Bravern Residential Ii, Llc v. Dept. Of Revenue, State Of Wa ( 2014 )

FILED
COURT OF APPEALS
DIVISION II
201[ 1 SEP 23 AM 9: 32
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF WASHII GTON
DIVISION II
BRAVERN RESIDENTIAL, II, LLC, No. 44730- 4- 11
Appellant,
v.
PUBLISHED OPINION
STATE OF WASHINGTON, DEPARTMENT
OF REVENUE,
Respondent.
MAxA, J. — Bravern Residential II, LLC (Bravern) appeals the trial court' s summary
judgment order dismissing its refund action against the Department of Revenue ( Department) for
retail sales and business and occupation ( B & O) taxes payable on construction services performed
by one of its members, PCL Construction Services, Inc., ( PCL) on property Bravern owned.
Under WAC 458 -20- 170( 2), a " speculative builder" – a contractor that builds on property it
owns – is not subject to retail sales and B &O taxes on its construction services. Bravern argues
that because PCL was one of its members, Bravern should be considered the entity performing
construction services and treated as a speculative builder. Bravern also argues that because PCL
received only credits to its capital account in exchange for its construction services, the tax
exemption in WAC 458 -20 -106 for the transfer of capital assets applies.
We hold that ( 1) Bravern was not a speculative builder under WAC 458- 20- 170( 2)( b)
because PCL acting as a separate entity, and not Bravern, performed the construction services;
and ( 2) the exemption in WAC 458 -20 -106 for transfers of capital assets is inapplicable because
the asset transferred to Bravern – PCL' s construction services – was not a capital asset.
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Accordingly, we affirm the trial court' s summary judgment dismissal of Bravern' s tax refund
action.
FACTS
Bravern is a limited liability company ( LLC) formed in 2007 for the purpose of building
a residential condominium tower known as Signature Residences at The Bravern, Tower 4 on
land Bravern owned in Bellevue. Bravern had two members: Bravern Residential Mezz II, LLC
BRM), a real estate development company, and PCL, a real estate construction company. BRM
had a 99 percent ownership interest in Bravern, and PCL had a one percent ownership interest.
BRM was the managing member and retained control over Bravern' s management.
The Bravern LLC operating agreement obligated BRM to transfer title to land for the
development to Bravern and obligated PCL to contribute construction services and materials
pursuant to an attached " services addendum." Clerk' s Papers ( CP) at 60. The services
addendum provided that PCL would perform and manage all of the work related to the
construction of Tower 4 in exchange for credits to its Bravern capital account. These capital
account credits would equal PCL' s cost of work and service overhead, not to exceed
116, 226, 428. In order to obtain the credits, the services addendum authorized PCL to submit
periodic statements to Bravern setting forth the value of PCL' s activities.
The operating agreement contemplated regular capital account distributions, from Bravern
to PCL. If PCL' s capital account exceeded one percent of the total capital contributions to
Bravern, then Bravern was allowed to make a distribution from PCL' s capital account to PCL in
an amount necessary to cause PCL' s capital account to return to one percent. Although Bravern
technically had discretion in making these distributions, the operating agreement penalized
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Bravern and BRM if Bravern did not make monthly capital account distributions to PCL. The
operating agreement provided that if PCL' s capital account balance exceeded one percent of
Bravern' s total unreturned capital for more than 20 days, the excess would accrue at a preferred
return rate of "prime plus 2. 5% per annum." CP at 63. In addition, if PCL' s capital account
exceeded two percent for more than 15 days, PCL could require BRM to purchase PCL' s entire
interest in Bravern at a specified price unless PCL received a capital account distribution within
30 days. Bravern had the funds to make capital account distributions to PCL because the
operating agreement required BRM to contribute cash to Bravern when necessary to enable
Bravern to pay its expenses.
After construction began on Tower 4, PCL submitted to Bravern monthly statements
showing the value of its construction services. That value then was credited to PCL' s capital
account. The value of these services totaled over $ 121 million by the end of the project. PCL
then received monthly capital account distributions from Bravern for the construction activity
associated with each billing statement. Bravern never allowed PCL' s capital account to exceed
one percent of Bravern' s total capital contributions, so application of the preferred return clause
was never triggered. A few months after completing construction, PCL assigned its interest in
Bravern to BRM. PCL never received any distribution of profits from Bravern.
