Witte Brothers Exchange, Inc. v. The Department of Revenue , 2013 IL App (1st) 120850 ( 2013 )

ILLINOIS OFFICIAL REPORTS
Appellate Court
Witte Brothers Exchange, Inc. v. Department of Revenue, 2013 IL App (1st) 120850
Appellate Court WITTE BROTHERS EXCHANGE, INCORPORATED, Plaintiff-
Caption Appellee, v. THE DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE, BRIAN HAMER, as
Director of Revenue, and DAN RUTHERFORD, as Treasurer of the State
of Illinois, Defendants-Appellants.
District & No. First District, Sixth Division
Docket No. 1-12-0850
Filed September 30, 2013
Rehearing denied November 1, 2013
Held In an action arising from an income tax audit of plaintiff interstate
(Note: This syllabus trucking company, the appellate court reversed the trial court’s
constitutes no part of determination that the Department of Revenue could not tax the
the opinion of the court company’s “pass-through” miles, the miles driven through Illinois
but has been prepared without picking up or delivering goods, in apportioning the company’s
by the Reporter of income to Illinois, since plaintiff’s trucks and employees had a physical
Decisions for the and economic presence in Illinois while passing through; therefore, the
convenience of the pass-through miles were “in this State” for purposes of the Income Tax
reader.)
Act.
Decision Under Appeal from the Circuit Court of Cook County, No. 11-L-50282; the
Review Hon. Robert Lopez Cepero, Judge, presiding.
Judgment Reversed and remanded.
Counsel on Lisa Madigan, Attorney General, of Chicago (Michael A. Scodro,
Appeal Solicitor General, and Laura Wunder, Assistant Attorney General, of
counsel), for appellants.
David M. Rownd and Brittany E. Kirk, both of Thompson Coburn LLP,
of Chicago, for appellee.
Panel JUSTICE REYES delivered the judgment of the court, with opinion.
Presiding Justice Rochford and Justice Hall concurred in the judgment
and opinion.
OPINION
¶1 Plaintiff-appellee Witte Brothers Exchange, Inc. (Witte Brothers or plaintiff), an
interstate trucking company, initiated this action against defendants-appellants the Illinois
Department of Revenue, Brian Hamer as its director, and Dan Rutherford as Treasurer of the
State of Illinois (collectively the Department) to recover funds submitted under protest
following an audit during which the Department concluded Witte Brothers failed to include
in the numerator of its apportionment factor the miles driven through Illinois without picking
up or delivering goods, otherwise known as pass-through miles.1 The trial court granted
plaintiff’s motion for summary determination and concluded the Department could not tax
pass-through miles under section 304(d)(1) of the Illinois Income Tax Act (Tax Act) (35
ILCS 5/304(d)(1) (West 2010)). The Department appeals, contending the trial court erred in
granting summary determination because the language of section 304(d)(1) demonstrates
pass-through miles are revenue miles “in this State,” and thus the appropriate taxes were
assessed in this matter. For the reasons which follow, we reverse the determination of the
trial court.
¶2 BACKGROUND
¶3 In 2009, the Department audited plaintiff for the tax years ending September 30, 2005,
September 30, 2006, and September 30, 2007. On December 7, 2009, the Department
forwarded to plaintiff a notice of proposed deficiency which stated plaintiff owed $77,281
in unpaid income tax plus a penalty of $11,592 because plaintiff failed to include pass-
1
“In apportioning the income of multistate, unitary businesses operating within this state,
Illinois uses a formula approach known as ‘formula apportionment.’ Under this system, the income
of the business is calculated, and a formula is applied to apportion that sum based upon the ratio of
the taxpayer’s activities in Illinois to its activities everywhere.” Texaco-Cities Service Pipeline Co.
v. McGaw, 182 Ill. 2d 262, 274 (1998).
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through miles in the numerator of the apportionment factor as required in section 304(d)(1)
of the Tax Act. The relevant portion of section 304(d)(1) states:
“Such business income (other than that derived from transportation by pipeline) shall be
apportioned to this State by multiplying such income by a fraction, the numerator of
which is the revenue miles of the person in this State, and the denominator of which is
the revenue miles of the person everywhere. For purposes of this paragraph, a revenue
mile is the transportation of 1 passenger or 1 net ton of freight the distance of 1 mile for
a consideration.” (Emphasis added.) 35 ILCS 5/304(d)(1) (West 2010).
