TITLE 34.PUBLIC FINANCE

Part 1. COMPTROLLER OF PUBLIC ACCOUNTS

Chapter 3. TAX ADMINISTRATION

Subchapter F. MOTOR VEHICLE SALES TAX

34 TAC §3.73

The Comptroller of Public Accounts proposes an amendment to §3.73, concerning the qualification for and determination of fair market value deduction for replaced vehicles. This proposed amendment incorporates legislatives changes made by SB1125, 77th Legislative Session, 2001, and by HB3211, 76th Legislative Session, 1999, allowing lessors and renters to claim fair market value deductions for replaced vehicles that are owned by certain affiliated companies. This proposed amendment also makes clarification changes.

James LeBas, Chief Revenue Estimator, has determined that for the first five-year period the rule will be in effect, there will be no significant revenue impact on the state or units of local government.

Mr. LeBas also has determined that for each year of the first five years the rule is in effect, the public benefit anticipated as a result of enforcing the rule will be in (providing new information regarding tax responsibilities). This rule is proposed under the Tax Code, Title 2, and does not require a statement of fiscal implications for small businesses. There is no significant anticipated economic cost to individuals who are required to comply with the proposed rule.

Comments on the proposal may be submitted to Bryant K. Lomax, Manager, Tax Policy Division, P.O. Box 13528, Austin, Texas 78711.

This amendment is proposed under Tax Code, §111.002, which provides the comptroller with the authority to prescribe, adopt, and enforce rules relating to the administration and enforcement of the provisions of Tax Code, Title 2. Texas Administrative Code

The amendment implements Tax Code, §152.002.

§3.73.Qualifying for Fair Market Value Deduction and Determination of Fair Market Value for Replaced Vehicles.

(a) A person is engaged [ engaging ] in the business of selling, renting or leasing motor vehicles if [ when ] the person regularly and actively sells [ engages in selling ] motor vehicles as a primary function of his business and sells at least five different vehicles acquired for the exclusive purpose of resale and not for use within any given 12-month period, or regularly and actively rents [ engages in renting ] or leases motor vehicles [ leasing ], as defined by the Tax Code, §152.001, as a primary function of his business, and rents or leases at least five different motor vehicles in any given 12-month period.

(b) For purposes of computing motor vehicle sales tax, a person who is engaged [ engaging ] in the business of selling, renting , or leasing motor vehicles may deduct the fair market value of a replaced motor vehicle that is titled in Texas from the total consideration that is paid for a replacement motor vehicle.

(c) Determining the fair market value of a [ the ] replaced motor vehicle.

(1) If the [ The fair market value of a ] replaced motor vehicle is [ that has been ] sold before [ prior to ] the purchase of a replacement motor vehicle , then [ shall be ] the total consideration that is received from the sale of the replaced motor vehicle is the fair market value of the replaced motor vehicle .

(2) If [ The fair market value of ] the replaced motor vehicle is not [ that has not been ] sold before [ prior to ] the purchase of the replacement motor vehicle , then the fair market value of the replaced motor vehicle is the title owner's book value of that [ the ] motor vehicle [ on the title owner's books ] at the time the motor vehicle is retired from business or personal use, provided that the owner's book value is based on generally accepted accounting principles. If the comptroller [ Comptroller of Public Accounts ] determines that the title owner's book value is not based on generally accepted accounting principles, then the fair market value shall be the total purchase price of the vehicle, less depreciation , which is calculated by applying a [ at the rate of ] 2.0% rate per month for [ of ] the first 36 months following [ from ] the date of purchase , and then [ at a rate of ] a 1.0% rate per month for the remainder of the depreciable life of the vehicle.

(d) Deducting the fair market value of a replaced motor vehicle that is titled to another person.

(1) A lessor that is described in paragraph (2) of this subsection may deduct the fair market value of a replaced motor vehicle that has been leased for longer than 180 days and that is titled in Texas to another person, if the replaced motor vehicle is offered for sale and if either one of the following requirements is met:

(A) the lessor that wants to claim the fair market value deduction holds at least 80% beneficial ownership interest in the titled owner of the replaced vehicle, or the titled owner of the replaced vehicle holds at least 80% beneficial ownership interest in the lessor; or

(B) the lessor that wants to claim the fair market value deduction acquires all of its vehicles exclusively from franchised dealers whose franchisor shares common ownership with the titled owner of the replaced vehicle, or the titled owner of the replaced vehicle acquires all of its vehicles exclusively from franchised dealers whose franchisor shares common ownership with the lessor.

