Miss Dianna's School of Dance, Inc. v. Director of Revenue

478 S.W.3d 405, 2016 Mo. LEXIS 5, 2016 WL 143277

• Court: Supreme Court of Missouri
• Decided: January 12, 2016
• Docket: SC95102
• Status: Published

Opinions

Zel M. Fischer, Judge

Miss Dianna’s School of Dance, Inc., petitions for review of the Administrative Hearing Commission’s decision determining that Miss Dianna’s is liable for sales tax in the amount of $23,378.97 and use tax in the amount of $605.96, plus interest. Miss Dianna’s argues it is not a place of amusement, entertainment, or recreation for purposes of § 144.020.1(2)¹ and, therefore, the Commission erred in holding the fees received by Miss Dianna’s for dance classes are subject to sales tax under that statute. Because Miss Dianna’s petition involves the construction of a revenue law of this state, this Court has jurisdiction pursuant to article V, section 3 of the Missouri Constitution. The Commission’s decision is affirmed.

Factual and Procedural History

Miss Dianna’s charges fees for dance classes that instruct participants, ranging from young children to adults, on various styles of dance. The exhibits before the Commission showed Miss Dianna’s website describes the place as “A Dance studio focused on performance quality in a fun and family friendly atmosphere” and proclaims, “We are confident you can find a class that will make you and your family happy!” The exhibits also showed that Miss Dianna’s promotional materials, while noting the skill and technique involved in some classes, also emphasize the fun and enjoyment of its classes, including: (1) an all-boys class “full of energy, fun, and structure;” (2) “a fun dance & tumbling class” for parent and young child to participate in together; (3) various youth classes described as “fun classes to add variety to your dancer’s week!;” (4) a full-day camp at which “dancers will also be doing crafts and decorating their dance camp shirts;” (5) a musical theater workshop described as “a fun way to develop your dance and acting skills;” (6) various adult classes that invited potential customers to “Take a little ‘Me Time’ and have some fun with us!;” and (7) an adult tap class in which participants “will be amazed at how fun and athletic tap exercises can be.” At the Commission’s hearing, Miss Dianna’s founder and sole shareholder admitted that participants “get recreation” from the dance classes and that it is her hope and belief that participants have fun while learning dance at Miss Dianna’s.

Prior to being audited, Miss Dianna’s did not file any sales tax returns, relying on a 2008 Missouri Department of Revenue letter ruling addressed to a different business that stated that the fees charged by that business for dance lessons were not subject to sales tax. In 2012, the Director of Revenue audited Miss Dianna’s for the period between January 1, 2007, and December 31, 2011, and determined that Miss Dianna’s failed to collect and remit sales tax and use tax during this period. Miss Dianna’s was initially assessed $73,276.21 for unpaid tax and interest, but the Director later withdrew the assessments for years 2007 to 2009 and ultimately sought $28,214.60, plus interest, in unpaid taxes from Miss Dianna’s. The Commission held a hearing and determined Miss Dianna’s is liable for $23,984.93 in unpaid tax, $18,239.16 of which the Commission attributed to unpaid sales tax on dance lesson fees, with the $6,745.77 remainder attributed to other sales and use taxes. The Commission ruled the dance fees were taxable under § 144.020.1(2) as fees to a place of amusement, entertainment, or recreation:

As Miss Dianna’s Web site attests, it offers fun along with dance instruction. We conclude that entertainment, amusement, and recreation are not a de mini-mus component of Miss Dianna’s dance lessons. We find that fees collected for dance instruction at Miss Dianna’s are fees paid to, or in, a place of recreation.

Miss Dianna’s petition to this Court challenges only this ruling and not the $5,745.77 remainder of sales and use taxes that the Commission held Miss Dianna’s liable for on grounds separate and independent from § 144.020.1(2).²

Standard of Review

This Court will uphold the Commission’s decision when it is “authorized by law and supported by competent and substantial evidence upon the record as a whole unless clearly contrary to the reasonable expectations of the General Assembly.” 801 Skinker Blvd. Corp. v. Dir. of Revenue, 395 S.W.3d 1, 3-4 (Mo. banc 2013) (internal quotations omitted); see also § 621.193. This Court defers to the Commission’s findings of fact, but reviews the Commission’s determination of issues of law de novo. Michael Jaudes Fitness Edge, Inc. v. Dir. of Revenue, 248 S.W.3d 606, 608 (Mo. banc 2008).

