anderson-clayton-bros-funeral-home-inc-restland-of-dallas-inc-restland ( 2004 )

TEXAS COURT OF APPEALS, THIRD DISTRICT, AT AUSTIN
NO. 03-03-00458-CV
Anderson-Clayton Bros. Funeral Home, Inc.; Restland of Dallas, Inc.; Restland Funeral
Home; Singing Hills Funeral Home, Inc.; Laurel Land Funeral Home of
Forth Worth, Inc.; Blue Bonnet Hills Funeral Home, Inc.; and
Blue Bonnet Hills Memorial Park, Inc., Appellants
v.
Carole Keeton Strayhorn, Comptroller of Public Accounts of the State of Texas; and Greg
Abbott, Attorney General of the State of Texas, Appellees
FROM THE DISTRICT COURT OF TRAVIS COUNTY, 353RD JUDICIAL DISTRICT
NO. 9912183, HONORABLE SCOTT H. JENKINS, JUDGE PRESIDING
OPINION
In this case, we address a rare uncertainty concerning death and taxes: the franchise tax
treatment of earnings from out-of-state investments made by Texas prepaid funeral benefits trusts
maintained by Texas funeral homes. Appellants, a group of affiliated funeral homes (AAnderson-Clayton@),
took the position that these types of earnings were out-of-state receipts for franchise tax apportionment
purposes. The Comptroller of Public Accounts audited Anderson-Clayton and disagreed, contending the
earnings were instead Texas receipts. This resulted in a much higher franchise tax bill for Anderson-
Clayton. A taxpayer suit ensued, and the Comptroller and Attorney General (Comptroller) prevailed below
on cross-motions for summary judgment. We affirm the district court=s summary judgment.
BACKGROUND
To hopefully simplify and clarify the tax law concepts at issue in this case, we first survey the
basic features of prepaid funeral benefits trusts and the Texas franchise taxation system.
Prepaid funeral services
Among the services it offers related to death and burial, Anderson-Clayton permits
individuals to prearrange their own funerals, or that of another beneficiary, by purchasing a fixed price
contract for future funeral services to be provided after the beneficiary=s death. Texas has long regulated
these types of prepaid funeral benefits by statute to Aprovide all safeguards to protect the prepaid funds and
to assure that the funds will be available to pay for prearranged funeral services.@1 These safeguards include
a requirement that funeral homes quickly deposit proceeds from customers= purchases of prepaid funeral
benefits contracts either:
(1) in a savings and loan in Texas, in an interest-bearing account insured by the federal
government;
(2) in a bank in Texas, in an interest-bearing account insured by the federal government;
or
1
Tex. Fin. Code Ann. ' 154.001(c) (West 1998); see Acts 1955, 54th Leg., R.S. ch. 512, ' 13,
1955 Tex. Gen. Laws 1292, 1295.
2
(3) with the trust department of a bank in Texas, or in a trust company authorized to do
business in Texas, to be invested by the trust department . . . .
Tex. Fin. Code Ann. ' 154.253(a) (West 1998).2 Each type of account is carried in the name of the
funeral provider to whom the purchaser makes payment. Id. ' 154.253(b). The funeral provider must
maintain the original purchase payments in the account until either (1) the purchaser (consumer) cancels the
contract; or (2) the beneficiary dies and the funeral services are provided. Id. '' 154.254, .262 (West
1998).
During the interim between the deposit of the funds and cancellation or performance of the
contract, the trustee of a prepaid funeral benefits trust account must prepare an investment plan and place
the funds in certain categories of investments, including secure stocks, bonds and money-market accounts.
Id. '' 154.257, .258 (West Supp. 2002). Earnings on these investments are paid into the trust accounts
and generally remain until either the contract is cancelled or the beneficiary dies and the contract is
performed. However, unlike the original purchase payments, the trust investment earnings can be used by
2
As discussed below, this case involves the 1993-96 tax years. At that time, the relevant statutory
provisions governing prepaid funeral services were in Article 548b, Texas Revised Civil Statutes. Effective
1997, these provisions were recodified into the Texas Finance Code. Act of May 22, 1997, 75th Leg.,
R.S., ch. 1008, ' 1, 1997 Tex. Gen. Laws 3091, 3385. Because neither party suggests there are any
substantive differences between the two versions for purposes of this litigation, we will cite to the finance
code for ease of reference.
3
the funeral provider to pay certain expenses, id. ' 154.261 (West 1998), and can be withdrawn and
retained by the funeral provider after the contract is cancelled or performed. Id. ' 154.263 (West 1998).
