Ala. Admin. Code r. 810-27-1-.18.05
Current through Register Vol. 43, No. 1, October 31, 2024
Section 810-27-1-.18.05 - Special Rules: Television And Radio The following special rules are established in respect to the apportionment of income from television and radio broadcasting by a broadcaster that is taxable both in Alabama and in one or more other states.
(1) In General. When a person in the business of broadcasting film or radio programming, whether through the public airwaves, by cable, direct or indirect satellite transmission or any other means of communication, either through a network (including owned and affiliated stations) or through an affiliated, unaffiliated or independent television or radio broadcasting station, has income from sources both within and without Alabama, the amount of business income from sources within Alabama shall be determined pursuant to §§ 40-27-1, and 40-27-1.1, Code of Ala. 1975, and the rules promulgated thereunder by Alabama, except as modified by this rule.(2) Business and Nonbusiness Income. For definitions, rules and examples for determining whether income shall be classified as "business" or "nonbusiness" income, see Rule 810-27-1-.01. Business income is determined in accordance with § 40-27-1.1, Code of Ala. 1975.(3) Definitions. The following definitions are applicable to the terms contained in this rule, unless the context clearly requires otherwise.(a) "Film" or "film programming" means any and all performances, events or productions telecast on television, including but not limited to news, sporting events, plays, stories or other literary, commercial, educational or artistic works, through the use of video tape, disc or any other type of format or medium. 1. Each episode of a series of films produced for television shall constitute a separate "film" notwithstanding that the series relates to the same principal subject and is produced during one or more tax periods.(b) "Outer-jurisdictional" property means certain types of tangible personal property, such as orbiting satellites, undersea transmission cables and the like, that are owned or rented by the taxpayer and used in the business of telecasting or broadcasting, but which are not physically located in any particular state.(c) "Radio" or "radio programming" means any and all performances, events or productions broadcast on radio, including but not limited to news, sporting events, plays, stories or other literary, commercial, educational or artistic works, through the use of an audio tape, disc or any other format or medium. 1. Each episode of a series of radio programming produced for radio broadcast shall constitute a separate "radio programming" notwithstanding that the series relates to the same principal subject and is produced during one or more tax periods.(d) "Release" or "in release" means the placing of film or radio programming into service. A film or radio program is placed into service when it is first broadcast to the primary audience for which the program was created. Thus, for example, a film is placed in service when it is first publicly telecast for entertainment, educational, commercial, artistic or other purpose. Each episode of a television or radio series is placed in service when it is first broadcast. A program is not placed in service merely because it is completed and therefore in a condition or state of readiness and availability for broadcast or, merely because it is previewed to prospective sponsors or purchasers.(e) "Rent" shall include license fees or other payments or consideration provided in exchange for the broadcast or other use of television or radio programming.(f) A "subscriber" to a cable television system is the individual residence or other outlet which is the ultimate recipient of the transmission.(g) "Telecast" or "broadcast" (sometimes used interchangeably with respect to television) means the transmission of television or radio programming, respectively, by an electronic or other signal conducted by radio waves or microwaves or by wires, lines, coaxial cables, wave guides, fiber optics, satellite transmissions directly or indirectly to viewers and listeners or by any other means of communications.(4) Apportionment of Business Income. (a) In General. Business income is apportioned to Alabama in accordance with the calculation provided in § 40-27-1, Code of Ala. 1975, and Rule 810-27-1-.09. The apportionment percentage is then applied to business income to determine the amount apportioned to Alabama. 1. For tax periods beginning on or after January 1, 2021, the property factor and the payroll factor are no longer considered in calculating a taxpayer's Alabama apportionment factor.2. The industry specific definitions and guidance provided in this rule for property and payroll are applicable for tax periods beginning on or after January 1, 2021, when: (i) A taxpayer petitions and is granted approval from the department to employ an alternative apportionment method in accordance with 40-27-1, Code of Ala. 1975.(ii) Measuring against nexus thresholds pursuant to § 40-18-31.2, Code of Ala. 1975. (b) The Property Factor. For tax years prior to January 1, 2021, or if the taxpayer is granted approval from the department to employ an alternative apportionment method that includes the use of the property factor. The property factor shall be determined in accordance with Rule 810-27-1-.10 through 810-27-1-.12, inclusive, except as modified in this rule.1. In General (i) In the case of rented studios, the net annual rental rate shall include only the amount of the basic or flat rental charge by the studio for the use of a stage or other permanent equipment such as sound recording equipment and the like; except that additional equipment rented from other sources or from the studio not covered in the basic or flat rental charge and used for one week or longer (even though rented on a day-to-day basis) shall be included. Lump-sum net rental payments for a period which encompasses more than a single income year shall be assigned ratably over the rental period.