Taxpayer permitted to correct fatal mistake by retroactively making consolidated election for Ohio commercial activity tax and excluding intercompany receipts from tax.

Tax increase, decrease

The Ohio Board of Tax Appeals recently allowed a taxpayer to retroactively elect to be taxed as a consolidated taxpayer for Ohio commercial activity tax, even after an audit had commenced. Nissan North America, Inc. v. McClain, Ohio BTA Case No. 2016-1076 (October 9, 2019). Even though Nissan failed to elect consolidated status when it first filed CAT returns, the substance of Nissan’s returns established its obvious intent to file on a consolidated basis. Thus, the Board found that it was unreasonable for the Tax Commissioner to deny Nissan’s request to retroactively apply its consolidated election to the audit period under the applicable statutes and regulations. As illustrated in this case, a consolidated election is essential for commonly-owned taxpayer groups with significant intercompany transactions.

The issues arose out of an audit of Nissan’s CAT returns from 2009-2011 and refund request for the same period. Nissan engaged in complex leasing and securitization transactions through various affiliates, such as Nissan Infiniti Lease Trust (NILT) and Nissan Motor Acceptance Corp. (NMAC). Since a consolidated election had not been filed, the Tax Commissioner treated gross receipts from related parties as taxable during the audit. The Commissioner’s position was that a taxpayer could not make a retroactive consolidated election after commencement of an audit.

However, the Tax Commissioner’s administrative rule did not prohibit a retroactive consolidated election even after the taxpayer was notified of an audit. OAC 5703-29-04. Further, Nissan had filed its returns consistent with having made a consolidated election. The Board held that Nissan had the right to correct the mistake and, therefore, the Tax Commissioner abused his discretion by not allowing the retroactive election.

This pro-taxpayer ruling may create refund opportunities for taxpayers assessed CAT on intercompany transactions from mistakenly failing to make a consolidated election. If you have questions about consolidated election for commonly-owned taxpayers and Ohio’s Commercial Activity Tax, do not hesitate to contact us.

Attorney Steven A. Dimengo is Managing Partner of Buckingham, Doolittle & Burroughs, LLC. He helps clients with complicated tax challenges including Ohio sales/use, income, commercial activity and federal taxes and has represented clients before the Ohio Supreme Court. Steve can be reach at [email protected] or 330.258.6460.

Richard B. Fry III is a partner and Buckingham’s Taxation Practice Group Chair. He focuses on state and local tax compliance and controversies, including Ohio and multistate sales/use tax, commercial activity tax, and personal income tax issues. Rich can be reached at [email protected] or 330.258.6423

About Buckingham, Doolittle & Burroughs:

Buckingham, Doolittle & Burroughs, LLC is a corporate law firm that counsels middle-market executives and business leaders all over Ohio and beyond. With offices in Canton, Akron, and Cleveland, Buckingham offers clients Business Law Reimagined through sophisticated and practical legal services. Serving the region for more than 100 years, Buckingham’s mission is to deliver meaningful experiences through the practice of law, exceed expectations in terms of service, counsel and business sense, and to offer continuous value to the industries, communities and clients they serve. For more information, news and updates, visit bdblaw.com.

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