Remote Work Tax Debate Settled by Ohio Supreme Court Decision

The Ohio Supreme Court has recently made a significant ruling that could impact the future of remote work and municipal finance.  

The court’s decision affirms the legality of cities collecting income tax from individuals who worked remotely from home outside city limits during the COVID-19 pandemic.  

According to a report published by Axios, this 5-2 court decision supports the notion that maintaining stable municipal revenues during such unprecedented times was a legitimate state interest — despite challenges to the contrary. 

The state’s supreme court ruling came in response to a case where a Blue Ash resident sought a refund from the city of Cincinnati for taxes paid while working from home, arguing the collection was unconstitutional. However, the majority, led by Justice R. Patrick DeWine, upheld the state law, distinguishing between interstate and intrastate taxation and emphasizing the unique relationship between state governments and municipalities.  

The decision also maintained that the law did not violate the Home Rule provision of the Ohio Constitution, thus supporting legislative authority over municipal taxation powers. 

This decision not only provides relief to city governments, which stood to lose millions in revenue if required to issue refunds, but also sets a precedent for the taxation of remote workers.  

Despite early predictions that a third of Ohioans might permanently work remotely, census data from January 2022 shows that only about 13% of the workforce continues to do so, as reported by Axios. The ruling marks a pivotal moment in how cities might navigate the evolving landscape of remote work and its implications for local tax policies — balancing the financial health of cities with the tax obligations of remote workers.