Court Opinion

ID: 4212817
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2017-10-19 14:02:53.303549+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:40:53.556361
License: Public Domain

NOTICE: NOT FOR OFFICIAL PUBLICATION.
  UNDER ARIZONA RULE OF THE SUPREME COURT 111(c), THIS DECISION IS NOT PRECEDENTIAL
                  AND MAY BE CITED ONLY AS AUTHORIZED BY RULE.

                                     IN THE
              ARIZONA COURT OF APPEALS
                                 DIVISION ONE

       SUN LAKES MARKETING LIMITED PARTNERSHIP, et al.,
                      Plaintiffs/Appellees,

                                         v.

       STATE OF ARIZONA, ex rel. DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE,
                      Defendant/Appellant.
                      No. 1 CA-TX 16-0011
                         FILED 10-19-2017

            Appeal from the Superior Court in Maricopa County
                           No. TX 2010-000517
              The Honorable Christopher T. Whitten, Judge

                                   AFFIRMED

                                    COUNSEL

Fennemore Craig, P.C., Phoenix
By Patrick Irvine
Counsel for Plaintiffs/Appellees

Arizona Attorney General’s Office, Phoenix
By Scot G. Teasdale
Counsel for Defendant/Appellant
                  SUN LAKES, et al. v. STATE/ADOR
                        Decision of the Court

                     MEMORANDUM DECISION

Presiding Judge Lawrence F. Winthrop delivered the decision of the Court,
in which Judge Diane M. Johnsen and Judge Maria Elena Cruz joined.

W I N T H R O P, Presiding Judge:

¶1           The Arizona Department of Revenue (the “Department”)
appeals from the tax court’s entry of summary judgment against it. For the
following reasons, we affirm.

           FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND

¶2            Appellees are developers and utility companies of master-
planned communities and their direct and indirect owners (the
“Taxpayers”).1 During the relevant time period, Taxpayers developed six
active-adult master-planned communities in Arizona.2

¶3            For tax years 1998 through 2004, Taxpayers filed amended
income tax returns seeking credits pursuant to Arizona Revised Statutes
(“A.R.S.”) sections 43-1081 and 43-1170, which provide income tax credits
for the purchase of pollution control property.3 Taxpayers claimed credits

1      The taxpayers in this appeal are Sun Lakes Marketing Limited
Partnership; Sun Lakes Properties, Inc.; Saddlebrooke Development
Company; Pebblecreek Properties Limited Partnership; Pebblecreek
Development Company; Robson Ranch Quail Creek, LLC; Arlington
Property Management Company; R.C. Employee Incentive LLC; Sun
Lakes-Casa Grande Development LLC; Robson Ranch Mountains, LLC;
Park San Carlos, LLC; Linda R. Robson-Weiser; Steven S. Robson; Kimberly
F. Robson; Edward J. Robson; Robert D. Robson; Kimberly A. Robson Ortiz;
and Douglas J. Weiser.

2     The claims of two utility companies, Saddlebrooke Utility Company
and Pima Utility Company, were settled in tax court.

3      In 2005, the Legislature prospectively amended the subject statutes
to restrict the type of property qualifying for these income tax credits.
Accordingly, the parties’ arguments, the tax court’s decision, and our

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                    SUN LAKES, et al. v. STATE/ADOR
                          Decision of the Court

for expenses they incurred in constructing and installing wastewater
collection systems, wastewater treatment facilities, systems for distribution
of treated sewage, and storm water management systems in the master-
planned communities.

¶4            The Department denied Taxpayers’ claims, and Taxpayers
filed a protest. After exhausting their administrative remedies, Taxpayers
appealed to the tax court.

¶5            In tax court, the parties cross-moved for summary judgment.
The tax court granted partial summary judgment in favor of the Taxpayers,
concluding that they qualified for the income tax credits, but leaving the
calculation of the credits and associated refunds for trial. Thereafter, the
parties stipulated to the amount of the credits and refunds. The tax court
entered judgment, and the Department timely appealed. We have
jurisdiction pursuant to A.R.S. §§ 12-120.04(G) (2016), 12-120.21(A)(1)
(2016), and 12-170(C) (2016).

                                  ANALYSIS

¶6              This court reviews the tax court’s grant of summary judgment
and its interpretation of the relevant statutes de novo. See Wilderness World,
Inc. v. Dep’t of Revenue, 182 Ariz. 196, 198 (1995); Walls v. Ariz. Dep’t of Pub.
Safety, 170 Ariz. 591, 594 (App. 1991). Because A.R.S. § 43-1081 and § 43-
1170 provide tax credits, we strictly construe these statutes. See Ariz. Dep’t
of Revenue v. Raby, 204 Ariz. 509, 511, ¶ 16 (App. 2003). We will not,
however, interpret the statutes so strictly “as to defeat or destroy the
[legislative] intent and purpose.” State ex rel. Ariz. Dep’t of Revenue v. Capitol
Castings, Inc., 207 Ariz. 445, 447, ¶ 10 (2004) (citation and quotations
omitted).