In August 2007, Bravern requested confirmation from the Department that Bravern
would be treated as a " speculative builder" under WAC 458- 20- 170( 2)( a), which would allow it
to avoid paying retail sales or B &O taxes on PCL' s construction services. In February 2008, the
Department issued a letter ruling denying Bravern' s request, determining that Bravern was not a
speculative builder. Bravern appealed the Department' s denial of its ruling request to the
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Department' s Appeals Division. The Appeals Division denied the appeal and upheld the
Department' s reasoning in its ruling denying speculative builder status to Bravern.
Because there is no mechanism for direct judicial review of the Department' s denial of a
ruling request,' Bravern paid $ 107, 842. 10 in taxes on $ 1, 135, 180 in services PCL provided for
the month of June 2009.2 Bravern then filed an action in superior court for a refund of those
taxes.3 Bravern moved for summary judgment, arguing that because PCL was a member of
Bravern, Bravern had constructed Tower 4 on its own land and therefore was a speculative
builder in accordance with the Department' s published construction guidelines for joint ventures.
The Department also moved for summary judgment, arguing that Bravern was required to pay
taxes on the services PCL performed because PCL had constructed Tower 4 on Bravern' s
property, and therefore was engaged in making a retail sale. The Department further argued that
Bravern was not a speculative builder because PCL received compensation for its services
independent of any right to Bravern' s profits. Alternatively, the Department argued that Bravern
was not entitled to a refund because RCW 82. 32. 655 specifically prohibited the type of tax
avoidance transactions in which Bravern was engaged.
The trial court granted the Department' s summary judgment motion and denied
Bravern' s motion. Bravern appeals.
1 Booker Auction Co. v. Dep' t ofRevenue, 158 Wash. App. 84, 88 -89, 241 P.3d 439 ( 2010).
2
It is unclear whether this amount was for retail sales taxes or B & O taxes, or both. If not a
speculative builder, as the purchaser of services Bravern would be required to pay retail sales
taxes. As the provider of services, PCL and not Bravern would have the obligation to pay B & O
taxes.
3 Bravern' s potential tax liability for the entire project was significantly higher.
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ANALYSIS
A. STANDARD OF REVIEW
We review a trial court' s order granting summary judgment de novo. In re the Estate of
Bracken, 175 Wash. 2d 549, 562, 290 P.3d 99 ( 2012). Summary judgment is appropriate where,
viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the nonmoving party, there is no genuine
issue of material fact and the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. Loeffelholz
v. Univ. of Wash., 175 Wash. 2d 264, 271, 285 P.3d 854 ( 2012). Here, the parties do not dispute
the material facts. Accordingly, the issue before us is whether the trial court correctly
determined that Bravern was not entitled to a tax refund, a question of law we review de novo.
Bracken, 175 Wash. 2d at 562.
To establish that a taxpayer is entitled to a refund, the taxpayer must prove that the tax
paid was incorrect and prove the correct amount of tax. RCW 82. 32. 180. In order to determine
whether the tax paid here was correct, we must interpret the applicable statutes and Department
regulations regarding speculative builders, which are questions of law we review de novo.
Skinner v. Civil Serv. Comm' n, 168 Wash. 2d 845, 849, 232 P.3d 558 ( 2010).
B. REQUIREMENTS FOR " SPECULATIVE BUILDER" STATUS
1. Statutory Framework
The State of Washington imposes a tax on the selling price of retail sales in the state,
Former RCW 82. 08. 020( 1) ( 2010); RCW 82. 08. 050( 1). Washington
payable by the purchaser.
also imposes a B & O tax on the gross proceeds of retail sales in the state, payable by the business
owner. Former RCW 82. 04. 250( 1) ( 2010). For both taxes, a " retail sale" includes tangible
personal property consumed and services rendered in constructing buildings on real property for
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consumers. Former RCW 82. 04. 050( 2)( b) ( 2010); former RCW 82. 08. 010( 1)( a) ( 2010),
recodified as RCW 82. 08. 010( 1)( a)( i); Dep' t of Revenue v. Nord Nw. Corp., 164 Wash. App. 215,
224, 264 P.3d 259 ( 2011), review denied, 173 Wash. 2d 1019 ( 2012).
