South Carolina counties and municipalities are authorized to impose business license taxes on the "gross income" of a business. On August 8, 2018 the South Carolina Supreme Court issued a major decision, Todd Olds v. City of Goose Creek, construing what constitutes gross income under a municipal business license ordinance.
In the case, a licensed realtor was in the business of flipping houses. He obtained a business license from the City of Goose Creek (the "City") and reported the gain he recognized on his flips as his gross income for business license purposes. The City determined ...