       I.     The Plain Language of A.R.S. § 43-1081 and § 43-1170

¶7            When interpreting a statute, we “look to the language of the
statute and will ascribe plain meaning to the terms unless they are
ambiguous.” Mago v. Mercedes-Benz, U.S.A., Inc., 213 Ariz. 404, 408, ¶ 15
(App. 2006) (citing Rineer v. Leonardo, 194 Ariz. 45, 46, ¶ 7 (1999)). The
applicable subsections of A.R.S. § 43-1081 and § 43-1170 in effect at the time
relevant to this appeal provided:

analysis is limited to interpretation and application of the pre-amendment
statutes.

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                    SUN LAKES, et al. v. STATE/ADOR
                          Decision of the Court

       (A) A credit is allowed against the taxes imposed by this title
       for expenses that the taxpayer incurred during the taxable
       year to purchase real or personal property that is used in the
       taxpayer’s trade or business in this state to control or
       prevent pollution. The amount of the credit is equal to ten
       per cent of the purchase price.

       (B) Property that qualifies for the credit under this section
       includes that portion of a structure, building, installation,
       excavation, machine, equipment or device and any
       attachment or addition to or reconstruction, replacement or
       improvement of that property that is directly used,
       constructed or installed in this state for the purpose of
       meeting or exceeding rules or regulations adopted by the
       United States environmental protection agency, the
       department of environmental quality or a political
       subdivision of this state to prevent, monitor, control or reduce
       air, water or land pollution . . . .

A.R.S. §§ 43-1081(A)-(B), -1170(A)-(B) (emphasis added).4

¶8            In Microchip, this court interpreted A.R.S. § 43-1170 and
determined that expenses a taxpayer incurred installing storm water and
sewage control systems in its manufacturing plants qualified for the tax
credit. 230 Ariz. at 306, ¶ 8. We rejected the Department’s argument that
the property’s “primary purpose and function” must be pollution control,
concluding instead that if the property is part of an “integrated system
[intended] to control or prevent pollution,” then the property qualifies for

4       The language in A.R.S. § 43-1081(A) and § 43-1170(A) was identical.
Section 43-1081 applies to individuals, while § 43-1170 applies to
corporations. As acknowledged at argument by the Department, as well as
in its Petition for Review in Microchip Tech. Inc. v. State, 230 Ariz. 303 (App.
2012), Subsections (A) and (B) are related, and must be read together. (“Like
many tax statutes, A.R.S. § 43-1170 simply introduces the credit in its
subsection (A) and then provides further definitions and exclusions in its
following subsections.”). We agree, and interpret A.R.S. § 43-1081 and § 43-
1170 in a way that harmonizes Subsections (A) and (B). See Advanced Prop.
Tax Liens, Inc. v. Sherman, 227 Ariz. 528, 531, ¶ 14 (App. 2011) (citing Morgan
v. Carillon Invs., Inc., 207 Ariz. 547, 549, ¶ 7 (App. 2004)).

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                    SUN LAKES, et al. v. STATE/ADOR
                          Decision of the Court

the tax credit.5 Id. at 307-08, ¶¶ 13, 16 (“Neither the language nor the
purpose of the statute support an interpretation that Taxpayer’s property
must have only one purpose—i.e., conforming to pollution-control
regulations—to qualify for the tax credit.”).

¶9            Here, Taxpayers’ claimed expenses are similar to the expenses
claimed in Microchip.6 Rather than arguing that Taxpayers’ expenses do not
qualify for the credit,7 the Department argues here that Taxpayers are not
the proper claimants. Specifically, the Department argues that Taxpayers
cannot claim the credits because they do not “use” the property “in their
trade or business to control or prevent pollution” as required by the
statutes.

¶10            We interpret the phrase “used in the taxpayer’s trade or
business” to mean the property is utilized in the taxpayer’s overall business.
Here, Taxpayers’ business is developing master-planned communities. As
part of that development, Taxpayers are required by law to construct,
install, and provide systems to control and prevent the unlawful discharge
of wastewater and storm water in the planned communities. See Ariz.

5      Taxpayers and the Department jointly asked the tax court below to
stay their litigation pending our decision in Microchip, recognizing that
“several of the legal issues that are central to this matter may be resolved”
by the Microchip decision. The tax court granted the requested stay. This
court issued its decision in Microchip on June 5, 2012, and the Arizona
Supreme Court denied the Department’s petition for review on October 30,
2012. See Microchip, 230 Ariz. at 303.