Texas franchise taxes
Texas imposes a franchise tax on corporations for what is seen as a privilege bestowed
upon them by the State allowing them to do business here. See Tex. Tax Code Ann. ' 171.001(a)(1)
(West Supp. 2004); Bullock v. National Bancshares Corp., 584 S.W.2d 268, 270 (Tex. 1979). The tax
is imposed on Aeach corporation that does business in this state,@ is chartered in Texas, or is authorized to
do business in Texas. See Tex. Tax Code Ann. ' 171.001.
Prior to 1992, the Texas franchise tax was assessed based solely on a corporation=s taxable
capital. As a result, capital-intensive industries (in contrast to industries, e.g., services, that require fewer
fixed assets) bore the brunt of the tax, even in unprofitable years. See General Dynamics Corp. v. Sharp,
919 S.W.2d 861, 863 (Tex. App.CAustin 1996, writ denied). In 1991, the Texas Legislature sought to
broaden the franchise tax base by adding Anet taxable earned surplus@ as an additional basis for assessment.
See Act of Aug. 12, 1991, 72d Leg., 1st C.S., ch. 5, ' 8.02, 1991 Tex. Gen. Laws 134, 152.
Simply described, Anet taxable earned surplus@ is determined by (1) adjusting the amount of
a corporate taxpayer=s reportable federal taxable income to yield Ataxable earned surplus,@ (2)
Aapportioning@ or attributing the taxable earned surplus to Texas; and (3) subtracting various allowable
deductions from the apportioned taxable earned surplus. Tex. Tax Code Ann. ' 171.110(a) (West Supp.
2004). Apportionment, the second step, is at the center of the present dispute.
4
Under tax code sections 171.106 and 171.110(a)(2), taxable earned surplus is
to be Aapportioned@ to Texas by multiplying it by a fraction, the numerator of which is the
corporation=s Agross receipts from business done in this state,@ as determined under section
171.1032, tax code, and the d enominator of which is the corporation=s Agross receipts from its
entire business,@ as determined under section 171.1051. Id. '' 171.106(b), 171.110(a)(2).3
Thus, the larger a corporation=s Agross receipts from business done in this state,@ the larger
the apportionment factor, and the larger percentage of its taxable earned surplus is subject to
the franchise tax.
AGross receipts from business done in this state,@ in turn, is comprised of the
corporation=s receipts from several enumerated categories of transactions occurring in Texas,
plus Aother business done in this state.@ Id. ' 171.1032. Similarly, Agross receipts from . . . entire
business@ includes a corporation=s receipts from several enumerated categories of transactions occurring
either in Texas or elsewhere, including Aother business.@ Id. ' 171.1051. Earnings from intangibles, such as
the investment earnings at issue here, are considered to be Aother business done in this state@ or Aother
business,@ depending on whether the earnings are deemed to be from Texas or elsewhere. Humble Oil &
Refining Co. v. Calvert, 414 S.W.2d 172, 173 (Tex. 1967). To determine the geographic
origin of such earnings, Texas courts have long applied the Alocation of the payor@ rule: Athe
domicile of the debtor or payor in the case of interest and the declaring corporation in the case of dividends
3
Subsection (c) of section 171.106 provides a similar formula that is specifically addressed to
taxable earned surplus from the sale of management, distribution or administrative services to or on behalf of
a regulated investment company. Tex. Tax Code Ann. ' 171.106(c) (West Supp. 2004).
5
is regarded as the location of the business receipt without regard to the domicile of the payee.@ Id. at 175;
Bullock, 584 S.W.2d at 270 (ATo determine what receipts from intangibles should be allocated to business
done in this state, Texas employs the location of payor test.@); see also 34 Tex. Admin. Code ' 3.557
(e)(13)(B)-(E) (West 1992).
Furthermore, Section 171.1121, tax code, defines Agross receipts for taxable
earned surplus.@ As contrasted with sections 171.1032 and 171.1051, which identify the business
transactions from which Agross receipts from business done in this state@ and Agross receipts from
. . . entire business,@ respectively, are derived, section 171.1121 sets forth the accounting principles
governing how these two categories of Agross receipts@ are to be calculated. AGross receipts@ include
all revenues reportable by a corporation on its federal tax return, without certain deductions,
but not including revenues that are not included in taxable earned surplus. Tex. Tax Code Ann.