¶4 On January 31, 2011, the Informal Conference Board rendered its decision that no
amendments would be made to the plaintiff’s proposed tax adjustment. The decision stated:
“The ICB concludes the following: 1. In that Witte Bros. Exchange, Inc. is carrying
on its interstate transportation service business in Illinois when passing through Illinois,
via Illinois highways, every Illinois ‘pass-through mile’ has nexus with Illinois. The
requisite nexus is supplied if a corporation avails itself of the substantial privilege of
carrying on business within the taxing state. [Citation.] Traversing Illinois, via Illinois
highways, without an Illinois pick-up or delivery is the exercise of that privilege. 2. In
that Witte Bros. Exchange, Inc. derived income from its customers while hauling freight
across Illinois, its Illinois ‘pass-through miles’ are ‘revenue miles of the person in this
State’ and are included in the Witte Bros. Exchange, Inc. transportation apportionment
factor numerator as required by 35 ILCS 5/304(d)(1).”
¶5 On February 8, 2011, the Department forwarded to plaintiff a notice of audit results
requesting payment of $77,282 in unpaid taxes, $35,836 in interest, and $23,185 in penalties
for a total payment of $136,303. Plaintiff timely paid the assessment, but did so under
protest.
¶6 On March 16, 2011, plaintiff filed a complaint in the law division of the circuit court of
Cook County against the Department pursuant to the State Officers and Employees Money
Disposition Act (Protest Monies Act) (30 ILCS 230/1 et seq. (West 2010)). Plaintiff sought
a preliminary injunction, abatement of penalty fees and interest, a determination that the
income tax was erroneously assessed, and a declaration that the Tax Delinquency Amnesty
Act (35 ILCS 745/3-1 et seq. (West 2010)) is unconstitutional.2
¶7 The trial court granted plaintiff a preliminary injunction restraining the Department from
transferring plaintiff’s payment out of the protest fund pending a final disposition in the case.
Plaintiff then filed a motion for summary determination pursuant to section 2-1005(d) of the
Code of Civil Procedure (Code) (735 ILCS 5/2-1005(d) (West 2010)) seeking a ruling on
whether the Department used the proper method to calculate its Illinois tax liability. Relying
on Northwest Airlines, Inc. v. Department of Revenue, 295 Ill. App. 3d 889, 894 (1998),
2
Plaintiff filed a supplemental complaint pursuant to the Protest Monies Act regarding an
additional payment of $5,600 it was required to pay by the Department. The supplemental complaint
contained two additional counts: a request for an injunction, which was granted; and a claim
asserting section 3-3(b-20)(2) of the Uniform Penalty and Interest Act (35 ILCS 735/3-3(b-20)(2)
(West 2010)) is unconstitutional, which was withdrawn.
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which ruled an airline was not required to pay taxes under section 304(d)(1) when its
airplanes did not depart or land in Illinois, but merely flew over the state, plaintiff maintained
these flyover miles were identical to pass-through miles and therefore plaintiff correctly
excluded these miles from the numerator of the apportionment factor. In comparing flyover
miles to pass-through miles, plaintiff argued the logical result is that airplanes, which do not
take off from or land in Illinois, are not taxed for flyover miles. Therefore, plaintiff
concluded, trucks which do not pick up or deliver goods in Illinois should not be taxed on
pass-through miles. Plaintiff further argued the Illinois General Assembly’s 2007 amendment
of section 304 of the Tax Act supports the argument that pass-through miles were not
intended to be included in the numerator of the apportionment factor for taxes incurred prior
to December 31, 2008, because the General Assembly added section 304(d)(3), which
expressly included pass-through miles as miles driven in Illinois after December 31, 2008.
