Tesoro Refining & Marketing Co. v. Department of Revenue

164 Wash. 2d 310
CourtWashington Supreme Court
DecidedAugust 14, 2008
DocketNo. 79661-1
StatusPublished
Cited by55 cases

This text of 164 Wash. 2d 310 (Tesoro Refining & Marketing Co. v. Department of Revenue) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Washington Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Tesoro Refining & Marketing Co. v. Department of Revenue, 164 Wash. 2d 310 (Wash. 2008).

Opinions

Fairhurst, J.

¶1 Tesoro Refining and Marketing Company (Tesoro) seeks a refund from the Department of Revenue (DOR) for the hazardous substance tax (HST) it paid for refinery gas yielded at its Anacortes, Washington, refinery. Tesoro claims its possession of refinery gas is exempt from taxation because Tesoro uses the gas within the refinery for heat. We hold Tesoro’s use of refinery gas as a heat source constitutes a taxable possession of hazardous substances. We affirm the Court of Appeals.

I. FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY

¶2 Tesoro owns a refinery near Anacortes where it heats crude oil to extract salable products such as gasoline, jet and diesel fuel, propane, and asphalt. During the refining process, a highly combustible gas is continuously produced from the chemical reactions occurring within the refining units. The byproduct yielded from these reactions is called refinery gas. Although not amenable to storage or sale, [315]*315Tesoro collects the gas in a “ ‘fuel blend drum’ ” and then routes it to process heaters or boilers in the refinery. Clerk’s Papers (CP) at 43, 280. Any refinery gas that cannot be used internally is consumed in a “controlled burn” or “flare” visible from outside of the refinery. CP at 160-61. The estimated time between the creation and consumption of refinery gas is 30 seconds.

¶3 Tesoro uses refinery gas to supply 75 percent of the heat necessary to run the refinery.1 Some of the heat creates warmth for office space, but, generally, Tesoro uses refinery gas to heat crude oil. To borrow the trial court’s analogy, Tesoro uses refinery gas in the same way as one would apply a gas flame underneath a tea kettle to boil water. Verbatim Report of Proceedings at 56. Instead of heating water in a tea kettle, refinery gas heats crude oil. The refinery gas never comes into contact with the crude oil it heats. Nor does the refinery gas undergo any further chemical reaction or otherwise become a component or ingredient of another product.

¶4 During an audit, DOR assessed Tesoro for failing to pay an HST on its refinery gas under RCW 82.21.030. The HST provides that “[a] tax is imposed on the privilege of possession of hazardous substances in this state.” RCW 82.21.030(1). In 2003, Tesoro filed for a refund of the HST it paid on refinery gas between 1999 and June 2003. Tesoro argued it qualified for a tax exemption under WAC 458-20--252(7)(b) (Rule 252(7)(b)). Rule 252(7)(b) provides the possession of a hazardous substance consumed in the processing or manufacturing of the hazardous substance is not a taxable possession.

¶5 DOR denied the claim. Tesoro filed suit in Thurston County Superior Court against DOR to recover $937,889 for the HST it paid. The trial court granted DOR’s motion for summary judgment and the Court of Appeals, Division Two, affirmed in a published, split opinion. Tesoro Ref. & Mktg. [316]*316Co. v. Dep’t of Revenue, 135 Wn. App. 411, 144 P.3d 368 (2006). Both courts concluded Tesoro’s possession of the refinery gas was a taxable incident under RCW 82.21.030. Id. at 414-15. The Court of Appeals denied Tesoro’s motion for reconsideration leading to this petition for review, which we accepted. Tesoro Ref. & Mktg. Co. v. Dep’t of Revenue, 161 Wn.2d 1022, 169 P.3d 830 (2007).

II. ISSUES

A. Whether the HST applies to Tesoro’s possession of refinery gas.

B. Whether Tesoro qualifies for a tax exemption under Rule 252(7)(b)

C. Whether DOR is attempting to repudiate an interpretive regulation.

III. ANALYSIS

Standard of Review

¶6 In a tax refund case, we review legal conclusions de novo. Simpson Inv. Co. v. Dep’t of Revenue, 141 Wn.2d 139, 148, 3 P.3d 741 (2000). We also apply de novo review to matters of statutory interpretation. Burns v. City of Seattle, 161 Wn.2d 129, 140, 164 P.3d 475 (2007).

A. Whether the HST applies to Tesoro’s possession of refinery gas

¶7 The legislature designated “ ‘[p]etroleum product[s],’ ” like refinery gas, as hazardous substances. RCW 82.21.020(l)(b). In Washington, possessing a hazardous substance is a privilege for which the first possessor must pay [317]*317a tax. RCW 82.21.010, .030(1).2 Understanding the HST requires us to define a few key terms. “ ‘Possession’ ” means “control of a hazardous substance” within Washington, including “both actual and constructive possession.” RCW 82.21.020(3). The essence of possession revolves around the idea of “ ‘[c]ontrol,’ ” which is defined as “the power to sell or use a hazardous substance or to authorize the sale or use by another.” Id. In short, having the power to sell or use a petroleum product gives rise to taxation under RCW 82.21.030, the HST.

¶8 Tesoro does not dispute that its refinery gas is a petroleum product and, therefore, a hazardous substance under chapter 82.21 RCW. Tesoro acknowledges it should pay an HST on the refinery gas flared into the atmosphere. However, Tesoro takes exception to the trial court’s and the Court of Appeals’ application of RCW 82.21.030 to the refinery gas used within the refinery.

¶9 Two opposing interpretative presumptions set the foundation for construing tax laws. First, where the language of a law assessing a tax is ambiguous, we construe the ambiguity against the taxing power and in favor of the taxpayer. Agrilink Foods, Inc. v. Dep’t of Revenue, 153 Wn.2d 392, 396-97, 103 P.3d 1226 (2005). Second, the court inverts this presumption where the law enumerates a tax exemption. Any ambiguity in a tax exemption is construed fairly and in keeping with the ordinary meaning of the language against the taxpayer who bears the burden of proving the taxpayer qualifies for the exemption. Simpson Inv. Co., 141 Wn.2d at 149-50.

¶10 The goal of statutory interpretation is to carry out the legislature’s intent. Burns, 161 Wn.2d at 140.

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Bluebook (online)
164 Wash. 2d 310, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/tesoro-refining-marketing-co-v-department-of-revenue-wash-2008.