A contractor constructing a building on real property owned by a consumer is a " prime
contractor" under WAC 458- 20- 170( 1)( a). A "consumer" includes a " person who is an owner,
lessee or has the right of possession to or an easement in real property which is being
constructed, repaired, decorated, improved, or otherwise altered by a person engaged in
business." Former RCW 82. 04. 190( 4) ( 2010). The prime contractor is a seller of services, and
under former RCW 82. 08. 020( 1)( c) the consumer property owner must pay retail sales tax on the
amount charged for those services. Under former RCW 82. 04. 250( 1) the prime contractor also
must pay B & O taxes measured by the gross proceeds of the sale of its services.
In contrast, a contractor constructing a building on real property it owns is not required to
pay retail sales or B & O taxes. WAC 458- 20- 170( 2)( b). WAC 458- 20- 170( 2)( a) calls such a
person a " speculative builder." A speculative builder is not required to pay these taxes on the
value of its construction services because it is not engaged in a retail sale. See Nord, 164 Wn.
App. at 225. Although speculative builders are not required to pay retail sales tax on the value of
their construction services, they " must pay sales tax upon all materials purchased by them and on
all charges made by their subcontractors." WAC 458- 20- 170( 2)( e).
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2. Regulatory Interpretation
A determination of whether Bravern was a speculative builder requires interpretation of
WAC 458 -20 -170. When interpreting a regulation, we follow the same rules we use to interpret
a statute. Tesoro Ref. & Mktg. Co. v. Dep' t ofRevenue, 164 Wash. 2d 310, 322, 189 P.3d 28
2008). As with statutory interpretation, where a regulation is clear and unambiguous we must
give effect to that plain meaning. Overlake Hosp. Ass 'n v. Dep 't ofHealth, 170 Wash. 2d 43, 52,
239 P.3d 1095 ( 2010). In ascertaining a regulation' s plain meaning, we also consider the context
in which the regulation appears, related regulations and statutes, and the statutory scheme of
which the regulation is a part. TracFone Wireless, Inc. v. Dep' t ofRevenue, 170 Wash. 2d 273,
281, 242 P.3d 810 ( 2010). We also interpret a regulation in a manner that gives effect to all its
language without rendering any part superfluous. Grays Harbor Energy, LLC v. Grays Harbor
County, 175 Wn. App. 578, 585, 307 P.3d 754 ( 2013). If a statute is ambiguous, we may apply
rules of statutory construction and look to other sources to discern legislative intent. Overlake
Hosp. Ass' n, 170 Wash. 2d at 52.
While `the ultimate authority' for determining a statute' s meaning remains with the
court, considerable deference will be given to the interpretation made by the agency charged
with enforcing the statute." Nord, 164 Wn. App. at 229 ( quoting S. Martinelli & Co. v. Dep' t of
Revenue, 80 Wn. App. 930, 937, 912 P.2d 521 ( 1996)). " Our paramount concern is to ensure
that the regulation is interpreted in a manner that is consistent with the underlying policy of the
statute." Overlake Hosp. Ass 'n, 170 Wash. 2d at 52.
Finally, we must find that a tax applies unless the legislature has expressed a clear intent
to provide an exemption. TracFone, 170 Wash. 2d at 296 -97. Tax exemptions may not be created
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by implication. TracFone, 170 Wash. 2d at 297. And we construe tax exemptions narrowly.
HomeStreet, Inc. v. Dep' t ofRevenue, 166 Wash. 2d 444, 455, 210 P.3d 297 ( 2009).
3. Bravern Did Not Perform Construction Services
WAC 458- 20- 170( 2)( a) defines a speculative builder as " one who constructs buildings
for sale or rental upon real estate owned by him." Bravern was not a contractor and performed
no construction services. However, Bravern argues that because PCL was one of its members,
the construction work PCL performed technically was performed by Bravern. Therefore,
Bravern claims that it was " one who constructs buildings" as required for speculative builder
status under WAC 458- 20- 170( 2)( a). We disagree for three reasons.
First, the Bravern operating documents show that PCL performed the construction work
as a separate entity from Bravern. The operating agreement required PCL, not Bravern, to
perform construction services. Further, the services addendum provided that PCL would receive
compensation from Bravern in the form of capital account credits and capital account
distributions for these construction services. These documents set up a thinly veiled sale of
services. PCL submitted to Bravern monthly statements showing the value of construction
services performed ( progress billing statements). PCL then received monthly capital account
distributions from Bravern (payment for those services) in return. If Bravern had been
performing the work, PCL' s only payment would have been through Bravern' s profits on the
project. But there is no indication that the capital account payments were tied to Bravern' s
profits, and PCL actually did not receive any profit distributions from the project.
