TEI recommends state tax reforms to Maryland's Augustine Commission.

• Position: TECHNICAL SUBMISSIONS

On September 30, 2015, TEI recommended four state tax reforms that would further the Maryland Economic Development and Business Climate Commission (the Augustine Commission) goals of making Maryland a better place to do business and keeping Maryland competitive in economic and private sector growth and prosperity. TEI recommended: (1) a reduction of the interest rate on underpayments of tax, (2) a legislative directive narrowing the application of the principles espoused in Gore Enterprise Holdings, Inc. v. Comptroller, (3) the more frequent issuance of declaratory rulings to taxpayers requesting guidance regarding Maryland's tax laws, and (4) the publication of all Maryland Tax Court decisions. TEI's letter was prepared under the aegis of TEI's State and Local Tax Committee, whose chair is Jamie Fenwick. State and Local Tax Committee member Rick O'Connor and Pilar Mata, TEI Tax Counsel, coordinated the preparation of TEI's letter.

On behalf of Tax Executives Institute, Inc. (TEI), I am writing to suggest four state and local tax reforms that will make Maryland a better place to do business and keep Maryland competitive in economic and private sector growth and prosperity. TEI recommends: (1) a reduction of the interest rate on underpayments of tax, (2) a legislative directive narrowing the application of the principles espoused in Gore Enterprise Holdings, Inc. v. Comptroller, No. 36 (Md. 2014), (3) the more frequent issuance of declaratory rulings to taxpayers requesting guidance regarding Maryland's tax laws, and (4) the publication of all Maryland Tax Court decisions.

About Tax Executives Institute, Inc.

TEI was founded in 1944 to serve the professional needs of business tax professionals. Today, the organization has 56 chapters in North and South America, Europe, and Asia, including Maryland. Our approximately 7,000 individual members represent more than 2,800 of the largest companies in the world.

TEI's members are in-house tax professionals who advise their companies regarding the tax consequences of various transactions and business decisions. TEI's members have a significant interest in promoting sound tax policy and the fair and efficient administration of the tax laws, at all levels of government.

Proposed Tax Reforms

TEI supports the efforts of the Augustine Commission to make Maryland's business environment more competitive and business-friendly.

1. Reduction of the Interest Rate on Underpayments of Tax

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