' 171.1121(a) (West 2002). Subsection (b) of section 171.1121 provides that Aa corporation
shall use the same accounting methods to apportion taxable earned surplus as used in
computing reportable federal taxable income.@ Id. ' 171.1121(b). Subsection (c) prohibits
consolidated reporting, requiring corporations to report only their own gross receipts, and
subsection (d) restricts the ability of corporations to change their accounting methods used to
calculate gross receipts. Id. ' 171.1121(c) & (d). Additional provisions address the
accounting treatment of a corporation=s shares of a partnership=s gross receipts. Id. '
171.1121(e) & (f).
The present controversy
6
This case arises from Anderson-Clayton=s franchise tax treatment of investment earnings on
its prepaid funeral benefits trusts during the 1993-96 tax years. Throughout this period, Anderson-Clayton
deposited proceeds from its sale of prepaid funeral benefits contracts into Texas trusts, in accordance with
Texas Finance Code section 154.253(a)(3), and these trusts, in turn, invested those funds in accordance
with Texas Finance Code section 154.258 and accumulated investment earnings. It is undisputed that, at all
relevant times, the investment earnings on Anderson-Clayton=s prepaid funeral benefits trusts came from
out-of-state corporations.
During the period in dispute, Anderson-Clayton took the position that the out-of-state
corporations, and not the Texas trusts, were the relevant payors, making the earnings out-of-state receipts
and not those from Aother business done in this state.@ Anderson-Clayton apparently based this
understanding on the federal income tax treatment of the investment earnings. The parties do not dispute
that, under federal income tax law, the investment earnings from Anderson-Clayton=s prepaid funeral
benefits trusts were properly reportable as income of Anderson-Clayton, as opposed to the trust into which
7
the earnings were paid. In other words, the trusts were simply disregarded and the investment earnings
treated as if they flowed directly from the out-of-state investment vehicles to Anderson-Clayton.4
4
Anderson-Clayton apparently reported the investment earnings annually on its federal income tax
returns and, accordingly, also recognized them in calculating its franchise taxes. See Tex. Tax Code Ann.
'' 171.106(b) (gross receipts from entire business included in denominator), .110(a) (net taxable earned
surplus based on federal taxable income). By contrast, it did not recognize as income the original payments
made by customers to purchase prepaid funeral benefits contracts until after the contract was either
cancelled or performed and Anderson-Clayton actually withdrew the funds from the account. See Tex. Fin.
Code Ann. '' 154.254, .262 (funds must remain in trust accounts until contract is cancelled or beneficiary
dies). It recognized the payments for franchise tax purposes at the same time. And, because Anderson-
Clayton received the contract payments for services it provided in Texas, it sourced those payments to
Texas. Tex. Tax Code Ann. ' 171.1032(a)(2).
8
In 1997, the Comptroller audited Anderson-Clayton for franchise tax compliance. The
Comptroller determined that the investment earnings should instead have been treated as Texas receipts,
resulting in an additional total franchise tax liability for Anderson-Clayton of $420,077.07 for the 1993-96
tax years. The record indicates that the Comptroller may have reached this determination by erroneously
applying the rule governing taxation of taxable capital, not taxable earned surplus. Compare 34 Tex.
Admin. Code ' 3.549 (West 1992), with 34 Tex. Admin Code ' 3.557 (West 1992). The Comptroller=s
rule dealing with taxable capital explicitly provides that income earned from trusts accounts located in Texas
Aare apportioned to the legal domicile of the trust.@ 34 Tex. Admin. Code ' 3.549(e)(47). The companion
rule concerning earned-surplus income in effect during the relevant time period does not contain a similar
provision. Id. ' 3.557.5 Nonetheless, Anderson-Clayton appears to concede that such an error was
immaterial if the Comptroller ultimately reached the correct result in assessing the tax.
After exhausting administrative remedies, Anderson-Clayton paid the taxes under protest
and filed a taxpayer suit in Travis County district court to recover what was by then a total of $515,074.88
in franchise taxes, interest, and penalties paid under protest. The parties filed cross-motions for summary
judgment that centered on the sourcing issue. After a hearing, the district court granted the Comptroller=s
motion and denied Anderson-Clayton=s motion in full. This appeal ensued.
5
The Comptroller has since redrafted the rule concerning earned-surplus income to apportion
earnings from trust accounts to the legal domicile of the trust. See 28 Tex. Reg 1218 (2002) (codified at 34
Tex. Admin. Code ' 3.557 (West 2003)). We do not address the amended rule.
9
DISCUSSION
Standard of review
Because the propriety of a summary judgment is a question of law, we review the trial
court=s decision de novo. Natividad v. Alexsis, Inc., 875 S.W.2d 695, 699 (Tex. 1994); Texas Dep=t of
Ins. v. American Home Assurance Co., 998 S.W.2d 344, 347 (Tex. App.CAustin 1999, no pet.). The
parties agree there are no disputes of material fact in this case and that it turns entirely on statutory
construction, a question of law. See Texas Dep=t of Transp. v. Needham, 82 S.W.3d 314, 318 (Tex.
