In re Allen, Gibbs & Houlik, L.C.

29 P.3d 431, 29 Kan. App. 2d 537, 2001 Kan. App. LEXIS 733
CourtCourt of Appeals of Kansas
DecidedAugust 3, 2001
DocketNo. 85,126
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 29 P.3d 431 (In re Allen, Gibbs & Houlik, L.C.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals of Kansas primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
In re Allen, Gibbs & Houlik, L.C., 29 P.3d 431, 29 Kan. App. 2d 537, 2001 Kan. App. LEXIS 733 (kanctapp 2001).

Opinion

Knudson, J.:

The Kansas Department of Revenue’s Division of Property Valuation (PVD) and the Board of County Commissioners of Sedgwick County, Kansas (County), appeal from the grant [538]*538of summary judgment by the Kansas Board of Tax Appeals (BOTA) to Allen, Gibbs & Houlik, L.C. (taxpayer). BOTA concluded the taxpayer is entitled to a property tax exemption for 43 computer keyboards purchased to replace defective keyboards. We affirm BOTA’s decision.

PVD and the County contend a replacement computer keyboard is a component part of a computer and not an “item” as that word is used in K.S.A. 2000 Supp. 79-201w. In a unanimous decision, BOTA disagreed and found a replacement computer keyboard is an “item” and the keyboards are exempt from taxation.

Two issues are raised on appeal: (1) whether summary judgment was proper, and (2) whether BOTA correctly interpreted K.S.A. 2000 Supp. 79-201w.

K.S.A. 2000 Supp. 79-201w states, in material part:

“The following described property, to the extent specified by this section, shall be exempt from all property or ad valorem taxes levied under the laws of the state of Kansas:
“(a) Any item of machinery, equipment, materials and supplies which, except for the operation of the provisions of this section, would be required to be Usted for the purpose of taxation pursuant to K.S.A. 79-306, and amendments thereto, and which is used or to be used in the conduct of the owner’s business, or in the conduct of activities by an entity not subject to Kansas income taxation pursuant to K.S.A. 79-32,113, and amendments thereto, whose original retail cost when new is $250 or less.”

PVD’s contention that the keyboards are not exempt is based upon PVD Directive No. 95-030, which was issued for the benefit of county appraisers. See K.S.A. 79-505. The directive provides, in material part:

“The purpose of this directive is to define the term ‘item’ for purposes of the new exemption. The Director takes the position that an interpretation of an ‘item’ should begin with the Tangible Personal Property Ad Valorem Tax Return (Form PV-PP-2E, hereinafter referred to as a ‘rendition’), which was an express concern of the legislature.
“The Director takes the position that as a general rule, a Une-item on an acceptably filed rendition is the equivalent of an item for purposes of the new exemption. However, the Director recognizes that taxpayers vary in reporting practices due to differing purchasing procedures and styles.
[539]*539“Consequently, some adjustments to this general rule must be made in order to place taxpayers on more equal footing.”

The directive then provides rules and illustrations as to what is or is not an “item,” including:

“Second, if a single line-item represents a good that must be used in conjunction with other goods in order to serve its purpose or function, the line-item is not an item. Rather, the line-item represents only part of an item. For example, if a taxpayer lists a computer keyboard’ as a line-item on the rendition, the line-item does not constitute an entire item. The computer keyboard cannot serve its purpose or function without the remainder of the computer system; therefore, the keyboard is part of a computer system. The computer system is the item. The keyboard and its other components, even though they may be separately identified and listed on the rendition, are merely parts of an item.”

The taxpayer takes issue with PVD’s definition of “item.” The taxpayer contends K.S.A. 2000 Supp. 79-20lw is unambiguous and that the plain meaning of “item” includes distinct property that becomes part of a whole.

In granting the taxpayer s motion for summary judgment, BOTA stated:

“6. The applicant purchased the computer keyboards to replace defective keyboards in the applicant’s possession. The applicant purchased these keyboards separately from any computer system. The applicant listed these keyboards on the personal property rendition as exempt items. The retail cost when new of the keyboards is $250 or less. The County, relying upon PVD Directive No. 95-030, informed the applicant that the keyboards were not exempt. Neither the County, nor PVD dispute these facts.
“7. There do not appear to be any facts in dispute as to the cost of the personal property. The only issue before the Board is whether or not the computer keyboards are ‘items.’ PVD Directive No. 95-030 attempts to define the term ‘item.’ The directive indicates that a piece of personal property is not an ‘item’ if it can not perform its function independently without use of another good. The directive provides the example of how a computer keyboard is not an item because the keyboard can not perform its function without the remainder of the computer system. The Board finds the parties have presented a question of law, so the applicant’s motion for summary judgment is ripe.
“8. The applicant asserts that the computer keyboards are items. The applicant notes that the term ‘item’ is not defined in K.S.A. 79-201w, and amendments thereto. However, the applicant did cite to a definition of the term ‘item’ from Webster’s New International Dictionary, Unabridged. All of the definitions provided by the applicant appear to indicate that an item is merely a part of [540]*540the aggregate. The applicant asserts that statute is unambiguous. Therefore, the applicant asserts, the Board need not look at the legislative history, but rather the plain meaning of the words. The applicant requests that the Board look at the plain meaning of the term ‘item.’
“9. The applicant asserts that PVD’s directive is too broad and would have a disparate impact on the merchant’s and manufacturer’s inventory exemption granted pursuant to K.S.A. 79-201m, and amendments thereto. The applicant notes that K.S.A. 79-201m, and amendments thereto, grants an exemption for ‘items’ of personal property held as inventory. The applicant asserts that if the Board applies PVD’s definition of the term ‘item,’ then merchants and manufacturers who sell computer keyboards must report those keyboards on their rendition.
“10. The applicant finally asserts that the Board has already rejected PVD Directive No. 95-030. See

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
29 P.3d 431, 29 Kan. App. 2d 537, 2001 Kan. App. LEXIS 733, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/in-re-allen-gibbs-houlik-lc-kanctapp-2001.