Analysis

Section 144.020.1(2) imposes a sales tax “equivalent to four percent of the amount paid for admission and seating accommodations, or fees paid to, or in any place of amusement, entertainment or recreation, games and athletic events.” (Emphasis added). There are two elements to finding a transaction taxable under § 144.020.1(2): (1) a charge or fee (2) that is paid in or to a place of amusement, entertainment, or recreation. Fitness Edge, 248 S.W;3d at 609. The words “amusement,” “entertainment,” and “recreation” are not defined by statute for purposes of § 144.020.1(2). In such a case, this Court gives the words their plain and ordinary meaning as derived from the dictionary. Spudich v. Dir. of Revenue, 745 S.W.2d 677, 680 (Mo. banc 1988). “Amusement” is defined as “pleasurable diversion: entertainment.” Wbbstek’s ThiRD New International DICTIONARY 74 (1993). “Entertainment” is defined as “the act of diverting, amusing, or causing someone’s time to pass agreeably: amusement.” Id. at 757. “Recreation” is defined as “a means of getting diversion or entertainment.” Id. at 1899. Noticeably, the common thread in all three definitions is that of diversion. Therefore, given the words’ plain and ordinary meanings, a “place of amusement, entertainment or recreation” is a place that provides diversion.³

Miss Dianna’s argues it is not a place of amusement, entertainment, or recreation because “[although some students are getting exercise, recreation and enjoy dance, Miss Dianna’s purpose is to teach, teaching students how to dance; not to amuse, entertain, or provide recreation to students.” At one point, this Court held that “application of section 144.020.1(2) turns on the primary purpose of the facility involved.” Columbia Athletic Club v. Dir. of Revenue, 961 S.W.2d 806, 810 (Mo. banc 1998). This primary-purpose test was short-lived, though, as just three years later this Court reinstated the previous “de minimus” test set out in Spudich. See Wilson’s Total Fitness Ctr., Inc. v. Dir. of Revenue, 38 S.W.3d 424, 426 (Mo. banc 2001). It does not matter, therefore, whether Miss Dianna’s has a primary purpose of teaching; if “amusement or recreational activities comprise more than a de minimus portion of the business activities ... [it] is considered a place of amusement or recreation” under § 144.020.1(2). Fitness Edge, 248 S.W.3d at 609 (internal quotations omitted).

In making a determination under the de minimus test, “[e]ach case must be considered on its own particular facts.” Spudich, 745 S.W.2d at 681 n. 1. In Spu-dich, this Court identified three factors to consider: (1) the manner in which the place holds itself out to the public; (2) the amount of revenue generated by amusement or recreational activities at the place; and (3) the pervasiveness of the amusement or recreational activities at the place. Id.; see also Bolivar Road News, Inc. v. Dir. of Revenue, 13 S.W.3d 297, 301 (Mo. banc 2000) (applying the same three factors).⁴ Here, Miss Dianna’s website and promotional materials have consistently emphasized the fun and enjoyment that participants will experience when taking its dance classes, meaning, for purposes of the first factor, Miss Dianna’s has held itself out to the public as a place providing diversion, i.e., amusement or recreational activities.

The second and third factors necessarily involve first identifying whether amusement or recreational activities occur at a place and, then, if so, comparing such activities to the place’s other business activities. Bolivar Road News, 13 S.W.3d at 301. Here, Miss Dianna’s concedes that participants get exercise, recreation, and enjoyment from the dance classes — and self-identifies as a place to learn and have fun with dance classes — but argues the classes are intended to be educational. But, once again, this argument is simply invoking the rejected primary-purpose test. An activity may be both an -educational activity and an amusement or recreational activity at the same time. Fostaire Harbor, Inc. v. Mo. Dir. of Revenue, 679 S.W.2d 272, 273 (Mo. banc 1984). This is the case for Miss Dianna’s dancé classes, which provide diversion along with instruction; the amusement or recreation is intertwined with the education, making them activities of a dual nature. See Wilson’s Total Fitness, 38 S.W.3d at 426 (declining to distinguish “between exercise that is primarily focused on health benefits and exercise that is primarily focused on recreation”). It makes no difference that participants go to Miss Dianna’s for dance classes, and not “self-directed dancing.” See Fitness Edge, 248 S.W.3d at 610 (holding there was no legal distinction between a workout facility where clients worked out mainly with personal trainers and one where clients engaged mainly in “self-directed exercise” „ because section 144.020.1(2) “draws no distinction between whether a person exercises pursuant to a plan of her own devising or under the immediate and direct supervision of a fitness trainer. Rather, the statute states that the tax is due for ‘fees paid to, or in any place of amusement, entertainment or recreation ...’ for taxable services offered at retail.”).⁵