2002).
When parties file cross-motions for summary judgment, each party in support of its motion
necessarily takes the position that there is no genuine issue of fact in the case and that it is entitled to
judgment as a matter of law. Ackermann v. Vordenbaum, 403 S.W.2d 362, 364 (Tex. 1966); City of
Pflugerville v. Capital Metro. Transp. Auth., 123 S.W.3d 106, 110 (Tex. App.CAustin 2003, pet.
denied). Thus, where, as here, both parties file a motion for summary judgment, and one is granted and one
is denied, we determine all questions presented and render such judgment as the trial court should have
rendered. See Commissioners Court v. Agan, 940 S.W.2d 77, 80 (Tex. 1997).
The parties= arguments
The parties= arguments center on the construction of section 171.1121 of the tax code, the
provisions setting forth the accounting principles under which Agross receipts from business done in this
state@ and Agross receipts from . . . entire business@ are determined. It provides, in full:
10
' 171.1121. GROSS RECEIPTS FOR TAXABLE EARNED SURPLUS.
(a) For purposes of this section, Agross receipts@ means all revenues
reportable by a corporation on its federal tax return, without deduction for
the cost of property sold, materials used, labor performed, or other costs
incurred, unless otherwise specifically provided in this chapter. AGross
receipts@ does not include revenues that are not included in taxable earned
surplus. For example, Schedule C special deductions and any amounts
subtracted from reportable federal taxable income under Section
171.110(a)(1) are not included in taxable earned surplus and therefore are
not considered gross receipts.
(b) Except as otherwise provided by this section, a corporation shall use the
same accounting methods to apportion taxable earned surplus as used in
computing reportable federal taxable income.
(c) A corporation shall report its gross receipts based solely on its own
financial condition. Consolidated reporting is prohibited.
(d) Unless the provisions of Section 171.111 apply due to an election under
that section, a corporation may not change its accounting methods used to
calculate gross receipts more often than once every four years without the
express written consent of the comptroller. A change in accounting
methods is not justified solely because it results in a reduction of tax
liability.
(e) A corporation=s share of a partnership=s gross receipts that is included in
the corporation=s federal taxable income must be used in computing the
corporation=s gross receipts under this section. Unless otherwise provided
by this chapter, a corporation may not deduct costs incurred from the
corporation=s share of a partnership=s gross receipts. The gross receipts
must be apportioned as though the corporation directly earned them.
Tex. Tax Code Ann. ' 171.112 (a)-(c) (West 2002). The parties= dispute centers on the proper
interpretation of subsection (b).
11
Anderson-Clayton urges that subsection (b)=s requirement that it use the same Aaccounting
method@ to Aapportion@ taxable earned surplus as it uses in computing its federal taxable income means that
it should disregard the trusts, as it does when computing federal taxable income, when Asourcing@ the trust=s
investment earnings to either the numerator of the apportionment formula (Agross receipts from
business done in this state,@ as determined under section 171.1032) or the denominator
(Agross receipts from its entire business,@ as determined under section 171.1051). Id. ''
171.1032, .1051, .106(b), .110(a)(2). Thus, Anderson-Clayton reasons, it should treat the
investment earnings as direct payments from the out-of-state investment vehicles to it, and, accordingly, not
include those earnings in Agross receipts from business done in this state.@
The Comptroller=s position regarding subsection (b) has continued to evolve during this
appeal. 6 The Comptroller presently argues that subsection (b) is not intended to address sourcing of
receipts under Sections 171.106, 171.1032 and 171.1051, but only when gross receipts and related
earned surplus income are recognized. The Comptroller asserts that there are several appropriate methods
of accounting that a company could use to determine its reportable federal income. Some of these methods
allow income and expenses to be deferred such as by use of installment, percentage-of-completion, or
completed-contract accounting. The Comptroller urges that subsection (b) merely requires taxpayers to use
6
In her initial brief, the Comptroller concluded that subsection (b) did not direct the use of federal
income tax rules to determine where the payor is but rather what portion of earned-surplus income may be
taxed. During oral argument, however, the Comptroller shifted focus to urge this Court to read subsection
(b) of section 171.1121 together with (c), which prohibits consolidated reporting, to manifest a broader
intent to apportion income to each entity and not treat them as flow-throughs. Subsequently, the
Comptroller conceded in a post-submission brief that A[c]onsolidated reporting is not at issue here.@
12
the same method of accounting they use to compute federal reportable taxable income to determine when to
recognize earned surplus for franchise tax purposes. The question of where or from whom the investment
earnings are deemed to emanate, the Comptroller maintains, is instead determined by Texas tax and trust
law, which considers trusts to be separate entities.
