Indigo Co. v. City of Tucson

804 P.2d 129, 166 Ariz. 596, 77 Ariz. Adv. Rep. 50, 1991 Ariz. App. LEXIS 6
CourtCourt of Appeals of Arizona
DecidedJanuary 10, 1991
DocketNo. 1 CA-TX 90-022
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 804 P.2d 129 (Indigo Co. v. City of Tucson) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals of Arizona primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Indigo Co. v. City of Tucson, 804 P.2d 129, 166 Ariz. 596, 77 Ariz. Adv. Rep. 50, 1991 Ariz. App. LEXIS 6 (Ark. Ct. App. 1991).

Opinion

OPINION

GERBER, Presiding Judge.

The City of Tucson appeals from a judgment refunding city business privilege taxes paid under protest by the Indigo Company (Indigo). The question on appeal is whether certain construction draws received by Indigo constituted “gross income” from the business of “construction contracting” subject to taxation under Tucson Code § 19-415.

FACTS AND PROCEDURE

Indigo is a partnership which has a general contractor’s license and a City of Tucson class 15 license to do business as a construction contractor. Indigo entered into six separate development partnerships with third parties. It was the managing partner for the development partnerships. It prepared development and architectural plans and specifications for a commercial building on each parcel. Indigo obtained financing for the buildings and entered into contracts with building contractors and specialty contractors. Indigo held draws on the proceeds of the construction loans in Indigo’s business checking accounts for disbursement to contractors, subcontractors, laborers and material suppliers.

When each building was completed, the development partnership that owned it entered into a long-term financing arrangement and executed promissory notes and deeds of trust. Indigo undertook day-today management of the completed project on behalf of the development partnership.

The City of Tucson audited Indigo for the period of April 1, 1985, through February 29, 1988. The City assessed additional privilege taxes, interest and penalties of $89,162.93. Indigo petitioned for a hearing, correction or redetermination of the assessment before the City’s Director of Finance. After a hearing, the City issued a redetermined assessment in the amount of [598]*598$92,311.28. Indigo paid this amount under protest and brought an action in the tax court for a refund. On cross-motions for summary judgment, the tax court ruled in favor of Indigo. The City timely appealed. We have jurisdiction pursuant to A.R.S. § 12-2101(B).

DID THE CONSTRUCTION DRAWS CONSTITUTE GROSS INCOME?

A. The Applicable Tucson Code Provisions

Tucson Code § 19-400(a)(l) levies “[a] privilege tax upon persons on account of their business activities, to the extent provided elsewhere in this division, to be measured by the gross income of persons, whether derived from residents of the city or not, or whether derived from within the city or from without.” Section 19-415(a) imposes a two percent privilege tax on the “gross income from the business upon every construction contractor engaging or continuing in the business activity of construction contracting within the city.”1 (Emphasis added.) A taxpayer who engages in construction contracting is immediately liable for privilege taxes on the entire gross income from that activity.

The Tucson Code treats a taxpayer who engages in business as an “owner-builder” differently. Tucson Code § 19-100 defines an owner-builder as “an owner or lessor of real property who, by himself or by or through others, constructs or has constructed or reconstructs or has reconstructed any improvement to real property.” An owner-builder selling improved real property within twenty-four months after completion of the improvement is deemed a “speculative builder,” and is liable for a two percent privilege tax on the gross proceeds of sale. Tucson Code § 19-100; Reg. 19-415.1(2)(a). However, an owner-builder who retains improved real property for twenty-four months becomes liable for a two percent privilege tax on the total purchase price of any tangible personal property bought for incorporation into the improvements on the real property. Tucson Code § 19-417(a).

B. Analysis

The City claims Indigo is a construction contractor under Tucson Code § 19-415. It asserts that Indigo contracted with each of the development partnerships to construct improvements on their real property. The City argues that in constructing improvements Indigo engaged in the business of construction contracting. It contends that the construction loan funds Indigo used to pay contractors, subcontractors, laborers and material suppliers for constructing the development partnerships’ buildings constituted gross income taxable to Indigo.

We disagree that Indigo engaged in the business of construction contracting. Indigo had the ability to enter into construction contracts with the development partnerships, but there is no support in the record that it did. The fact that Indigo is itself a partnership does not establish that it built improvements on the development partnerships’ land as their prime contractor.

If Indigo as a separate partnership borrowed money and used it to build improvements on its own property it would have been an owner-builder under Tucson Code § 19-100. The fact that Indigo owned the land in partnership with others does not change this result. Tucson Code Reg. 19-415.1 provides:

(1) A person performing improvements to real property is one of the following: [599]*599a) An “owner-builder” when the work is performed by the owner or lessor or lessee-in-possession____
(3) The terms “owner,” “lessor” and “lessee-in-possession” shall be deemed to include any authorized agent for such person.

A.R.S. § 29-206(A) defines a partnership as “an association of two or more persons to carry on as co-owners a business for profit.” (Emphasis added.) Partners are engaged in a joint enterprise for a joint profit and are principals in every transaction. Brown & Bigelow v. Roy, 132 N.E.2d 755 (Ohio App.1955). Partners are agents of the partnership for the purpose of its business. A.R.S. § 29-209(A). Indigo was a partner in each development partnership. Each development partnership owned the land under development. As a partner, Indigo was an owner performing improvements to real property. It functioned as an owner-builder, not as a construction contractor. Tucson Code § 19-100; Reg. 19-415.1.

The loan draws Indigo received for construction purposes did not constitute taxable gross income to it. Indigo did not receive any income as a matter of personal right or entitlement.2 In obtaining financing for construction, Indigo was carrying on development partnership business. The construction loan proceeds it obtained were “acquired ... on account of” each development partnership and became development partnership property. A.R.S. § 29-208(A).

As a partner in each development partnership, Indigo could possess and use the construction loan proceeds for partnership purposes. See A.R.S. §§ 29-209(A); 29-225(B)(1). Indigo had no individual ownership interest in the construction loan proceeds and could not use those proceeds other than for the sole benefit of each development partnership. See A.R.S.

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

Arizona Department of Revenue v. Ormond Builders, Inc.
166 P.3d 934 (Court of Appeals of Arizona, 2007)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
804 P.2d 129, 166 Ariz. 596, 77 Ariz. Adv. Rep. 50, 1991 Ariz. App. LEXIS 6, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/indigo-co-v-city-of-tucson-arizctapp-1991.