¶8 In response, the Department contended Illinois pass-through miles must be included in
the numerator of the apportionment factor because the statute provides the numerator shall
be “the revenue miles of the person in this State.” 35 ILCS 5/304(d)(1) (West 2010). A
“revenue mile” is defined by the statute as the “transportation of 1 passenger or 1 net ton of
freight the distance of 1 mile for a consideration.” Id. The Department argued the purpose
of section 304(d)(1) is to apportion to Illinois that part of a multistate taxpayer’s income
reflecting the amount of income earned in Illinois over the amount of income earned
everywhere. Excluding pass-through miles would create “nowhere income,” which is
essentially income that is taxed by no state and would be contrary to the goal of full
apportionment. The Department distinguished the holding in Northwest Airlines, arguing the
case was considered on constitutional grounds and not based on the statutory construction
of section 304(d)(1). Lastly, the Department contended the amendments to section 304 were
clarifications and any other interpretation would be contrary to full apportionment.
¶9 In reply, plaintiff asserted the General Assembly created two distinct formulas when
amending section 304 to include section 304(d)(3). Therefore, plaintiff argued, it is against
statutory construction and impossible for section 304(d)(1) and section 304(d)(3) to have the
same interpretation.
¶ 10 After the matter was fully briefed, the trial court set plaintiff’s motion for summary
determination for oral argument. On the date of hearing, the trial court extended the briefing
schedule, allowing both parties to file a supplemental response and supplemental reply.3
¶ 11 The Department’s sur-response indicated the trial court instructed the parties to address
the meaning of the phrase “in this State.” The Department responded “in this State” is not
defined and therefore should be given its plain and ordinary meaning. It concluded, “in this
State” means miles driven on Illinois roads. Further, the Department compared the Tax Act’s
use of “in this State” to other statutes which use the same phrase and determined all mean
“in Illinois.”
¶ 12 Plaintiff’s sur-reply contended “in this State” is a modifier for the phrase preceding it,
3
No record of proceedings for any of the trial court hearings was included in the record on
appeal.
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“revenue miles of the person.” Thus, the question is not whether the trucks traveled “in this
State,” but whether plaintiff derived revenue from the pass-through miles. Plaintiff stated the
concept of “revenue miles” in section 304(d)(1) applies only when the taxpayer is required
to come into the state to pick up or deliver goods. Plaintiff included these miles in the
numerator of the apportionment factor.
¶ 13 On February 16, 2012, the trial court entered an order granting plaintiff’s motion and
stating “the Illinois Department of Revenue cannot tax Pass-through Miles under 35 ILCS
5/304(d)(1).” The preliminary injunction orders were dissolved and the State Treasurer was
directed to return plaintiff’s funds submitted under protest. The trial court order was stayed
pending appeal. On March 15, 2012, the Department timely filed this appeal. We have
jurisdiction pursuant to Illinois Supreme Court Rule 301. Ill. S. Ct. R. 301 (eff. Feb. 1, 1994).
¶ 14 DISCUSSION
¶ 15 I. Interpretation of Section 304(d)(1) of the Tax Act
¶ 16 On appeal, the Department contends it correctly included plaintiff’s pass-through miles
in the numerator of the apportionment factor as set forth in section 304(d)(1) because pass-
through miles constitute revenue miles “in this State.” 35 ILCS 5/304(d)(1) (West 2010). We
review questions of law and statutory construction de novo. Northwest Airlines, 295 Ill. App.
3d at 892; National City Corp. & Subsidiaries v. Department of Revenue, 366 Ill. App. 3d
37, 39 (2006). De novo consideration means we perform the same analysis that a trial court
would perform. Khan v. BDO Seidman, LLP, 408 Ill. App. 3d 564, 578 (2011).
¶ 17 “Tax laws must be strictly construed; they must be given a reasonable construction,
without bias or prejudice against either the State or the taxpayer, in order to effectuate the
intent of the legislature.” Northwest Airlines, 295 Ill. App. 3d at 892. Where there is doubt,
the statute is “ ‘construed most strongly against the government and in favor of the
taxpayer.’ ” Van’s Material Co. v. Department of Revenue, 131 Ill. 2d 196, 202 (1989)
(quoting Mahon v. Nudelman, 377 Ill. 331, 335 (1941)).
¶ 18 We begin by looking to the language of the statute, as this is the clearest indicator of the
legislature’s intent. Northwest Airlines, 295 Ill. App. 3d at 892. “If the language is clear and
unambiguous, the statute will be construed according to its terms, without resorting to aids
of construction.” Id. We must give the statutory language “its plain, ordinary, and popularly
understood meaning.” Alvarez v. Pappas, 229 Ill. 2d 217, 228 (2008).