In comparing the dance classes to Miss Dianna’s other business activities (such as costume and other retail sales), the numbers before the Commission reflected that fees for dance classes accounted for néarly two-thirds -of Miss Dianna’s combined gross income for the relevant years of 2010 and 2011. As such, nearly two-thirds of Miss Dianna’s revenue was generated by amusement or recreational activities (and, dually, educational activities). Of course, the record also'reflects that dance classes were the most pervasive of Miss Dianna’s business activities. Accordingly, the second and third factors also suggest the amusement or recreational activities of Miss Dianna’s pass the de minimus threshold; therefore, it is considered a place of amusement or recreation for the purposes of § 144.020.1(2).⁶

Conclusion

Because amusement or recreational activities comprise more than a de minimus portion of Miss Dianna’s business activities, it is considered a place of amusement or recreation with fees taxable under § 144.020.1(2). See Fitness Edge, 248 S.W.3d at 609. Therefore, the Commission’s decision is authorized by law and supported by competent and substantial evidence upon the record as a whole. The Commission’s decision is affirmed.

Breckenridge, C.J., Wilson and Russell, JJ., concur; Draper, J., dissents in separate opinion filed; Stith-and Teitelman, JJ., concur in opinion of Draper, J.

1 . Statutory citations are to RSMo 2000, unless otherwise indicated.

2 . The remainder was broken down as $3,304.00 in sales tax on costumes, $1,613.39 in sales tax on retail sales, $222.42 in sales tax on miscellaneous items — all transactions taxable pursuant to § 144.020.1(1) — and $605.96 in use tax pursuant to § 144.610.1. Although the Commission's decision states Miss Dianna's costume and other retail sales are "subject to sales tax under § 144.020.1(2),” this appears to be a typographical error and was intended to read "subject to sales tax under § 144.020.1(1).” The Commission had previously noted the Director sought unpaid tax on "tangible personal property taxable under § 144.020.1(1)',” and its analysis of Miss Dianna’s costume and other retail sales necessarily invokes the substance of § 144.020.1(1), which imposes sales tax on "every retail sale in this state of tangible personal properly.” See Fowler Land Co. v. Mo. Dep't of Natural Res., 460 S.W.3d 502, 507 n, 7 (Mo.App. S.D.2015) (concluding Commission intended a different regulation number in its references and citations because circumstances indicated the Commission had made typographical errors).

3 ."Diversion” means "something that turns the mind from serious concerns or ordinary matters and relaxes or amuses.” Id. at 662.

4 ."Other factors may, of course, be considered as circumstances dictate.” Spudich, 745 S.W.2d at 681 n.l.

5 . This is not to imply that dance classes are always amusement or recreational activities. Under some set of facts it may be possible to identify a dance studio that provides more purely educational dance classes, and not also diversion through amusement or recreational activities, but this is not such a case. See Spudich, 745.S.W.2d at 681 n.l (“We make no attempt iii this case to draw a well-defined line of demarcationEach case must be considered on its own particular facts.”).

6 . Miss Dianna’s also argues § 144.021.2, RSMo Noncum. Supp. 2015, which became effective August 28, 2015, should preclude' a finding of liability. ' This Court need not address any substantive application of § 144.021.2 to this case because there is no indication the .statute was intended to, or must by implication, apply retrospectively. See UtiliCorp United, Inc. v. Dir. of Revenue, 785 S.W.2d 277, 278 (Mo. banc 1990) (“Where retrospective application against the state is permitted, statutes are. construed to operate prospectively, unless legislative intent that they be given retrospective or retroactive operation is expressed by the language of the act, or arises by necessary or unavoidable implication.").