiday as students prepare to return to school. Comptroller Susan Combs says the sales tax break, on select items, runs Friday through Sunday. The tax exemption applies to qualified products purchased at a store in Texas or from an Internet or catalog seller that does business in the state. The sales tax break applies to items that cost less than $100. Clothing, shoes, backpacks and school supplies are among the qualifying merchandise.

The head of British tennis says he is hopeful that a change in tax laws will stop international sports stars from turning their backs on competing in Britain. Second-ranked Rafael Nadal has chosen not to compete at the pre-Wimbledon Queen's tournament next year because he will "lose money. " Olympic champion Usain Bolt does not compete in Britain because of the law. Overseas athletes are taxed on prize money and appearance fees in Britain, along with a portion of their worldwide endorsement earnings.

Florida's legislature could let local governments limit property tax assessments and offer additional exemptions on homes of low-income seniors under a pair of ballot proposals passed in the House. The chamber approved the proposed state constitutional amendments Thursday. They would go on the November ballot if also passed by the Senate. Each needs 60 percent approval. One measure (HJR 169) would allow for an additional tax exemption. The other (HJR 55) would limit assessments to the previous year's value for homes that get an existing local option exemption for low-income...

By Jaclyn Reiss, Town Correspondent Worried that a major employer might leave, Framingham town meeting members Tuesday night passed a measure forgiving taxes on a $143-million expansion of the TJX corporate headquarters in exchange for the company staying in town and adding jobs. The agreement calls for TJX to maintain 1,600 permanent jobs and create 225 new jobs over the next several years, and to invest $143 million for on-site expansion, renovations to existing buildings, and acquisition costs.

The Kansas Department of Revenue believes a state law allowing oil company TransCanada Corp. to avoid paying nearly $19 million in property taxes has been misinterpreted, but the company said Thursday that it is simply following tax rules approved years ago by the state and noted its large investments in Kansas. The department recently filed a petition asking the state Court of Tax Appeals to reconsider its decision to approve Calgary-based TransCanada's exemption from state property taxes in 2011.

The Louisiana House reversed course Monday and agreed to give a 10-year, $37 million tax break to the New Orleans Hornets, part of the state's deal to keep the NBA team. The proposal by Rep. Cameron Henry, R-Metairie, extends an existing tax break that saves the team $3.7 million a year through Louisiana's Quality Jobs Program. Henry's bill would continue the rebate through the 2024 NBA season. Otherwise, the tax exemption expires in 2013. Henry's bill was sent to the Senate for debate with a 62-37 vote, a week after it failed in the House, getting...

As families and businesses across the state filed their tax returns this month, the Commonwealth was completing an important tax review of its own. Last year, as part of the state's budget process, the Legislature established a Tax Expenditure Commission. The Commission was charged with studying the state's tax expenditures – the various exemptions, deductions, and credits in the Massachusetts tax code – and recommending ways to measure their effectiveness. Tax expenditures are designed to encourage certain public policy outcomes, such as...

The South Carolina House will debate a bill that eliminates two dozen sales tax exemptions worth less than $13 million. The House expects to discuss the bill Thursday. It initially eliminated more than $220 million worth of exemptions when House Republicans introduced it last month. But legislators re-inserted 18 items during the committee process after they heard from affected businesses. State budget advisors provided an updated estimate Monday. The bill has a tax-neutral provision, requiring any increased revenue to be offset by lowering the state sales...

The Louisiana House narrowly refused Wednesday to extend an existing tax break given to the New Orleans Hornets that saves the team $3.7 million a year. The extension proposed by Rep. Cameron Henry, R-Metairie, fell four votes short of passage in a 49-46 vote Wednesday. It needed 53 votes to win approval. The NBA team gets a tax break through the state Quality Jobs Program. Henry proposed continuing that for the length of the Hornets' new lease with the state, which is set to go through 2024.

FALMOUTH - It is a tiny school, with an enrollment the size of a modest elementary school. There is no campus, just a small office building. Its 400 part-time students are invisible here, attending classes at off-site facilities across the country. Yet the National Graduate School of Quality Management awarded its president, Robert J. Gee, $732,891 in compensation two years ago. By comparison, the president of Tufts University, with 10,800 employees and 5,500 students, had nearly identical compensation the same year, $738,596.