Book excerpt: As a result of rapidly evolving commercial, technological and economic dynamics, more and more businesses conduct business across multiple state jurisdictions. At the same time, state tax rules have become significantly more complex, and the states have become increasingly more aggressive in enforcing and collecting tax payment. Now, more than ever, business taxpayers and their advisors need to understand the traps, pitfalls and opportunities in the state corporate tax arena--before the inevitable state corporate income tax audit becomes a reality. CCH's 2016 U.S. Master Multistate Corporate Tax Guide is an indispensable resource for professionals who work with multiple state tax jurisdictions. This CCH "Master Guide" serves as a handy desktop reference containing concise explanations on major corporate tax issues that are readily accessible and easy to understand. It's an excellent resource for quick answers to the most-asked questions and at-a-glance state-to-state comparisons. The U.S. Master Multistate Corporate Tax Guide provides return preparation guidance for use by taxpayers subject to corporate income or income-based taxes in more than one state. It provides an efficient means for practitioners to understand the rules and guidelines relevant to filing corporate income tax returns in all of the 47 states (plus New York City and the District of Columbia) that impose a corporate income tax or that impose a franchise or other tax (such as the Michigan Business Tax) at least partially measured by income. Key elements of this helpful and annually updated publication are: CHARTS--designed to provide quick answers to the most often asked questions regarding state corporate income taxation. STATE BY STATE DISCUSSIONS--offer practical explanations of major corporate tax topics, including: - Tax Rates