¶ 19 For taxable years ending before December 31, 2008, the Tax Act requires business
income derived from furnishing transportation services be apportioned in the following
manner:
“Such business income (other than that derived from transportation by pipeline) shall be
apportioned to this State by multiplying such income by a fraction, the numerator of
which is the revenue miles of the person in this State, and the denominator of which is
the revenue miles of the person everywhere. For purposes of this paragraph, a revenue
mile is the transportation of 1 passenger or 1 net ton of freight the distance of 1 mile for
a consideration. Where a person is engaged in the transportation of both passengers and
freight, the fraction above referred to shall be determined by means of an average of the
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passenger revenue mile fraction and the freight revenue mile fraction, weighted to reflect
the person’s
(A) relative railway operating income from total passenger and total freight
service, as reported to the Interstate Commerce Commission, in the case of
transportation by railroad, and
(B) relative gross receipts from passenger and freight transportation, in case of
transportation other than by railroad.” (Emphasis added.) 35 ILCS 5/304(d)(1) (West
2010).
¶ 20 This court has twice issued opinions considering the language of section 304(d) as it
relates to the type of miles it includes. At the time the trial court determined pass-through
miles cannot be taxed under section 304(d)(1), the only case law construing section 304(d)
was Northwest Airlines, 295 Ill. App. 3d at 889. In Northwest Airlines, we considered
whether section 304(d)(1) provided that flyover miles must be included in the numerator of
the apportionment factor. Id. at 892. There, Northwest Airlines contested the Department’s
adjustment of the tax owed to include airplane travel miles not involving takeoff or landing,
that is to say, miles flown over Illinois. Id. at 891. The Department argued flyover miles were
included in the apportionment factor as they flew in Illinois airspace and this interpretation
facilitated 100% apportionment of taxes and was not preempted by federal law or a violation
of the commerce clause. Id. In construing “in this State” the Northwest Airlines court stated:
“[T]he circuit court initially determined that, had the legislature intended to include
flyover miles in the apportionment numerator, it would have used the appropriate
language–‘above’ Illinois, ‘over’ Illinois, or ‘in [Illinois] air space.’ Since the legislature
sought to include only those revenue miles ‘in’ Illinois, the court concluded that flyover
miles should be excluded. However, as the Department correctly argues, all the airline
mileage at issue here is necessarily ‘over’ this state, ‘above’ this state, or ‘in [Illinois] air
space.’ Thus, it is erroneous to conclude that flyover miles should be excluded simply
on the basis of an ‘in’ versus ‘over’ analysis.” (Emphasis omitted.) Id. at 892-93.
¶ 21 The Northwest Airlines court went on to consider whether the statute, if interpreted to
include flyover miles, would be unconstitutional. Id. at 893. It concluded an interpretation
of section 304(d) which included flyover miles would violate the commerce clause as there
was a “total absence of any nexus between the overflights and this state.” (Emphasis in
original.) Id. at 893-94 (citing GTE Automatic Electric, Inc. v. Allphin, 68 Ill. 2d 326, 340
(1977)). Specifically:
“[T]he nexus requirement [of the commerce clause of the United States Constitution]
cannot be satisfied. Flight plans for overflights are not filed with any Illinois state or
municipal authorities. There are no voice communications with overflights, and such
flights make no use of Illinois facilities, services, or employees. There exists no physical
contact between overflights and this state, nor any economic connection. We do not find
the mere possibility that an overflight will avail itself of services and facilities in this
state in the event of an unscheduled landing sufficient to establish a nexus.” Id. at 894.
¶ 22 Subsequent to the trial court’s determination, we issued Panhandle Eastern Pipeline Co.
v. Hamer, 2012 IL App (1st) 113559. In Panhandle, we considered the related issue of
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whether section 304(d)(2) included “flow-through” miles of natural gas in the numerator of
the apportionment factor. Id. ¶ 22. Section 304(d)(2) uses substantially similar language as
section 304(d)(1) to determine the apportionment factor:
“Such business derived from transportation by pipeline shall be apportioned to this State
by multiplying such income by a fraction, the numerator of which is the revenue miles
of the person in this State, and the denominator of which is the revenue miles of the
person everywhere. For the purposes of this paragraph, a revenue mile is the
transportation by pipeline of 1 barrel of oil, 1,000 cubic feet of gas, or of any specified
quantity of any other substance, the distance of 1 mile for a consideration.” (Emphasis
added.) 35 ILCS 5/304(d)(2) (West 2010).