6      In Microchip, the taxpayer sought credits for expenses incurred in:

       [D]edicating real property to use for storm-water basins, in
       making improvements required for the installation of storm-
       water basins and their integrated components, and in making
       improvements required for the installation of sewer systems.
       Other property expenses included storm sewers, sanitary
       sewers, retaining walls, fencing footings, a block wall, a fence,
       a sprinkler system, a garage roof, floor drains and drains on
       the office roof.

Microchip, 230 Ariz. at 305, ¶ 2.

7     The Department concedes that the subject equipment, property, and
expenses otherwise qualify for the credit.

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                   SUN LAKES, et al. v. STATE/ADOR
                         Decision of the Court

Admin. Code R18-5-405 (“Where plans for a subdivision include a public
water supply system, or public sewerage system, it shall be the
responsibility of the subdivider to provide the facilities to each lot in the
subdivision prior to human occupancy.”).

¶11            In arguing that Taxpayers are not proper claimants, the
Department relies on Watts v. Ariz. Dep’t of Revenue, in which this court
addressed whether taxpayers who leased water trucks and wagons to third
parties qualified for a credit under A.R.S. § 43-1170. 221 Ariz. 97, 101,
¶¶ 16-17 (App. 2009). In Watts, the taxpayers themselves did not control
how the lessees used the property, and only some of the lessees’ uses of the
property related to pollution control. Id. at 100-01, ¶ 10. Under that set of
facts, this court concluded that taxpayers were not eligible for the credit
because they did not use the property in their trade or business to control
or prevent pollution. Id. at 102, ¶ 23.

¶12           This case is different. Here, Taxpayers themselves, as part of
their real estate development business, were required to provide
wastewater collection and storm water management systems. The subject
property was clearly “used” in the completion of the master-planned
communities that is Taxpayers’ trade or business.            Under these
circumstances, and except as otherwise negotiated with any ultimate
transferee, the pollution control property is “used[8] in the [Taxpayers’]
trade or business” as required by the statutes.9

       II.    Transfer of Wastewater Collection Systems to Utility Companies

¶13            The Department further argues that Taxpayers are not
entitled to tax credits for the wastewater collection systems they installed
because Taxpayers transferred those systems to utility companies before
the systems were operated. Taxpayers respond by arguing that they need
not have operated the systems to be entitled to the credit; under the statutes,

8     The term “used” is classically defined as “employed in
accomplishing something,” Merriam-Webster Dictionary 1301 (10th ed.
1993), or “employed for a purpose; utilized.”            Dictionary.com,
http://dictionary.com/browse/used (last visited Oct. 10, 2017).

9      As such, we need not reach Taxpayers’ alternative argument that, of
necessity, Taxpayers “used” the installed equipment before transferring the
equipment to utility companies and homeowner associations.

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                   SUN LAKES, et al. v. STATE/ADOR
                         Decision of the Court

they argue, construction or installation is sufficient. Taxpayers rely on
A.R.S. § 43-1081(B) and § 43-1170(B), which provided:

       Property that qualifies for the credit under this section
       includes that portion of a structure, building, installation,
       excavation, machine, equipment or device and any
       attachment or addition to or reconstruction, replacement or
       improvement of that property that is directly used,
       constructed or installed in this state for the purpose of
       meeting or exceeding rules or regulations adopted by the
       United States environmental protection agency, the
       department of environmental quality or a political
       subdivision of this state to prevent, monitor, control or reduce
       air, water or land pollution . . . .

A.R.S. §§ 43-1081(B), -1170(B) (emphasis added).

¶14            For the credit to apply, Subsection (A) of A.R.S. § 43-1081 and
§ 43-1170 requires that property be “used in the taxpayer’s trade or business
. . . to control or prevent pollution.” Subsection (B) of the same statutes
describes qualifying property as property that is “directly used, constructed
or installed” for the purpose of meeting or exceeding pollution rules and
regulations. See A.R.S. §§ 43-1081(B), -1170(B). As previously noted, we
interpret A.R.S. § 43-1081 and § 43-1170 in a way that harmonizes
Subsections (A) and (B). See Advanced Prop. Tax Liens, Inc., 227 Ariz. at 531,
¶ 14 (citing Morgan, 207 Ariz. at 549, ¶ 7 (quotations omitted)). Interpreting
these statutes in a way that harmonizes Subsections (A) and (B), we
conclude that Taxpayers’ construction and installation of the wastewater
collection systems satisfy the use requirement of Subsection (A) even if the
systems are ultimately operated by a utility company. Further, in multi-
part statutes like these, the use of the term “include” in subsection (B) is a
“term of enlargement, not of limitation.” Sec. Sav. & Loan Ass’n v. Milton,
171 Ariz. 75, 77 (App. 1991). See also Bernhart v. Indus. Comm’n, 200 Ariz.
410, 413, ¶ 12 (App. 2001).