Second, Washington law treats a member of an LLC as a separate person from the LLC
entity itself. Nord, 164 Wash. App. at 230. This concept is reflected in RCW 25. 15. 070( 2)( c),
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which provides that an LLC is a separate legal entity. Similarly, the court in Nord emphasized
the " well established legal principle that a business entity is a distinct, separate ` person' from its
owners." Nord, 164 Wash. App. at 230. Because PCL and Bravern are separate entities, Bravern
cannot be treated as the entity performing the construction services that PCL actually performed.
Third, WAC 458- 20- 170( 2)( f)provides that a joint venture performing construction on
land owned by a co- venturer is not a speculative builder because it is constructing upon land
owned by others.4 The present situation is different: PCL (the member) performed, construction
services on property owned by Bravern ( the LLC). However, based on the principle stated above
that the owners of an LLC are separate from the LLC entity, WAC 458- 20- 170( 2)( f)must be
applied to this situation as well. See Nord, 164 Wash. App. at 220, 229 -30 ( holding that an LLC
member building on property owned by the LLC was not a speculative builder because the
member and the LLC were separate entities). As a result, under the terms of WAC 458- 20 -
170( 2)( f) Bravern was not a speculative builder because its member PCL was constructing on
property Bravern owned.
Based on a plain reading of WAC 458- 20- 170( 2)( a) and ( f), Bravern was not a
speculative builder because one of its members as a separate entity, and not Bravern itself,
4
WAC 458- 20- 170( 2)( f) provides: " Persons, including corporations, partnerships, sole
proprietorships, and joint ventures, among others, who perform construction upon land owned by
their corporate officers, .
shareholders, partners, owners, co- venturers, etc., are constructing upon
land owned by others and are taxable as sellers under this rule, not as ` speculative .builders.' "
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performed the construction services on Bravern' s property. Accordingly, we hold that the trial
court did not err in dismissing Bravern' s tax refund action.
4. Department Construction Guidelines
Bravern argues that its claim to speculative builder status was supported by ( 1) the
Department' s construction guidelines, ( 2) previous Department determinations regarding
speculative builders, and ( 3) previous letter rulings from the Department regarding other entities.
These documents are immaterial because then cannot contradict the plain language of WAC 458-
20- 170( 2), upon which we base our conclusion that Bravern was not a speculative builder. See
Overlake Hosp. Ass 'n, 170 Wash. 2d at 52. Therefore, we need not consider these arguments.
However, because agency interpretations may be relevant in interpreting regulations, we will
address the Department' s construction guidelines.
The Department' s construction guidelines upon which Bravern relies provide:
If construction services are performed by a member [of a joint venture] as a separate
entity on land owned by one of the other entities ( the joint venture entity or
landowner), the construction services are taxable as custom prime contracting. The
contractor must collect retail sales tax on the full contract price (labor and materials)
from the landowner. This is true even if the contractor is a member of the joint
venture.
When a joint venture owns the land and the contractor performs construction
services as a member of the joint venture (versus a separate entity), the joint venture
is a speculative builder. In this case, the work performed by the contractor is a
contribution to the capital of the joint The joint venture entity must pay
venture.
retail sales tax or use tax on materials purchased or produced for incorporation into
the real estate.
5 For the same reasons, PCL was not a speculative builder. Although PCL performed
construction services, those services were performed on property owned by Bravern —a separate
entity.
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To be treated as a speculative builder, a joint venture entity must actually exist and
the joint venture entity must own the land and perform the construction itself.
Where a member is guaranteed a fixed amount as compensation for construction
services independent of any right to profit or gain, such amount is taxable as custom
prime contracting.
CP at 488.
The first three paragraphs of these guidelines are consistent with our analysis. If a
member of a joint venture performs construction services as a separate entity rather than as a
joint venture member, the transaction is taxable " even if the contractor is a member of the joint
venture." CP at 488. The guidelines state that to qualify as a speculative builder, the joint
venture must " perform the construction itself." CP at 488. We concluded above that Bravern
was not a speculative builder because PCL was performing construction services as a separate
entity from Bravern and because PCL, not Bravern, was performing the construction. The
guidelines support this conclusion.