The Department of Revenue argued flow-through gas miles were properly included in the
numerator of the apportionment factor, whereas Panhandle contended flow-through miles
were not “in this State” because the gas originated and terminated outside of Illinois.
Panhandle, 2012 IL App (1st) 113559 ¶ 26. Panhandle further argued “the word ‘in’ does
not mean ‘through,’ ” an argument which we stated “strains the natural meaning of the statute
and its legislative purpose.” Id. ¶¶ 30, 31. We concluded “ ‘in’ also relates to a presence or
existence. Though not confined to Illinois, plaintiffs’ pipelines and the gas are present and
exist in Illinois, as the flow-through miles transport natural gas by pipeline.” Id. ¶ 30.
¶ 23 The reviewing court also distinguished Northwest Airlines, as the pipeline had a physical
presence in Illinois whereas the airplanes, when flying over Illinois, made no physical contact
with the state. Id. ¶ 40. Panhandle conceded it had compressor stations within Illinois,
employed Illinois residents, and had permanent easements. Id. Due to the physical presence
of the pipeline itself, plaintiffs’ employees, and business operations in Illinois, we ultimately
concluded flow-through miles were properly included in the numerator of the apportionment
factor. Id. ¶ 41.4
¶ 24 At issue here is whether pass-through miles traveled on behalf of an interstate trucking
company in Illinois without picking up or delivering goods should be included in the
numerator of the apportionment factor of section 304(d)(1). The Department contends the
trial court erred in determining section 304(d)(1) of the Tax Act does not allow the
Department to tax pass-through miles because pass-through miles are revenue miles “in this
State.” 35 ILCS 5/304(d)(1) (West 2010). The Department argues “in this State” means
“miles within Illinois’s borders.” Therefore, the miles driven by plaintiff through Illinois
must be included in the numerator of the apportionment factor.
¶ 25 Plaintiff does not provide this court with a definition of “in this State.” Instead, plaintiff
asserts “in this State” cannot be interpreted without also examining its relationship to the
phrase “revenue miles.” Plaintiff maintains the trial court correctly determined section
304(d)(1) excluded pass-through miles because the plain language of the statute allows
taxation only of “revenue miles,” which the statute defines as “the transportation of 1
passenger or 1 net ton of freight the distance of 1 mile for a consideration.” 35 ILCS
4
We also analyzed whether the inclusion of flow-through miles violated the commerce clause
of the United States Constitution and determined it did not. Id. ¶ 55.
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5/304(d)(1) (West 2010). Therefore, when a truck passes through Illinois without picking up
or delivering passengers or freight, there is no consideration exchanged in Illinois and, thus,
it cannot be taxed on those miles.
¶ 26 Plaintiff attempts to distinguish pass-through miles from the flow-through miles that
were properly included in the numerator of the apportionment factor in Panhandle. Plaintiff
asserts flow-through miles are fixed in the land by pipelines and therefore the revenue
generating activity (transporting gas) is firmly located in Illinois. Plaintiff states, on the other
hand, pass-through miles are not fixed because plaintiff can decide whether or not to drive
through Illinois when transporting its customer’s goods.
¶ 27 We conclude plaintiff’s pass-through miles establish a physical and economic presence
in Illinois which must be taxed according to section 304(d)(1). Plaintiff’s contention, that
physical presence must be fixed within Illinois in order to be “in this State,” is found
nowhere in our case law. In fact, this court has previously determined the phrase “in this
State” is more broadly defined to include, not only being within Illinois borders, but also
having a presence or existence in Illinois. Panhandle, 2012 IL App (1st) 113559, ¶ 30. This
broad definition encompasses not only the facts in Panhandle, but also plaintiff whose trucks
and employees are physically present in the state as they pass-through the boundaries of
Illinois. Just as the pipeline in Panhandle travels through Illinois, plaintiff’s trucks travel
through Illinois on its roadways. This is true whether or not plaintiff is picking up or
delivering goods in Illinois. By utilizing the state’s infrastructure and roadways, plaintiff’s
property and employees are physically present in Illinois. Plaintiff is also conducting the
economic activity of providing shipping services involving travel through Illinois. Moreover,
the record demonstrates plaintiff alleged it paid Illinois fuel tax, which indicates plaintiff
engaged in additional economic activities with Illinois suppliers. This physical presence,
along with an economic connection, establishes plaintiff is “in the State.” See Panhandle,
