Int'l Bus. Machs. Corp. v. Comm'r Revenue
Int'l Bus. Machs. Corp. v. Comm'r Revenue
Opinion of the Court
*815This case requires us to interpret Minnesota's research and development (R&D) tax credit statute.
FACTS
The facts of this case, as they relate to the structure of the tax credit for R&D expenses, are the same as set forth in General Mills, Inc. v. Commissioner of Revenue , No. A18-1660,
IBM timely filed its Minnesota corporate franchise tax return for the 2011 tax year; in its return, the company claimed Minnesota R&D credits based on its increased research activities. On April 15, 2016, IBM filed an amended 2011 Minnesota corporate franchise tax return requesting-based on a recalculation of the Minnesota R&D credit-a refund of $4,395,399. Relator Commissioner of Revenue denied IBM's refund claim.
As in General Mills , see 931 N.W.2d at ----, IBM's refund request and the Commissioner's denial of the request reflect a disagreement on two issues. First, IBM and the Commissioner disagree on whether the "minimum base amount" set forth in I.R.C. § 41(c)(2) is incorporated into Minnesota's definition of "base amount." IBM argues that Minnesota does not incorporate the federal "minimum base amount" into its R&D credit; the Commissioner argues that it does. The parties also disagree on whether, in 2011, the term "aggregate gross receipts" in the fixed-base percentage formula referred to federal or Minnesota aggregate gross receipts. IBM contends that it referred to federal aggregate gross receipts, while the Commissioner argues the term was limited to Minnesota receipts.
Following the Commissioner's denial of IBM's refund request, the company appealed to the Minnesota Tax Court. On May 17, 2018, the tax court heard consolidated oral arguments on joint motions for summary judgment in this case and in General Mills' case. On August 17, 2018, the tax court granted summary judgment in both cases. See *816Int'l Bus. Mach. Corp. v. Comm'r of Revenue , No. 9053-R,
IBM had previously claimed a Minnesota R&D credit of $313,195 on its original 2011 return. IBM ,
The Commissioner sought our review on the aggregate gross receipts question. IBM cross-appealed on the minimum base amount question.
ANALYSIS
This case presents the same two issues raised and decided in General Mills v. Commissioner of Revenue , A18-1660, 931 N.W.2d at ----, filed today. The reasoning from our opinion in that case governs here as well. Thus, as in General Mills , we hold that to calculate the Minnesota R&D tax credit, Minnesota Statutes § 290.068, subd. 2(c), incorporates the "minimum base amount" limitation contained within I.R.C. § 41(c)(2). We also hold that the plain language of
CONCLUSION
For the foregoing reasons, we affirm the decision of the tax court.
Affirmed.
This case involves the 2011 tax year. Therefore, citations to Minnesota Statutes are to 2010-the language in effect at the time-unless otherwise noted. The 2012 version of the Internal Revenue Code is cited because it did not change after the 2011 tax year.
When discussing the issues raised by IBM, General Mills, and the Commissioner, the tax court used essentially identical language in each opinion. Compare IBM ,
As noted in General Mills , the 2017 amendment to
Reference
- Full Case Name
- INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION and Subsidiaries v. COMMISSIONER OF REVENUE, Relator.
- Status
- Published