Section 171.1121(b)
Statutory construction principles
When construing a Texas statute, our paramount task is to ascertain the Texas Legislature=s
intent in enacting that provision. We first look to the plain and common meaning of the words the legislature
used. Tex. Gov=t Code Ann. ' 311.011 (West 1998); Kroger Co. v. Keng, 23 S.W.3d 347, 349 (Tex.
2000); Texas Workers= Comp. Comm=n v. Texas Builders Ins. Co., 994 S.W.2d 902, 908 (Tex.
App.CAustin 1999, pet. denied). We are to presume that every word in a statute has been used for a
purpose and that each word, phrase, clause, and sentence should be given effect. Cities of Austin, Dallas,
Ft. Worth and Hereford v. Southwestern Bell Telephone Co., 92 S.W.3d 434, 442 (Tex. 2002); see
State v. Evangelical Lutheran Good Samaritan Soc=y, 981 S.W.2d 509, 511 (Tex. App.CAustin 1998,
no pet.). Unless a statute is ambiguous, we abide by the clear language of the statute and enforce it as
written. RepublicBank Dallas, N.A. v. Interkal, Inc., 691 S.W.2d 605, 607 (Tex. 1985).
Also, the legislature has prescribed that A[w]ords and phrases that have acquired a technical
or particular meaning, whether by legislative definition or otherwise, shall be construed accordingly.@ Tex.
Gov=t Code Ann.' 311.011(b) (West 1998) (Code Construction Act). The Code Construction Act also
requires us to consider, among other things, statutory provisions on the same or similar subjects. Id. '
13
312.008 (West 1998). And, A[w]hen the same or a similar term is used in the same connection in different
statutes, the term will be given the same meaning in one as in the other, unless there is something to indicate
that a different meaning was intended.@ Guthery v. Taylor, 112 S.W.3d 715, 722 (Tex. App.CHouston
[14th Dist.] 2003, no pet.).
Finally, while the term Aapportion@ in section 171.1121(b) is critical, we are not to view this
term in isolation, but in context with the Texas franchise tax law as a whole. Fitzgerald v. Advanced Spine
Fixation Sys., 996 S.W.3d 864, 866 (Tex. 1999); Thomas v. Cornyn, 71 S.W.3d 473, 481 (Tex.
App.CAustin 2002, no pet.). Additionally, the Code Construction Act authorizes us to consider the
Aobject sought to be attained@ by the legislature when enacting the provision. Tex. Gov=t Code Ann. '
311.023 (West 1998); see also In re Bell, 91 S.W.3d 784, 787 (Tex. 2002) (A[The Act] makes clear that
courts may consider the Alegislative history@ and the Aobject sought to be attained@ in construing statutes.@).
Application
Applying these principles of statutory construction convinces us that the
legislature did not intend section 171.1121(b) to govern the sourcing of gross receipts to either
Agross receipts from business done in this state@ or Agross receipts from its entire business@ in
the earned surplus apportionment factor. Tex. Tax Code Ann. '' 171.1032, .1051, .106(b),
.110(a)(2).
Although the parties have focused almost exclusively on the meaning of
Aapportion@ in section 171.1121(b), that provision in fact contains two terms that are decisive
in our analysis: corporations must Ause the same accounting methods to apportion taxable
14
earned surplus as used in computing reportable federal taxable income.@ We turn first to
Aaccounting methods.@
Because both earned surplus, the tax base, and the Agross receipts@ used in
apportioning it are derived from federal taxable income, the meaning of Aaccounting method@
in the Internal Revenue Code is especially instructive in our construction of section
171.1121(b). The Code Construction Act requires us to consider, among other things,
statutory provisions on the same or similar subjects. Tex. Gov=t Code Ann. ' 312.008 (West
1998). In its AGeneral rule for methods of accounting@ in the Internal Revenue Code, Congress
listed several Apermissible methods,@ including cash and accrual methods. 26 U.S.C.A. '
446(c). Under cash accounting, income is recognized only upon the actual receipt of cash,
property or services. By contrast, under accrual methods of accounting, income is recognized
when all of the events occur that fix the right to receive income and determine its amount with
reasonable accuracy. 26 U.S.C.A ' 446(c) (West 2002); 26 C.F.R. 1.446-1(c)(ii); Tax
Management Portfolio, Accounting MethodsCGeneral Principles, No. 570 T.M. (2003), at A-
24.7 Numerous variants on accrual methods can be used, including the installment method (a
method of assigning to particular tax years income from the sale of property for which payment
7
Although the comptroller states in her brief that corporations like Anderson-Clayton cannot use
cash accounting to compute federal reportable taxable income, the code=s reference to cash accounting is
nonetheless illustrative of the nature of Aaccounting methods.@
15
is made over time)8 and the percentage of completion method (a method of allocating costs
and income from the performance of long-term contracts to particular taxable years).9
As these example illustrate, Aaccounting methods@ as contemplated in the
franchise tax statute relate primarily to the timing of revenue and income recognition. The
linchpin of Anderson-Clayton=s argumentCthat a grantor trust is treated as a flow-through for
federal income tax recognition purposesCis instead a matter of substantive federal tax law
governing whether tax liability is imposed on the trust or the grantor. Anderson-Clayton thus
errs in extrapolating from this Aaccounting method@ a Texas sourcing methodology.
