June 17, 2009
IRS, Treasury want tax on work cell phones repealed
WASHINGTON -: The Obama administration asked Congress on Tuesday to repeal the tax on the personal use of company cell phones after sparking an outcry last week when it sought ideas for enforcing the law. The 1989 law says that personal use of a company cell phone should be taxed like other fringe benefits, such as a company car. The cell phone tax, however, can be a pain for workers who increasingly use mobile devices for texting, e-mailing and browsing the Internet - sometimes for work, sometimes for personal use. IRS Commissioner Doug Shulman called the tax burdensome, confusing and "poorly understood by taxpayers." He acknowledged it was difficult to enforce consistently. Shulman said he and Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner were asking Congress to repeal the tax, which has been widely criticized as outdated by the mobile industry and lawmakers. The House passed a bill to repeal the tax last year, but it stalled in the Senate. This year, bipartisan bills have been introduced in both the House and Senate.
- Associated Press
Under Armour seeks footwear executive
Under Armour Inc. said in a regulatory filing Tuesday that Raphael J. Peck, senior vice president of footwear, resigned June 12 to pursue other opportunities. The Baltimore sports apparel company said it has been looking for a new executive in charge of footwear since the beginning of the year. Adam Peake, vice president of sales and a member of the company's management team, has been immediately appointed to serve as interim executive in charge of footwear. The company began offering footwear products in 2006.
- Andrea K. Walker
Real estate firm moves headquarters downtown
Commercial real estate firm CSG Partners LLC said Tuesday it will move its corporate headquarters and about 20 workers from White Marsh in Baltimore County to downtown Baltimore's Sun Life Building at 20 S. Charles St., which the firm bought last year for $9.2 million. CSG Partners, which designs, builds and manages commercial space, will occupy 8,000 square feet on the eighth floor of the 12-story building in Charles Center and plans to renovate common areas. Broker Colliers Pinkard is marketing available space for rent. The building is about 77 percent occupied.
- Lorraine Mirabella
Amtrak chooses company for Station North study
A Philadelphia-based architecture and planning firm, Wallace Roberts & Todd, has been hired to complete a "highest and best-use analysis" of the 185-space parking lot north of Pennsylvania Station in Baltimore, property that is considered a key to revitalization of the Station North Arts and Entertainment District. Representatives for Amtrak, the agency that owns the train station and parking lot, disclosed this week that WRT was selected over 14 other groups that offered to complete the planning study. WRT was an early planner of Baltimore's revitalized Inner Harbor area. Its recommendations for the 1.5-acre Amtrak lot, known as the Lanvale site, are due by fall.
- Edward Gunts
GM sells Saab to Swedish carmaker Koenigsegg
Bankrupt General Motors Corp. has found a buyer for Saab, unloading the last major piece of the shrinking automaker's empire that had been on the block. The brand will be bought by Swedish carmaker Koenigsegg Group, known for making $1.2 million super-cars. A price was not disclosed, although GM said the acquisition would be bolstered by $600 million in financing from the European Investment Bank, backed by the government of Sweden. GM said it would provide additional support to help Koenigsegg take over Saab and complete work on vehicles in development. GM already has named buyers for Hummer and Saturn.
- Los Angeles Times