2012 IL App (1st) 113559, ¶ 40.
¶ 28 Although the plaintiff is “in this State,” plaintiff contends pass-through miles cannot be
included in numerator of the apportionment factor because they are not miles generating
revenue in Illinois. Plaintiff asserts the statute defines “revenue miles” as those miles
traveled “for a consideration”; therefore, if there is no consideration exchanged in Illinois
those miles cannot be taxed. In other words, for Illinois to collect taxes on miles driven,
plaintiff must generate income from within Illinois. According to plaintiff, pass-through
miles do not generate income and, thus, should not be included in the numerator of the
apportionment factor.
¶ 29 As our supreme court has already determined, “the most fitting construction of section
304(d) would be to include all income earned from the business of furnishing transportation
services.” Texaco-Cities Service Pipeline Co., 182 Ill. 2d at 276. The statute does not state,
as plaintiff suggests, that revenue miles are conditioned on the taxpayer generating income
from people or entities within Illinois. The statute merely requires the miles be traveled “for
a consideration.” 35 ILCS 5/304(d)(1) (West 2010). The plain and ordinary meaning of
“consideration” is “[s]omething (such as an act, a forbearance, or a return promise) bargained
for and received by a promisor from a promisee; that which motivates a person to do
something, esp. to engage in a legal act.” Black’s Law Dictionary 347 (9th ed. 2009). When
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transporting goods plaintiff receives monetary compensation in exchange for its shipment
of those goods to a particular destination. In relation to plaintiff’s business, the monetary
compensation is the consideration. Thus, it follows, as long as plaintiff receives monetary
compensation for its shipping services, pass-through miles must be included in the numerator
of the apportionment factor because those miles were traveled in Illinois for a consideration.
¶ 30 Additional support for the inclusion of pass-through miles in section 304(d)(1) comes
from the purpose of the Tax Act itself. “The purpose of *** article 3 of the Illinois [Income
Tax] Act is to assure that 100%, and no more or no less, of the business income of a
corporation doing multistate business is taxed by the States having jurisdiction to tax it.”
GTE, 68 Ill. 2d at 335. In Panhandle we stated the legislative purpose of section 304(d) was
to allow “Illinois to collect its share of plaintiffs’ income tax under the apportionment
factor.” Panhandle, 2012 IL App (1st) 113559, ¶ 32. We determined not including flow-
through miles would create a gap in taxation and therefore would be contrary to the purpose
of the statute. See id. The Department similarly maintains the inclusion of pass-through miles
is necessary to avoid any gaps in taxation. We agree that this interpretation of the statute
accomplishes the legislative purpose of section 304(d).
¶ 31 Plaintiff further asserts the General Assembly’s addition of section 304(d)(3) indicates
pass-through miles were not intended to be included by the legislature in the apportionment
formula of section 304(d)(1).
¶ 32 In 2007, section 304(d) of the Tax Act was amended with the addition of a new
subsection which adopted a different method for determining the apportionment factor.5
Specifically, the apportionment calculation would no longer be based on revenue miles, but
instead on gross receipts. The relevant portion of section 304(d)(3) provides:
“For taxable years ending on or after December 31, 2008, business income derived from
providing transportation services other than airline services shall be apportioned to this
State by using a fraction, (a) the numerator of which shall be (i) all receipts from any
movement or shipment of people, goods, mail, oil, gas, or any other substance (other than
by airline) that both originates and terminates in this State, plus (ii) that portion of the
person’s gross receipts from movements or shipments of people, goods, mail, oil, gas,
or any other substance (other than by airline) that originates in one state or jurisdiction
and terminates in another state or jurisdiction, that is determined by the ratio that the
miles traveled in this State bears to total miles everywhere and (b) the denominator of
which shall be all revenue derived from the movement or shipment of people, goods,
mail, oil, gas, or any other substance (other than by airline).” 35 ILCS 5/304(d)(3) (West
2010).