Nor does the term Aapportion@ as used in section 171.1121(b) suggest anything
about sourcing. The legislature gave Aapportion@ a technical definition that we must apply in
lieu of the more general meaning on which the dissent relies. Ante at ___; see Tex. Govt.
Code ' 311.011(b). AApportion@ refers to the processes outlined in section 171.106. As
detailed previously, section 171.106 provides that Ataxable earned surplus@ (as defined in
section 171.110(a)) is Aapportioned@ to Texas by multiplying it by the fraction of Agross
receipts from business done in this state@ (as determined under section 171.1032) divided by
Agross receipts from its entire business@ (as determined under section 171.1051). Id. ''
171.1032, .1051, .106(b), .110(a)(2). None of these provisions speak to how receipts are
8
26 U.S.C.A. ' 453(c) (West 2002).
9
Id. ' 460(b) (West 2002).
16
initially categorized as either Agross receipts from business done in this state@ or Agross
receipts from . . . entire business.@ The legislature appears to have left that preliminary inquiry
to other law.
As for what section 171.1121(b) might mean, we think it merely requires
corporations to apply the same accounting method (e.g., the installment method, the
percentage of completion method) when calculating both reportable federal taxable income
and the Agross receipts@ it uses in the apportionment factor of section 171.106. The
legislature=s evident intent in doing so stems from the fact that both Agross receipts@ used in
the earned surplus apportionment factor and the taxable earned surplus that is being
apportioned are derived from items reportable on the corporation=s federal income tax return.
Id. '' 171.110(a), .1121(a). Taxable earned surplus is determined by:
determining the corporation's reportable federal taxable income, subtracting from that
amount any amount excludable under Subsection (k), any amount included in reportable
federal taxable income under Section 78 or Sections 951-964, Internal Revenue Code, and
dividends received from a subsidiary, associate, or affiliated corporation that does not
transact a substantial portion of its business or regularly maintain a substantial portion of its
assets in the United States, and adding to that amount any compensation of officers or
directors, or if a bank, any compensation of directors and executive officers, to the extent
excluded in determining federal taxable income to determine the corporation's taxable
earned surplus;
Id. ' 171.110(a) (emphasis added). AGross receipts@ used in the earned surplus apportionment factor:
means all revenues reportable by a corporation on its federal tax return, without
deduction for the cost of property sold, materials used, labor performed, or other costs
incurred, unless otherwise specifically provided in this chapter. "Gross receipts" does not
include revenues that are not included in taxable earned surplus. For example, Schedule C
special deductions and any amounts subtracted from reportable federal taxable income
17
under Section 171.110(a)(1) are not included in taxable earned surplus and therefore are
not considered gross receipts.
Id. ' 171.1121(a) (emphasis added). As noted previously, a corporation may choose among
several potential accounting methods when calculating its federal taxable revenues and
income. If a corporation used inconsistent accounting methods to calculate Areportable federal
taxable income@ (the foundation of taxable earned surplus) and the Arevenues reportable by a
corporation on its federal income tax return@ (used in calculating Agross receipts@ for
apportionment), it could conceivably recognize revenues and income for the current tax year in
calculating one of these figures, yet recognize the same revenue and income in a different tax
year when calculating the other figure. The result would be that the corporation would
recognize revenues and income for taxable earned surplus purposes that is not also reflected
in the apportionment factor, or vice versa. Either inconsistency would skew the apportionment
process. If, for example, Texas receipts were reflected in taxable earned surplus for a
particular tax year but not also in the corresponding apportionment factor, earned surplus
would be disproportionately under-apportioned to Texas. Conversely, if Texas receipts are
recognized in the apportionment factor but not in the taxable earned surplus being apportioned
for that tax year, taxable earned surplus (not including those unrecognized receipts) would be
disproportionately over-apportioned to Texas.
