Luther P. Miller, Inc. v. Commonwealth
Luther P. Miller, Inc. v. Commonwealth
Opinion of the Court
Luther P. Miller, Inc. (Petitioner) petitions for review of an order of the Board of Finance and Revenue denying Petitioner’s appeal contesting the assessment of deficiency of taxes paid by Petitioner under the Liquid Fuels and Fuels Tax Act (Act).
Petitioner is a distributor whose business operations include wholesale and retail sale of petroleum products, including heating oil, dyed kerosene, clear diesel fuel, clear kerosene, propane and special lubricants. (June 11, 2013 Stipulation of Facts (S.F.) Ex. A, Audit Narrative (Narr.) at 1.) Petitioner is headquartered in Somerset, Pennsylvania and was incorporated as a Pennsylvania Corporation in 1961, although it operated prior to that date as a sole proprietorship. (S.F. ¶ 1, Ex. A, Narr. at 1-2.) Following the passage of the Act, Petitioner registered as a Class 1 distributor in 1997. (S.F. Ex. A, Narr. at 1.)
Petitioner operates various facilities in the Commonwealth, including four bulk plant facilities, six cardlock facilities and two facilities on-site at Petitioner’s trucking company customers. (Id. at 2.) The cardlock facilities are located at sites owned by another company, Pacific Pride, which reports the sales made from these locations to Petitioner. (Id. at 4-6.) Petitioner has, in total, ten locations (the four bulk plants and the six cardlock facilities) at which it inventories on-road diesel fuel and eight locations (two of the bulk plants and the six cardlock facilities) at which it inventories gasoline. (S.F. ¶ 11.) The on-road diesel and gasoline tanks at the bulk plants are aboveground while the on-road diesel and gasoline tanks at the cardlock facilities are below ground. (Id.)
Petitioner was audited by the Department of Revenue’s (Department) Bureau of Audits for the period of January 1, 2006 through July 31, 2008. The audit, including a narrative report of the auditor’s findings, was presented to Petitioner at a post-audit conference on December 5, 2008, and the Department’s Bureau of Motor Fuel Taxes thereafter issued to Petitioner a Notice of Determination and Request for Payment in the amount of $34,622.26. (S.F. Ex. A, Dec. 15, 2008 Notice of Determination and Request for Payment.) The assessed amount included $33,017.71 in tax due, $840.30 in penalty assessed and $764.25 in interest due. (Id.)
The audit identified three principal issues, which formed the majority of the assessment of deficiency against Petitioner and which are challenged by Petitioner in this appeal.
The second issue identified by the auditor as a basis for the assessment of deficiency relates to 6,005 gallons of gasoline sales at cardlock locations made to the Somerset County Head Start program. (Id. at 10-11, 15, 17.) Somerset County Head Start provides services for Somerset County children aged three to five from low-income families, foster families or other disadvantaged situations. (S.F. Ex. G, April 25, 2013 Deposition of Linda McDonough (McDonough Dep.) at 9-10.) Tableland Services (Tableland), a non-profit community action agency, operates the Somerset County Head Start program on behalf of Somerset County, and its funding is primarily derived from grants from the federal, state and county governments. (Id. at 9, 12, 20.) The auditor disallowed the sales to Somerset County Head Start as exempt because, in his view, a Head Start program is not a political subdivision of the Commonwealth and thus ineligible for tax-exempt gasoline purchases. (S.F. Ex. A, Narr. at 10.)
The third basis for the assessment of deficiency was excessive stock loss. The Department’s Liquid Fuels and Fuels Tax Audit Manual (Audit Manual) provides for 0.5% allowable stock loss.
Petitioner appealed the Notice of Determination to the Board of Appeals. The Board of Appeals issued a Decision and Order on February 26, 2009, concurring with the assessment of deficiency. (S.F. Ex. C, Feb. 26, 2009 Board of Appeals Decision and Order.) The Board of Appeals concluded that because the Act does not provide for an exemption for taxes on sales to ultimate customers and because Petitioner could not supply the auditor with evidence that the School District paid
Petitioner appealed to the Board of Finance and Revenue, which, by an order dated September 15, 2009, affirmed the Board of Appeals.