Further, the fourth quoted paragraph contains an independent rule: construction services
are taxable if the member contractor is " guaranteed a fixed amount as compensation for
construction services independent of any right to profit or gain." CP at 488. Here, Bravern relies
on the operating agreement provision stating: " No Member shall be entitled to any guaranteed
payment from the Company." CP at 64. But Bravern' s operating agreement and services
addendum provided that in exchange for PCL performing the construction work, PCL would
receive a credit to its capital account in the amount of the cost of the work. Further, the
agreement was structured so that Bravern essentially had no choice but to make regular cash
distributions to PCL from that capital account as construction progressed and PCL did receive
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distributions totaling over $ 121 million. Finally, these payments clearly had no connection with
any profits from the project, which would not even begin to accrue until construction was
complete and PCL received full payment for its work.
Despite the form of the operating agreement — stating that no payments were guaranteed
there is no question that in substance the agreement ensured that PCL would receive full
compensation for its construction services regardless of whether the project made any profit. As
a result, the fourth paragraph of the construction guidelines also does not support a finding that
Bravern was a speculative builder.
5. Application of RCW 82. 32. 655
As an alternative ground for denying the tax refund, the Department argues that RCW
82. 32. 655 specifically prohibits the type of "tax avoidance transactions" in which Bravern was
engaged. Because we hold that Bravern is not a speculative builder and is required to pay B & O
and sales taxes on PCL' s construction services, we need not address this issue.
C. CAPITAL ACCOUNT CREDITS SUBJECT TO TAX
Bravern also claims that its transactions with PCL were not subject to B & O and retail
sales taxes under WAC 458 -20 -106. Bravern argues that because PCL contributed services only
in exchange for credits to its capital account, there was no " sale" of services and therefore the
activity was not subject to tax.6 We disagree.
A contractor performing retail construction must pay B & O tax on the gross proceeds
from the sale, which is the " value proceeding or accruing from the sale" of the construction
6 As noted above, Bravern would only have been obligated to pay retail sales tax on these
transactions. PCL would have been obligated to pay B & O tax.
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services. RCW 82. 04. 070. This includes " the consideration, whether money, credits, rights, or
other property expressed in terms of money, actually received or accrued." RCW 82. 04. 090
emphasis added). Similarly, for retail sales tax the " sales price" means the " total amount of
consideration ... including cash, credit, property, and services." Former RCW 82. 08. 010( 1)( a)
emphasis added). Here, PCL received Bravern capital account credits in exchange for its
construction services. Under the plain language of RCW 82. 04. 090, these credits constituted the
value proceeding or accruing" from the sale of those services, which under RCW
82. 08. 010( 1)( a) constituted compensation for PCL' s services. Therefore, these credits were
subject to B & O tax and retail sales tax.
Bravern nevertheless argues that under WAC 458 -20 -106, PCL' s capital account credits
taxable.
were non - WAC 458 -20 -106 provides that "[ a] transfer of capital assets to or by a
business is deemed not taxable to the extent the transfer is accomplished through an adjustment
of the beneficial interest in the business." This includes transfers of "capital assets to a
partnership or joint venture in exchange for an interest in the partnership or joint venture; or by a
partnership or joint venture to its members in exchange for a proportional reduction of the
transferee' s interest in the partnership or joint venture." WAC 458 -20 -106.
But this regulation requires the transfer of "capital assets." WAC 458 -20 -106. Our
Supreme Court has defined a " capital asset" for purposes of this regulation to be " something that
is held only for use — a device or article kept, maintained, employed and utilized in the conduct
and operation of the business." Budget Rent - -Car v. Dep' t ofRevenue, 81 Wash. 2d 171, 176, 500
A
P. 2d 764 ( 1972) ( emphasis omitted). PCL' s compensation may have been in the form of a
capital account credit, but the transfer subject to taxation was PCL' s provision of construction
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services to Bravern. There is no indication that construction services constitute a capital asset for
purposes of WAC 458 -20 -106. As a result, WAC 458 -20 -106 does not apply to the transfer of
those construction services from PCL to Bravern.
We affirm.
We concur:
LSE, J.
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