¶ 33 Plaintiff contends the amendment of section 304(d) to expressly include pass-through
miles in the apportionment factor demonstrates the General Assembly did not intend for the
pre-existing version of section 304(d)(1) to include pass-through miles. We considered and
rejected an identical argument in Panhandle:
5
The statute was amended twice, the first amendment being effective August 16, 2007. The
second and current version was effective January 11, 2008.
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“While section 304(d)(3) clearly includes any flow-through miles as part of the
apportionment factor for tax years 2008 and later, it does not apply to the tax years at
issue in this case. Section 304(d)(3) sets forth a new calculation of the apportionment
factor. The apportionment factor no longer uses ‘revenue miles’ as the determining figure
for the apportionment factor, but instead calculates the apportionment factor based on
receipts. The legislature’s enactment of a new method for calculating the apportionment
factor, which expressly includes flow-through miles, does not mean that flow-through
miles could not have been included in the numerator under section 304(d)(2). Section
304(d)(3)’s formula for calculating the apportionment factor has no effect on our
construction of section 304(d)(2). Just because section 304(d)(3) specifically provides
for the inclusion of flow-through miles, it does not follow that section 304(d)(2)’s
apportionment factor excluded the miles.” Panhandle, 2012 IL App (1st) 113559, ¶ 36.
Just as we determined flow-through miles were included in section 304(d)(3) in Panhandle,
so too do the parties here admit section 304(d)(3) includes pass-through miles in the
numerator of the apportionment factor. As in Panhandle, section 304(d)(3) does not apply
to the present case because we are also addressing taxes assessed prior to 2008. As
previously noted, section 304(d)(2) and section 304(d)(1) use substantially similar language.
Accordingly, we will follow the conclusion of our colleagues in Panhandle and find the
addition of section 304(d)(3) does not preclude the inclusion of pass-through miles in section
304(d)(1). See id.
¶ 34 For these reasons, we conclude pass-through miles are “in this State,” as plaintiff’s trucks
and employees maintained a physical and economic presence while driving through Illinois.
¶ 35 II. Commerce Clause
¶ 36 On appeal plaintiff asks us to consider whether the inclusion of pass-through miles in the
numerator of the apportionment factor would violate the commerce clause of the United
States Constitution (U.S. Const., art. I, § 8, cl. 3). As plaintiff informed the trial court in a
footnote to its motion for summary determination, if the trial court ruled in its favor on the
issue of whether pass-through miles should be included in the numerator of the
apportionment factor, then the court need not consider the commerce clause issue.6 The trial
court, thus, did not address or determine this issue. Although the plaintiff mentioned this
contention in a paragraph of the complaint, plaintiff failed to allege a commerce clause
violation as a count. Additionally, neither party set forth any arguments regarding the
commerce clause violation during the hearing on the motion for summary determination.
Only on appeal did plaintiff fully address and argue that section 304(d)(1) violates the
commerce clause. In reply, the Department maintains we do not need to consider this issue,
6
This same footnote also stated the issue of whether plaintiff would be assessed tax penalties
would be moot if the trial court ruled in its favor. This issue was not addressed on appeal. Plaintiff
further failed to address count V of its complaint regarding the constitutionality of the Tax
Delinquency Amnesty Act (35 ILCS 735/3-1 et seq. (West 2010)) in the trial court and also on
appeal.
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as the trial court only addressed the statutory interpretation of section 304(d)(1).
¶ 37 “It has frequently been held that the theory upon which a case is tried in the lower court
cannot be changed on review, and that an issue not presented to or considered by the trial
court cannot be raised for the first time on review.” Kravis v. Smith Marine, Inc., 60 Ill. 2d
141, 147 (1975). This rule is applicable to constitutional issues. Forest Preserve District v.
First National Bank of Franklin Park, 2011 IL 110759, ¶ 27. Because of plaintiff’s failure
to sufficiently raise the issue in the trial court, this court declines to address it on appeal.
¶ 38 CONCLUSION
¶ 39 For the aforementioned reasons, we reverse the determination of the trial court. The
matter is remanded in accordance with this opinion.
¶ 40 Reversed and remanded.
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