On appeal, Petitioner first challenges whether the sales to bus operators that provided services to the School District were exempt from taxation under the Act.
Petitioner argues that the fuel provided to the bus operators, Spade Bus Lines and Humbert Busing, was used exclusively for transporting School District students. Petitioner further argues that to require that the invoice be sent directly to a school district as opposed to the bus operator who provides the service would favor form over substance and that so long as the school district is the ultimate customer the distinction of what entity pays for the fuel is immaterial.
While acknowledging that sales directly to the School District would clearly be
The Department’s regulations provide that:
(a) In order for a political subdivision to purchase liquid fuels in bulk, tax exempt, the fuel shall be purchased from a registered Commonwealth distributor and the fuel shall be placed in bulk storage facilities owned or leased by the political subdivision.
(b) When a school district leases or owns vehicles, whether or not the vehicles are operated by school district employes, the school district may purchase liquid fuels tax exempt from a Commonwealth registered distributor, provided the fuel is placed in bulk storage facilities, leased or owned by the school district.
61 Pa.Code § 315.3.
Petitioner, who bears the burden of proving the exemption from tax, City of Philadelphia v. Cumberland County Board of Assessment Appeals, — Pa. -, 81 A.3d 24, 25 n. 1 (2013), has not presented any evidence before this Court that shows that it made sales directly to bulk storage facilities owned or leased by the School District as required by the Department’s regulations. Rather, the contracts between the School District and the bus operators only show that the School District purchased transportation services from the bus operators. (S.F. Exs.F-1, F-2.) While these contracts include an escalation and de-escalation fuel clause by which the School District agreed to adjust the amount it paid to the bus operators if fuel prices exceeded or fell below certain prices, these contracts do not provide that the School District would pay for the diesel fuel directly. (Id.) Furthermore, the April 17, 2009 letter from Spade Bus Lines which Petitioner cites to support its argument that the sales qualify as exempt, demonstrates only that the fuel purchased from Petitioner was used solely for the transportation of School District students and not that the School District purchased the fuel directly.
In Crawford Central School District v. Commonwealth, 839 A.2d 1213 (Pa.Cmwlth. 2004), aff'd in part, rev’d in part, 585 Pa. 131, 888 A.2d 616 (2005), this Court addressed a similar question of whether sales to a contractor working on
Petitioner next argues that its gasoline sales to Tableland, which operated the Somerset County Head Start Program, were exempt sales under the Act. Specifically, Petitioner argues that, as a “community action agency” that received funding from and coordinated social services programs on behalf of the Commonwealth and local governments, Tableland fell within the Department’s definition of a political subdivision as an “[i]nstrumentalit[y] or agencfy] of the Commonwealth.” 61 Pa. Code § 315.2.
In determining whether an entity is an agency or instrumentality of the Commonwealth, we must examine the entity’s enabling legislation. Valentine Co. v. Commonwealth, 973 A.2d 1101, 1107 (Pa.Cmwlth. 2009); Bucks County Community College v. Bucks County Board of Assessment Appeals, 147 Pa.Cmwlth. 505, 608 A.2d 622, 623-24 (1992). An entity’s status as an agency or instrumentality may vary depending on the issue for which the determination is being is made. Pennsylvania State University v. Derry Township School District, 557 Pa. 91, 96, 731 A.2d 1272, 1274 (1999). The mere funding of an entity does not, by itself, make the entity an agency or instrumentality of the Commonwealth. Id. at 95, 731 A.2d at 1274; Mooney v. Board of Trustees of Temple University, 448 Pa. 424, 430, 292 A.2d 395, 399 (1972). We must also consider to what degree the Commonwealth exercises control over the entity, such as through majority control over the entity’s board. Pennsylvania State University, 557 Pa. at 96, 731 A.2d at 1274-75; Mooney, 448 Pa. at 431, 292 A.2d at 399.