The dissent suggests that this reading of section 171.1121(b) renders that provision
redundant and unnecessary, as section 171.1121(a) already defines Agross revenues@ used in the earned
surplus apportionment factor as Aall revenues reportable by a corporation on its federal income tax return@
18
and Adoes not include revenues that are not included in taxable earned surplus.@ Southwestern Bell
Telephone, 92 S.W.3d at 442 (Awe will presume that the Legislature used every word of a statute for a
purpose@). We disagree that section 171.1121(a) forecloses the possibility that a corporation could use
inconsistent accounting methods to calculate Arevenues reportable . . . on its federal tax return@ for use in
apportionment under section 171.1121(a) and another to compute its Areportable federal taxable income@ in
determining taxable earned surplus under section 171.110(a)(1). Because a corporation may choose
among several accounting methods when calculating reportable revenues and income on its federal income
tax return, the statutory references to Arevenues reportable . . . on its federal income tax return@ and
Areportable federal taxable income@ do not alone preclude such inconsistent treatment.
We also find it instructive that, in 1995, the legislature added a provision parallel to section
171.1121(b) to the provisions governing assessment of franchise tax on the alternative tax base of taxable
capital. Acts 1995, 74th Leg., R.S., ch. 1002, ' 13, codified at Tex. Tax. Code Ann '
171.112(h). The methods for assessing the franchise tax on taxable capital are largely parallel to those
regarding taxable earned surplus. Both taxable earned surplus and taxable capital are apportioned
to Texas based on a factor of Agross receipts from business done in this state@ divided by
Agross receipts from its entire business.@ Id. '' 171.106(a) & (b). The receipts to be included
in each apportionment factor derive from virtually identical lists of business activities.
Compare id. '' 171.103 & .105, with id. '' 171.1032 & .1051. However, gross receipts used
in apportioning taxable capital are calculated differently than gross receipts used in
apportioning taxable earned surplus. AGross receipts@ used in apportioning taxable capital
19
generally Ameans all revenues that would be recognized annually under a generally accepted
accounting principles method of accounting,@ absent certain deductions. Id. ' 171.112(a) &
(b).10 This corresponds to the manner in which taxable capital, the corresponding tax base, is
calculated: under generally accepted accounting principles. Id. '' 171.101, 171.109(b); Tex.
Bus. Corp. Act Ann. art. 1.02(27). This linkage of the taxable capital tax base and its
apportionment factor via generally accepted accounting principles is parallel to the linkage,
through revenues and income reportable for federal income tax purposes, of taxable earned
surplus and its apportionment factor.11
10
Where generally accepted accounting principles are unsettled or not sufficiently
specific regarding a practice, the Comptroller is authorized to establish rules to govern the
practice. Tex. Tax Code Ann. ' 171.112(b) (West 1998). Also, corporations whose taxable capital
is less than $1 million may report its gross receipts according to the method used on its most recent federal
income tax return due before its franchise tax return is due. Id. ' 171.112(c).
11
As the Comptroller explained, in commentary just before the effective date of the
1991 amendments to the franchise tax statute authorizing the taxation of earned surplus,
AThere must be a link between the element that is being apportioned (taxable capital, earned
surplus) and the formula used to apportion it. To do otherwise could lead to inequitable
results.@ Tex. Comp. Pub. Acc=ts, Letter No. 9112L1265B01 (Dec. 4, 1991).
20
Prior to 1995, the provisions governing calculation of the taxable capital apportionment
factor did not contain a provision similar to section 171.1121(b). Even before the amendment, both taxable
capital and the gross revenues used in its apportionment factor were to be calculated based on generally
accepted accounting principles. But merely specifying that a corporation must use a generally accepted
accounting method to calculate each of these figures did not necessarily require the corporation to use the
same method as to both, at least as the legislature viewed the statute. It added the requirement that Aa
corporation shall use the same accounting methods to apportion its taxable capital as it used to compute its
taxable capital.@ Acts 1995, 74th Leg., R.S., ch. 1002, ' 13, codified at Tex. Tax. Code Ann '
171.112(h). The legislative history reveals that this amendment was intended to ensure the same
A>parallel accounting treatment= required for earned surplus.@ S.B. 644, House Committee Report, Bill
Analysis at 1-2.
