By John Eggerton, Multichannel News, 2-18-21

Computer companies have filed a complaint in U.S. district court against Maryland’s Digital Advertising Gross Revenues Tax, asking the court to declare the law is, itself, unlawful and barring its enforcement.

The complaint was filed by the Computer & Communications Industry Association (CCIA) along with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Internet Association, and NetChoice. CCIA members include Amazon, Dish, Google, eBay, and Facebook.

The Maryland General Assembly last week overrode Governor Larry Hogan’s veto of the new law (HB 732). The Association of National Advertisers (ANA) signaled it would take the law to court as well.

The law institutes a gross revenues tax on “certain” digital ad services, and presumes that digital ads are provided in the state under “certain” circumstances and require “certain” persons with “certain” annual gross revenues from digital ad services to pay the tax.  » Read More