Community action agencies were initially created pursuant to the federal Economic Opportunity Act of 1964 to coordinate economic opportunity programs for local governments. See 42 U.S.C. §§ 2781-2837 (repealed). In Pennsylvania, during the relevant audit period here, community action agencies were governed by the Community Action Agencies Act (CAA Act)
Petitioner argues that the Commonwealth’s funding and close regulation of Tableland demonstrate that Tableland was an agency and instrumentality of the Commonwealth. Petitioner also finds support in the testimony of the director of the Somerset County Head Start program for Tableland that: (i) the funds provided by the Commonwealth extend the days and hours of the Head Start program (S.F. Ex. G, McDonough Dep. at 11); (ii) the Commonwealth regulates eligibility in the Head Start program (Id. at 15); and (iii) representatives from the Commonwealth regularly made classroom visits. (Id. at 13.)
Petitioner has not satisfied its burden of showing that Tableland was an agency or instrumentality of the Commonwealth rather than simply a contractor that receives funds and provides service to the Commonwealth. While Tableland may have received grants from the Commonwealth, the mere fact that Tableland’s activities were government funded is insufficient to show that it is a Commonwealth agency. Pennsylvania State University, 557 Pa. at 95, 731 A.2d at 1274; Mooney, 448 Pa. at 430, 292 A.2d at 399. Indeed, the Commonwealth is prohibited under the CAA Act from providing more than 10% of a community action agency’s budget. Section 1 of the CAA Act, 62 P.S. § 2801. Similarly, the fact that Tableland is monitored by and must provide regular reports on its budget and finances to the Commonwealth does not alone distinguish it from one of the many other closely regulated private entities within the state. Petitioner has also produced no evidence that the Commonwealth directs Tableland’s activities by appointing its directors or executive staff. The only evidence in the record regarding the management of Tableland is the testimony of McDonough that she must report both to the Tableland Board of Directors and a Head Start Policy Council, a majority of which is composed of parents of children enrolled in the Head Start program. (S.F. Ex. G, McDonough Dep. at 25-26.)
In Sanchez by Rivera v. Montanez, 165 Pa.Cmwlth. 381, 645 A.2d 383
Finally, Petitioner challenges the auditor’s excessive stock loss determination. In making the determination that the amount of loss when comparing the amount of fuel in inventory with the amount of fuel sold, the auditor applied the Department’s long-standing policy that any stock loss greater than 0.5% was excessive. (S.F. Ex. A, Narr. at 16-17.) Petitioner argues that its stock loss of 1.4% of the total sales of gasoline and 0.8% of the total sales of on-road diesel was reasonable and that a 0.5% allowed loss did not take into consideration temperature change at Petitioner’s different locations. Petitioner asserts that when it purchases gasoline and on-road diesel from suppliers, the volume of the fuel is temperature compensated to 60 degrees. (S.F. ¶ 16.) Petitioner’s underground storage tanks, on the other hand, are not adjusted for temperature but rather fluctuate between 50 and 55 degrees year round. (Id. ¶¶ 17, 18.) Petitioner argues that the auditor should have looked at various factors including the date of the last delivery at each location, the amount of fuel in the tank at the time of delivery, the temperature of the product when delivered and the temperature of the existing product in the tank at the time of delivery.
The Act provides that the Department “shall allow for handling and storage losses of liquid fuels and fuels that are substantiated to the satisfaction of the department.” 75 Pa.C.S. § 9004(h). The Department sets forth a default 0.5% allowed loss provided for in its Audit Manual. (Audit Manual § FT570.030.) The Commonwealth contends that Petitioner’s temperature change rationale to explain the stock loss in excess of 0.5% was not sufficiently substantiated with documentation to either the auditor or on appeal to this Court. We agree.
Because Petitioner failed to produce sufficient evidence to substantiate its stock loss, we conclude that the auditor correctly determined that the stock loss greater than 0.5% was excessive.
