Law360: Va. Justices Could Settle When Tax Laws Are Too Vague

Eversheds Sutherland Partner Eric Tresh is quoted in this Law360 article about the city of Charlottesville, Virginia’s attempt to ask the state justices to strike a lower court's ruling that one of its tax ordinances is unconstitutionally vague. The ordinance is a local gross receipts tax known as the business, professional and occupational license tax, or BPOL.

In the article, Eric said the justices should also consider the structure of the BPOL tax. It is not meant to be a general tax, like the state sales tax, that falls on all sales of tangible personal property, he said. 

Eric said the BPOL is a "very specific ordinance," and the plain language should apply. 

"I think it's vague and it's problematic," Eric said of the Charlottesville ordinance.