(2) The following lessors may qualify for fair market value deduction under paragraph (1) of this subsection:

(A) A lessor that holds a lessor license that the Motor Vehicle Board of the Texas Department of Transportation has issued under the Texas Motor Vehicle Commission Code, Article 4413(36);

(B) A lessor that is a state or federally chartered financial institution or a regulated subsidiary of a state or federally chartered financial institution;

(C) A lessor that holds a franchised dealer license that the Motor Vehicle Board of the Texas Department of Transportation has issued under the Texas Motor Vehicle Commission Code, Article 4413(36), and that is engaged in the business of leasing motor vehicles that the lessor is licensed to sell; or

(D) Any other lessor that is specifically not required to obtain a lessor license under Texas Motor Vehicle Commission Code, Article 4413(36), §4.01(a).

(3) A person who is in the business of renting motor vehicles for a period not to exceed 180 days under a single agreement and who holds a motor vehicle rental permit that is issued under Tax Code, §152.065, may deduct the fair market value of a replaced motor vehicle that is titled in Texas to another person if the replaced motor vehicle is offered for sale and if either one of the following requirements is met:

(A) the renter that wants to claim the fair market value deduction holds at least 80% beneficial ownership interest in the titled owner of the replaced vehicle, or the titled owner of the replaced vehicle holds at least 80% beneficial ownership interest in the renter; or

(B) the renter that wants to claim the fair market value deduction acquires all of its vehicles exclusively from franchised dealers whose franchisor shares common ownership with the titled owner of the replaced vehicle, or the titled owner of the replaced vehicle acquires all of its vehicles exclusively from franchised dealers whose franchisor shares common ownership with the renter.

(4) A lessor or rental company may not use the fair market value of a replaced motor vehicle to reduce total consideration paid for a replacement motor vehicle if the fair market value of that vehicle has been previously used by either the lessor or rental company or other entity.

This agency hereby certifies that the proposal has been reviewed by legal counsel and found to be within the agency's legal authority to adopt.

Filed with the Office of the Secretary of State on April 2, 2002.

TRD-200202093

Martin Cherry

Deputy General Counsel for Taxation

Comptroller of Public Accounts

Earliest possible date of adoption: May 19, 2002

For further information, please call: (512) 475-0387


Subchapter L. MOTOR FUEL TAX

34 TAC §3.199

(Editor's note: The text of the following section proposed for repeal will not be published. The section may be examined in the offices of the Comptroller of Public Accounts or in the Texas Register office, Room 245, James Earl Rudder Building, 1019 Brazos Street, Austin.)

The Comptroller of Public Accounts proposes the repeal of §3.199, concerning unregulated mixtures. This rule is being repealed because the authority for the administration and collection of the motor fuel testing fee was transferred from the comptroller to the Texas Department of Agriculture, effective May 22, 2001. The rule was previously necessary to describe the types of fuel that were excepted from motor fuel testing because the fuel types did not contain sufficient quantities of alcohol to warrant regulation.

James LeBas, Chief Revenue Estimator, has determined that repeal of the rule will not result in any fiscal implications to the state or to units of local government. Since the Comptroller of Public Accounts no longer has any administrative or collection authority regarding the motor fuel testing fee, the repeal of this rule will conform our rules to the statutes.

Mr. LeBas also has determined that there will be no cost or benefit to the public from the repeal of this rule. This repeal is proposed under the Tax Code, Title 2, and does not require a statement of fiscal implications for small businesses. There are no additional costs to persons who are required to comply with the repeal.

Comments on the repeal may be submitted to Bryant K. Lomax, Manager, Tax Policy Division, P.O. Box 13528, Austin, Texas 78711.

This repeal is proposed under Tax Code, §111.002 and §111.0022, which provides the comptroller with the authority to prescribe, adopt, and enforce rules relating to the administration and enforcement of the provisions of the Tax Code, Title 2, and taxes, fees, or other charges which the comptroller administers under other law.

The repeal implements Texas Civil Statutes, Title 132, Art. 8614, §9(b).

§3.199.Unregulated Mixtures.

This agency hereby certifies that the proposal has been reviewed by legal counsel and found to be within the agency's legal authority to adopt.

Filed with the Office of the Secretary of State on April 2, 2002.

TRD-200202064

Martin Cherry

Deputy General Counsel for Taxation

Comptroller of Public Accounts

Earliest possible date of adoption: May 19, 2002

For further information, please call: (512) 475-0387