Although we are not to rely on the enactments of a subsequent legislature as authoritative
interpretations of a prior statute, Cash America Intern Inc. v. Bennett, 35 S.W.3d 12, 20 (Tex. 2000),
we nonetheless find the 1995 amendments helpful in our interpretation of section 171.1121(b). At a
minimum, they illustrate that the franchise tax statute would be at least unclear as to whether it would require
Aparallel accounting treatment@Cthe use of the same accounting method to calculate both the tax base and
its apportionment factorCabsent the language appearing in section 171.1121(b) and the 1995 amendment
to the taxable capital provisions. Against that backdrop, we would not construe section
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171.1121(b) as merely redundant of section 171.1121(a). Southwestern Bell Telephone, 92
S.W.3d at 442.
Because section 171.1121(b) is silent regarding the sourcing of receipts, we
must look to other law to determine whether the income derived from the trusts should be
considered a Texas receipt.
Other law
Before we turn to other law potentially governing the sourcing of the receipts at
issue in this case, it is helpful to first consider the broader concepts underlying tax
apportionment. Because the franchise tax is imposed on corporations for what is seen as a
privilege bestowed upon them by doing business here, Athe formula employed to compute a
corporation=s franchise tax is designed to achieve a tax commensurate with the value of the
privilege granted@Ca formula that taxes only business done in this state. See Tex. Tax Code
Ann. ' 171.001(a)(1); Bullock, 584 S.W.2d at 270. For many items, such as tangible items of
commerce, what is considered to be business done in Texas is fairly clearCif the corporation
received income from a sale of a product in Texas, it is a Texas receipt. However, for
intangible sources of income, the sourcing of income as a Texas receipt was once unclear.
For instance, would income from dividends earned through investments with a foreign
corporation be considered a Texas receipt? The Comptroller answered the Aintangible
sourcing@ question by adopting the Alocation of payor@ rule as its sourcing method. See
22
Humble Oil, 414 S.W.2d at 173. Because the underlying justification of the franchise tax is
predicated on taxing only benefits received by doing business in Texas, the Comptroller
decided that the location of the payor of the intangible income would determine whether the
income was derived from business in Texas and thus whether the income could be taxed.
Ultimately, we must determine whether the income derived from the trusts is
properly considered Aother business done in this state@ in light of the Alocation of payor@
ruleCin other words whether the trust is the payor. Tex. Tax Code Ann. ' 171.1032; Humble
Oil, 414 S.W.2d at 173. We are mindful that construction of a statute by an administrative
agency charged with its enforcement is entitled to serious consideration, so long as the
construction is reasonable and does not contradict the plain language of the statute. Tarrant
Appraisal Dist. v. Moore, 845 S.W.2d 820, 823 (Tex. 1993). If the agency=s interpretation is
consistent with the language and the purposes of the statute, the court will accept it, even if
other reasonable interpretations exist. See Gene Hamon Ford, Inc. v. David McDavid
Nissan, Inc., 997 S.W.2d 298, 305 (Tex. App.CAustin 1999, pet. denied). In other words,
because the Comptroller has determined that taxing income derived from trusts located in
Texas is an appropriate interpretation of its power to tax Aother business done in this state,@
we will defer to the Comptroller=s conclusion if it is reasonable. Tex. Tax Code Ann.
' 171.1032.
Under longstanding Texas law, trusts are considered separate entities, even
where they may not be subject to federal income tax or the franchise tax. See Tex. Prop. Code
Ann. ch. 112 (West 1995 & Supp. 2004). Because it is ultimately the trusts, separate and
23
distinct entities, that pay income to the funeral homes earned from their investments, we
conclude that the comptroller=s determination that the trusts are the payors is reasonable.
Because it is undisputed that the trusts are domiciled in Texas, we determine that, according
to the location of payor rule, the investment income derived from the trusts are Texas receipts.
We also observe that sourcing the receipts to the Texas trusts is consistent with the broader
policies underlying tax apportionment. By establishing a Texas trust to hold and invest
revenues from its sale of prepaid funeral benefit plans, Anderson-Clayton availed itself of the
benefits and protections of Texas law. It is not unreasonable for the Comptroller to attempt to
apportion franchise taxes commensurate with these privileges and benefits. Bullock, 584
S.W.2d at 270.
CONCLUSION
We hold that the district court did not err in granting summary judgment to the Comptroller
and in denying Anderson-Clayton=s summary judgment motion. We affirm the district court=s summary
judgment.
Bob Pemberton, Justice
Before Justices Kidd, Puryear and Pemberton: Opinion by Justice Pemberton;
Dissenting Opinion by Justice Puryear
Affirmed
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Filed: August 12, 2004
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