Senate unanimously passes OSCPA supported tax & title agency review corrections legislation

Bills heads to House for concurrence

Society-backed Substitute House Bill 157 unanimously passed the Senate, setting up a concurrence vote in the House next month. 

The bill requires the Ohio Department of Taxation (ODT) to include a box on personal income tax returns that a taxpayer may check to authorize a paid tax preparer to speak to ODT about matters concerning the return. The bill is sponsored by Rep. Jim Hughes.

Three other Society-supported provisions to the already taxpayer-friendly bill were added in the Senate Ways and Means and Economic Development Committee. Most notably, a provision was added that moves the due date for mandatory “reviews” of a title agency’s escrow accounts to Dec. 31, 2008. (See related story).

Other changes include:

• Added equipment purchased by electronic publishing entities to a sales tax exemption already applied to traditional publishing firms
• Conformed state tax code to recent changes in federal law

The legislation must receive House concurrence to the Senate changes before going to Gov. Strickland for signature. The next House session is scheduled for mid-December. 

For more information, contact Amy Mignogna, senior manager, governmental affairs.

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