(ii) No value or cost attributable to any outer-jurisdictional, film or radio programming property shall be included in the property factor at any time.2. Property Factor Denominator. (i) All real property and tangible personal property (other than outer-jurisdictional and film or radio programming property), whether owned or rented, which is used in the business shall be included in the denominator of the property factor.(ii) Audio or video cassettes, discs or similar medium containing film or radio programming and intended for sale or rental by the taxpayer for home viewing or listening shall be included in the property factor at their original cost. To the extent that the taxpayer licenses or otherwise permits others to manufacture or distribute such cassettes, discs or other medium containing film or radio programming for home viewing or listening, the value of said cassettes, discs or other medium shall include the license, royalty or other fees received by the taxpayer capitalized at a rate of eight times the gross receipts derived therefrom during the income year.(iii) Outer-jurisdictional, film and radio programming property shall be excluded from the denominator of the property factor.3. Property Factor Numerator.(i) With the exception of outer-jurisdictional, film and radio programming property, all real and tangible personal property owned or rented by the taxpayer and used in Alabama during the tax period shall be included in the numerator of the property factor as provided in Alabama Rule 810-27-1-.10.(ii) Outer-jurisdictional, film and radio programming property shall be excluded from the numerator of the property factor. Example: XYZ Television Co. has a total value of all of its property everywhere of $500,000,000, including a satellite valued at $50,000,000 that was used to telecast programming into Alabama and $150,000,000 in film property of which $1,000,000's worth was located in Alabama the entire year. The total value of real and tangible personal property, other than film programming property, located in Alabama for the entire income year was valued at $2,000,000; and the movable and mobile property described in subparagraph 3.(i). was determined to be of a value of $4,000,000 and such movable and mobile property was used in Alabama for 100 days. The total value of property to be attributed to Alabama would be determined as follows:
Value of property permanently in state: | $ 2,000,000 |
Value of mobile and movable property: (100/365 or .2739 x $4,000,000): | $ 1,095,600 |
Total value of property to be included in the state's property factor numerator (outer-jurisdictional and film property excluded): | $ 3,095,600 |
Total value of property to be used in the denominator ($500,000,000-$200,000,000) | $300,000,000 |
Total property factor ($3,095,600/$300,000,000): | 0103 |
(c) The Payroll Factor. For tax years prior to January 1, 2021, or if the taxpayer is granted approval from the department to employ an alternative apportionment method that includes the use of the payroll factor.1. Payroll Factor Denominator. The denominator of the payroll factor shall include all compensation, including residual and profit participation payments, paid to employees during the income year, including that paid to directors, actors, newscasters and other talent in their status as employees.2. Payroll Factor Numerator. Compensation for all employees shall be attributed to the state or states as may be determined by the application of the provisions of Rules 810-27-1-.13 and 810-27-1-.14.(d) The Sales Factor. 1. Sales Factor Denominator. The denominator of the sales factor shall include the total gross receipts derived by the taxpayer from transactions or activity in the regular course of its trade or business, except receipts excluded under Rule 810-27-1-.18.2. Sales Factor Numerator. The numerator of the sales factor shall include all gross receipts of the taxpayer from sources within Alabama, including, but not limited to the following: (i) Gross receipts, including advertising revenue, from television film or radio programming in release to or by television and radio stations located in Alabama.(ii) Gross receipts, including advertising revenue, from television film or radio programming in release to or by a television station (independent or unaffiliated) or network of stations for broadcast shall be attributed to Alabama in the ratio (hereafter "audience factor") that the audience for such station (or owned and affiliated stations in the case of networks) located in Alabama bears to the total audience for such station (or owned and affiliated stations in the case of networks). The audience factor for television or radio programming shall be determined by the ratio that the taxpayer's in-state viewing (listening) audience bears to its total viewing (listening) audience. Such audience factor shall be determined either by reference to the books and records of the taxpayer or by reference to published rating statistics, provided the method used by the taxpayer is consistently used from year to year for such purpose and fairly represents the taxpayer's activity in Alabama.(iii) Gross receipts from film programming in release to or by a cable television system shall be attributed to Alabama in the ratio (hereafter "audience factor") that the subscribers for such cable television system located in Alabama bears to the total subscribers of such cable television system. If the number of subscribers cannot be accurately determined from the books and records maintained by the taxpayer, such audience factor ratio shall be determined on the basis of the applicable year's subscription statistics located in published surveys, provided that the source selected is consistently used from year to year for that purpose.(iv) Receipts from the sale, rental, licensing or other disposition of audio or video cassettes, discs, or similar medium intended for home viewing or listening shall be included in the sales factor as provided in Rule 810-27-1-.16.Ala. Admin. Code r. 810-27-1-.18.05
Amended by Alabama Administrative Monthly Volume XXXV, Issue No. 01, October 30, 2016, eff. 11/20/2016.Amended by Alabama Administrative Monthly Volume XL, Issue No. 06, March 31, 2022, eff. 5/15/2022.Authors: Kathleen Abrams, Holly H. Coon, Christina Hall, CPA, Jennifer Reynolds
Statutory Authority:Code of Ala. 1975, §§ 40-2A-7(a)(5), 40-18-5; Rules 810-27-1-.09 through 810-27-1-.16.