The order of the Board of Finance and Revenue is affirmed.
ORDER
AND NOW, this 20th day of March, 2014, the order of the Board of Finance and Revenue in the above-captioned matter is hereby AFFIRMED. The Chief Clerk is directed to enter judgment in favor of the Commonwealth if exceptions are not filed within 30 days pursuant to Pa. R.A.P. 1571(i).
. 75 Pa.C.S. §§ 9001-9023.
. The audit also identified several other errors that were not challenged by Petitioner.
. Liquid Fuels and Fuels Tax Audit Manual § FT570, http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/ server.pt/community/right-to-know_law/ 14571/audit_manuals/581045 (last visited Feb. 25, 2014).
. The Commonwealth did not appeal the abatement of the penalty against Petitioner to the Board of Finance and Revenue.
. In appeals from determinations of the Board of Finance and Revenue, this Court essentially acts as a trial court and exercises the broadest scope of review. Southern Pines Trucking v. Commonwealth, 42 A.3d 1222, 1227 n. 5 (Pa.Cmwlth. 2012) aff'd, - Pa. -, 69 A.3d 235 (2013). Our standard of review is de novo. Id. The stipulation of facts entered into by the parties is binding on them, although the Court may draw its own legal conclusions. Id. at 1227.
. Section 9004(a) was stricken from the Act, and the fixed 12c per gallon liquid fuels and fuels tax was eliminated by the Act of November 25, 2013, P.L. 974, No. 89, § 40.1, effective January 1, 2014.
. The Department’s regulations were promulgated under the former Liquid Fuels Tax Act and Fuel Use Tax Act; however, these regulations remain consistent with the provisions of current Act. Petitioner has not challenged the validity of these regulations in this appeal.
. Audit Manual § FT550.300; Bureau of Motor Fuel Taxes Policy Statement No. 97-01; Sales to Exempt Entities by Registered Distributors and Non-licensed Motor Fuel Dealers, http://www.revenue.state.pa.us/portal/ server.pt/document/63581 l/dmf-65_pdf (last visited Feb. 25, 2014). Petitioner has not raised the issue in this appeal of the appropriate deference to and procedural validity of the Department’s manuals and bulletins. See Northwestern Youth Services, Inc. v. Department of Public Welfare, - Pa. -, 66 A.3d 301, 310-15 (2013) (setting forth standards for challenges to deference and procedural validity of non-legislative rules).
.Petitioner also cites a June 8, 2009 letter from Humbert Busing; however that letter only appears as an exhibit to Petitioner’s brief and is not included in the stipulation of facts which creates the record before us in this appeal. Pa. R.A.P. 1571(f).
. Act of January 26, 1968, P.L. 48, No. 9, 62 P.S. §§ 2801-2802.
. Act of May 16, 2002, P.L. 315, No. 46, 62 P.S. §§ 2992.1-2992.13. This statute expired on December 31, 2011.
. Act of November 26, 1978, P.L. 1399, as amended, formerly 53 P.S. §§ 5311.101-5311.803, repealed by the Act of October 5, 1980, P.L. 693, recodified in the Judicial Code, as amended, 42 Pa.C.S. §§ 8541-8542.
. Petitioner also argues that the Department did not object to exempt sales to Tableland in at least five previous audits and that it is estopped from changing its policy without an official pronouncement of its new interpretation of the Act. As our Supreme Court has recognized, however, the Commonwealth cannot be estopped from collecting a tax that is due in the present based upon its failure to collect that same tax in the past. Weinberg v. State Board of Examiners of Public Accountants, 509 Pa. 143, 151 n. 5, 501 A.2d 239, 243 n. 5 (1985); Department of Public Welfare v. UEC, Inc., 483 Pa. 503, 516 n. 6, 397 A.2d 779, 785 n. 6 (1979) ("Mistaken indulgence by, or errors of, the Commonwealth in the past do not insulate the taxpayer from tax liability for subsequent years.").
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.