§ 44-14-14.4. Property factor. (a) General. The property factor is a fraction, the numerator of which is the average value of real property and tangible personal property rented to the taxpayer that is located or used within this state during the taxable year, the average value of the taxpayer's real and tangible personal property owned that is located or used within this state during the taxable year, and the average value of the taxpayer's loans and credit card receivables that are located within this state during the taxable year, and the denominator of which is the average value of all the property located or used within and outside of this state during the taxable year.

(b) Property included. The property factor shall include only property the income or expenses of which are included (or would have been included if not fully depreciated or expensed, or depreciated or expensed to a nominal amount) in the computation of the apportionable income base for the taxable year.

(c) Value of property owned by the taxpayer.

(1) The value of real property and tangible personal property owned by the taxpayer is the original cost or other basis of the property for federal income tax purposes without regard to depletion, depreciation or amortization.

(2) Loans are valued at their outstanding principal balance, without regard to any reserve for bad debts. If a loan is charged-off in whole or in part for federal income tax purposes, the portion of the loan charged-off is not outstanding. A specifically allocated reserve established pursuant to regulatory or financial guideline which is treated as charged-off for federal income tax purposes shall be treated as charged-off for purposes of §§ 44-14-14.1 - 44-14-14.5.

(3) Credit card receivables are valued at their outstanding principal balance, without regard to any reserve for bad debts. If a credit card receivable is charged-off in whole or in part for federal income tax purposes. The portion of the receivable charged-off is not outstanding.

(d) Average value of property owned by the taxpayer. The average value of property owned by the taxpayer is computed on an annual basis by adding the value of the property on the first day of the taxable year and the value on the last day of the taxable year and dividing the sum by two. If averaging on this basis does not properly reflect average value, the tax administrator may require averaging on a more frequent basis. When averaging on a more frequent basis is required by the tax administrator or is elected by the taxpayer, the same method of valuation must be used consistently by the taxpayer with respect to property within and outside of this state and on all subsequent returns unless the taxpayer receives prior permission from the tax administrator or the tax administrator requires a different method of determining average value.

(e) Average value of real property and tangible personal property rented to taxpayer.

(1) The average value of real property and tangible personal property that the taxpayer has rented from another and which is not treated as property owned by the taxpayer for federal income tax purposes, shall be determined annually by multiplying the gross rents payable during the taxable year by eight.

(2) Where the use of the general method described in this subsection results in inaccurate valuations of rented property, any other method, which properly reflects the value may be adopted by the tax administrator or by the taxpayer when approved, in writing, by the administrator. Once approved, this other method of valuation must be used on all subsequent returns unless the taxpayer receives prior approval from the tax administrator or the tax administrator requires a different method of valuation.

(f) Location of real property and tangible personal property owned by or rented to the taxpayer.

(1) Except as described in subdivision (2) of this subsection, real property and tangible personal property owned by or rented to the taxpayer is considered to be located within this state if it is physically located, situated or used within this state.

(2) Transportation property is included in the numerator of the property factor to the extent that the property is used in this state. The extent an aircraft will be deemed to be used in this state and the amount of value that is to be included in the numerator of this state's property factor is determined by multiplying the average value of the aircraft by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of landings of the aircraft in this state and the denominator of which is the total number of landings of the aircraft everywhere. If the extent of the use of any transportation property within this state cannot be determined, then the property will be deemed to be used wholly in the state in which the property has its principal base of operations. A motor vehicle will be deemed to be used wholly in the state in which it is registered.

(g) Location of loans.

(1)(i) A loan is considered to be located within this state if it is properly assigned to a regular place of business of the taxpayer within this state.

(ii) A loan is properly assigned to the regular place of business with which it has a preponderance of substantive contacts. A loan assigned by the taxpayer to a regular place of business outside of the state shall be presumed to have been properly assigned if:

(A) The taxpayer has assigned, in the regular course of its business, this loan on its records to a regular place of business consistent with federal or state regulatory requirements;

(B) The assignment on its records is based upon substantive contacts of the loan to the regular place of business; and

(C) The taxpayer uses the records reflecting assignment of loans for the filing of all state and local tax returns for which an assignment of loans to a regular place of business is required.

(iii) The presumption of proper assignment of a loan provided in subparagraph (ii)(B) of this subdivision may be rebutted upon a showing by the tax administrator, supported by a preponderance of the evidence, that the preponderance of substantive contacts regarding the loan did not occur at the regular place of business to which it was assigned on the taxpayer's records. When the presumption has been rebutted, the loan shall then be located within this state if:

(A) The taxpayer had a regular place of business within this state at the time the loan was made; and

(B) The taxpayer fails to show, by a preponderance of the evidence, that the preponderance of substantive contacts regarding the loan did not occur within this state.

(2) In the case of a loan which is assigned by the taxpayer to a place outside of this state which is not a regular place of business, it shall be presumed, subject to rebuttal by the taxpayer on a showing supported by the preponderance of evidence, that the preponderance of substantive contacts regarding the loan occurred within this state if, at the time the loan was made, the taxpayer's commercial domicile, as defined by § 44-14-14.2(c) was within this state.

(3) To determine the state in which the preponderance of substantive contacts relating to a loan have occurred, the facts and circumstances regarding the loan at issue shall be reviewed on a case-by-case basis and consideration shall be given to the activities as the solicitation, investigation, negotiation, approval and administration of the loan. The terms "solicitation", "investigation", "negotiation", "approval", and "administration" are defined as follows:

(i) Solicitation. Solicitation is either active or passive. Active solicitation occurs when an employee of the taxpayer initiates the contact with the customer. The activity is located at the regular place of business with which the taxpayer's employee is regularly connected or working out of, regardless of where the services of the employee were actually performed. Passive solicitation occurs when the customer initiates the contact with the taxpayer. If the customer's initial contact was not at a regular place of business of the taxpayer, the regular place of business, if any, where the passive solicitation occurred is determined by the facts in each case.

(ii) Investigation. Investigation is the procedure where employees of the taxpayer determine the credit-worthiness of the customer as well as the degree of risk involved in making a particular agreement. The activity is located at the regular place of business with which the taxpayer's employees are regularly connected or working out of, regardless of where the services of the employees were actually performed.

(iii) Negotiation. Negotiation is the procedure where employees of the taxpayer and its customer determine the terms of the agreement (e.g., the amount, duration, interest rate, frequency of repayment, currency denomination and security required). The activity is located at the regular place of business with which the taxpayer's employees are regularly connected or working out of, regardless of where the services of the employees were actually performed.

(iv) Approval. Approval is the procedure where employees or the board of directors of the taxpayer make the final determination whether to enter into the agreement. The activity is located at the regular place of business with which the taxpayer's employees are regularly connected or working out of, regardless of where the services of the employees were actually performed. If the board of directors makes the final determination, the activity is located at the commercial domicile of the taxpayer.

(v) Administration. Administration is the process of managing the account. This process includes bookkeeping, collecting the payments, corresponding with the customer, reporting to management regarding the status of the agreement and proceeding against the borrower or the security interest if the borrower is in default. The activity is located at the regular place of business that oversees this activity.

(h) Location of credit card receivables. For purposes of determining the location of credit card receivables, credit card receivables shall be treated as loans and shall be subject to the provisions of subsection (g) of this section.

(i) Period for which property assigned loan remains assigned. A loan that has been properly assigned to a state shall, absent any change of material fact, remain assigned to the state for the length of the original term of the loan. Thereafter, the loan may be properly assigned to another state if the loan has a preponderance of substantive contact to a regular place of business there.

History of Section. (P.L. 1995, ch. 370, art. 34, § 5.)