Texaco-Cities Service Pipeline Co. v. McGaw

675 N.E.2d 1004, 286 Ill. App. 3d 529
CourtAppellate Court of Illinois
DecidedJanuary 17, 1997
DocketNo. 1—95—1022
StatusPublished
Cited by5 cases

This text of 675 N.E.2d 1004 (Texaco-Cities Service Pipeline Co. v. McGaw) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Appellate Court of Illinois primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Texaco-Cities Service Pipeline Co. v. McGaw, 675 N.E.2d 1004, 286 Ill. App. 3d 529 (Ill. Ct. App. 1997).

Opinion

JUSTICE THEIS

delivered the opinion of the court:

The trial court ruled that proceeds from a taxpayer’s sale of pipeline constituted business income to be apportioned under the Illinois Income Tax Act’s general three-factor formula. 35 ILCS 5/304(a) (West 1994). On appeal, the taxpayer challenges the trial court’s classification of the proceeds as business income, and the defendant challenges the trial court’s apportionment determination. We affirm in part and reverse in part.

Texaco, a nonresident corporation, owned and operated pipeline that ran through various states, including Illinois. Texaco transported crude oil and other petroleum products through this pipeline, which serviced various oil refineries. During the 1983 tax year, Texaco sold major segments of pipeline, including the pipeline that serviced refineries in Lockport and East Chicago, Illinois. The sale accounted for nearly 90% of Texaco’s total pipeline holdings.

On its 1983 tax return, Texaco reported the sale of the pipeline and associated real estate as nonbusiness income. Texaco apportioned the remainder of its business income under the one-factor apportionment formula found in section 304(d)(2) of the Illinois Income Tax Act. 35 ILCS 5/304(d)(2) (West 1994).

Upon audit, the Department of Revenue determined that the proceeds from the sale constituted business income. The Department issued a timely notice of deficiency. On March 8, 1990, Texaco filed a protest to the notice. The parties submitted the dispute to an administrative law judge (ALJ) to determine: (1) whether the income was business income; and (2) whether the general three-factor formula or the special one-factor formula should apply for apportioning business income. The ALJ concluded that the income was business income subject to apportionment under the special one-factor formula applicable to the transportation industry.

Texaco sought administrative review, arguing that, under the plain language of the Illinois Income Tax Act (the Act) (35 ILCS 5/304(d)(2) (West 1994)), the proceeds constituted nonbusiness income. In the alternative, Texaco claimed that the general three-factor formula for apportioning business income should apply to the proceeds. The trial court entered judgment in accordance with the ALJ’s determination that the proceeds constituted business income. However, the trial court rejected the ALJ’s ruling that the special one-factor formula for apportioning business income should apply. The trial court reasoned that the one-factor formula applied only to business income derived from actual pipeline transportation activity. The trial court further found that the application of the one-factor formula would be unconstitutional. The Department appealed and Texaco cross-appealed the adverse determinations.

We will review these disputed legal issues under a de novo standard. Skokie Gold Standard Liquors, Inc. v. Joseph E. Seagram & Sons, Inc., 116 Ill. App. 3d 1043, 452 N.E.2d 804 (1983). Because a finding that the proceeds constitute nonbusiness income would render the issues raised in the Department’s appeal moot, we will address Texaco’s cross-appeal first.

Section 1501(a)(1) of the Illinois Income Tax Act defines business income: Nonbusiness income is all income not classified as business income. 35 ILCS 5/1501(a)(13) (West 1994). The taxpayer bears the heavy burden of demonstrating that income is not business income. Dover Corp. v. Department of Revenue, 271 Ill. App. 3d 700, 712, 648 N.E.2d 1089, 1097 (1995).

"(1) Business Income. The term 'business income’ means income arising from transactions and activity in the regular course of the taxpayer’s trade or business, net of the deductions allocable thereto, and includes income from tangible and intangible property if the acquisition, management, and disposition of the property constitute integral parts of the taxpayer’s regular trade or business operations. Such term does not include compensation or the deductions allocable thereto.” (Emphasis added.) 35 ILCS 5/1501(a)(1) (West 1994).

Texaco argues that a plain reading of the Act demonstrates that only income arising from transactions within the regular course of its business constitutes business income. Because Texaco is in the business of transporting by pipeline, not selling the actual pipeline itself, Texaco claims that the income from this extraordinary transaction does not constitute business income.

We disagree. In Dover Corp. v. Department of Revenue, this court found:

"There are two alternative tests to be applied in determining whether an item of income is business income. (National Realty & Investment Co. v. Department of Revenue (1986), 144 Ill. App. 3d 541, 494 N.E.2d 924.) These two tests are referred to as the ’transactional’ and ’functional’ tests. *** Under the functional test, which is derived from the second clause of section 1501(a)(1), the relevant inquiry is whether the property was used in the taxpayer’s regular trade or business operations. National Realty, 144 Ill. App. 3d at 554.” 271 Ill. App. 3d at 711-12, 648 N.E.2d at 1097.

In Kroger Co. v. Department of Revenue, 284 Ill. App. 3d 473 (1996), modified upon denial of rehearing, this court rejected arguments similar to those raised by Texaco. Finding the Kroger analysis to be both thorough and persuasive, we affirm the trial court’s determination that Illinois law embraces two alternate tests for classifying business income.

Having determined that the functional test is an appropriate method for determining business income, we review the trial court’s application. Texaco does not dispute that the pipeline was property used in its business. Texaco attempts to place the proceeds outside of the scope of this definition by arguing that the sale of 90% of its pipeline was an extraordinary transaction, which effectively terminated Texaco’s pipeline presence in Illinois.

Initially, we find, as the trial court did, that Texaco failed to introduce any evidence that the sale of pipeline did not contribute to Texaco’s continuing business operations as a whole. The absence of this evidence negates Texaco’s contention that the sale of pipeline was a business-ending proposition. Furthermore, a review of the examples from the Department’s regulations indicates that such a consideration is irrelevant. 86 Ill. Adm. Code § 100.3050(d)(3) (1991). For example, where a corporation closes its plant, but does not sell its plant until 18 months after ceasing operations, the gain is business income. 86 Ill. Adm. Code § 100.3050(d)(3), example C, at 1577 (1991). While not binding authority, the Department’s interpretation of law which it administers represents an informed source for ascertaining legislative intent. Dover Corp. v.

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