       III.   Transfer of Common Areas to Homeowners’ Association

¶15            The Department also argues that Taxpayers are not entitled to
credits for storm water improvements located on common areas because
the “common-area features are of course intended to be transferred to a
homeowner’s association.” We disagree.

¶16          First, there is nothing in the record reflecting that Taxpayers
transferred common areas to a homeowner’s association. Second, the

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                    SUN LAKES, et al. v. STATE/ADOR
                          Decision of the Court

Legislature did not impose a minimum time period during which
qualifying property, once purchased, constructed and/or installed, must be
held to qualify for the credit. Moreover, just as Taxpayers’ construction and
installation of wastewater collection systems are sufficient to satisfy the use
requirement in A.R.S. § 43-1081(A) and § 43-1170(A), so is their construction
and installation of storm water management systems. Accordingly, we
affirm the tax court’s decision that Taxpayers are eligible for tax credits
under the versions of A.R.S. § 43-1081 and § 43-1170 in effect at all times
relevant to this appeal.

       IV.    The 2005 Statutory Amendments

¶17           We draw further support for our conclusion from
amendments the Legislature made in the subject statutes in 2005. In 2005,
the Legislature amended A.R.S. § 43-1081 and § 43-1170 to restrict the type
of property qualifying for the tax credit. See 2005 Ariz. Sess. Laws, ch. 148,
§§ 1, 2 (1st Reg. Sess.). The credit now applies only to expenses incurred
“to prevent, monitor, control or reduce . . . pollution that results from the
taxpayer’s direct operating activities.” A.R.S. §§ 43-1081(B), -1170(B)
(emphasis added). In addition, the credit does not apply to:

       Any property that has a substantial use for a purpose other
       than the purposes described in subsection B.

       Any portion of pollution control property that is included as
       a standard and integral part of another property.

A.R.S. §§ 43-1081(C)(2)-(3), -1170(C)(2)-(3).10

¶18            When a statute is amended “after a considerable length of
time” and the amendment reflects “a clear and distinct change of the
operative language,” we assume the Legislature intended to change rather
than clarify the law. San Carlos Apache Tribe v. Superior Court ex rel. Cty. of
Maricopa, 193 Ariz. 195, 209-10, ¶ 31 (1999) (citing O’Malley Lumber Co. v.
Riley, 126 Ariz. 167, 169 (App. 1980), abrogated on other grounds by, Hayes v.
Cont’l Ins. Co., 178 Ariz. 264 (1994)). See also Sempre Ltd. P’ship v. Maricopa
Cty., 225 Ariz. 106, 110, ¶ 17 (App. 2010) (holding that as a general rule, we
“presume that an amendment changes the meaning of an existing statute.”
(citing McCloe v. Utah Home Fire Ins. Co., 121 Ariz. 402, 403 (App. 1978),
superseded on other grounds by, Ballesteros v. Am. Standard Ins. Co. of Wis., 226

10     A detailed discussion of the legislative history involving these two
statutes can be found in Watts, 221 Ariz. at 99-100, ¶¶ 2-7.

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                   SUN LAKES, et al. v. STATE/ADOR
                         Decision of the Court

Ariz. 345 (2011))). Here, we presume that the 2005 amendments were
intended to change, not simply clarify, A.R.S. § 43-1081 and § 43-1170. See
Microchip, 230 Ariz. at 308, ¶ 18. See also Watts, 221 Ariz. at 104, ¶ 35. And
because the amended statutes do not contain a retroactivity provision, they
do not apply to Taxpayers’ claims here. See A.R.S. § 1-244 (2016).

¶19           Under this analysis, the Legislature’s decision in 2005 to
prohibit the credit for property “included as a standard and integral part of
another property” means that before the amendment, the credit WAS
allowed for such property. Accordingly, we hold that, under the versions
of A.R.S. § 43-1081(C) and § 43-1170(C) in effect at the time relevant to this
appeal, Taxpayers’ expenditures for wastewater collection and storm water
management qualified for the tax credit.

                               CONCLUSION

¶20           For the foregoing reasons, we affirm the decision of the tax
court. Taxpayers request an award of attorneys’ fees and costs pursuant to
A.R.S. § 12-348, which authorizes a fee award to a party that brings an action
challenging the assessment, collection, or refund of taxes. See A.R.S. § 12-
348(B) (2016). In the exercise of our discretion, we award Taxpayers their
reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs on appeal subject to the limitation
imposed by A.R.S. § 12-348(E)(5) and their compliance with ARCAP 21.

                           AMY M. WOOD • Clerk of the Court
                           FILED: AA

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