Maryland Chamber State Taxation Consultant Karen Syrylo, CPA met today with Deputy Comptroller Linda Tanton to discuss the computer services sales tax.

The Maryland Chamber has made repealing the new tax a priority for the 2008 session. We will, however, continue to monitor its status as the comptroller’s office begins to draft the regulations over the course of the next few months. The new tax takes effect July 2008.

Tanton said they want to be cautious as they draft the new regs. They understand that computer service transactions are complex, and that Maryland businesses have questions regarding the new law.

As they move forward, the Comptroller’s office has asked the Maryland Chamber to collect questions from impacted business. Send your questions to techtaxquestions@mdchamber.org. We’ll work with the comptroller’s office to get answers.

Keep in mind that many of the tax laws passed during the special session take effect on January 1. The comptroller’s office will be working on those regulations prior to drafting the regs for the computer services sales tax, which take effect in July 2008. We will post the most frequently asked questions and answers on our website.