Texas Tax Code 21.031 – Allocation of Taxable Value of Vessels and Other Watercraft Used Outside This State
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(a) If a vessel or other watercraft that is taxable by a taxing unit is used continually outside this state, whether regularly or irregularly, the appraisal office shall allocate to this state the portion of the total market value of the vessel or watercraft that fairly reflects its use in this state. The appraisal office shall not allocate to this state the portion of the total market value of the vessel or watercraft that fairly reflects its use in another state or country, in international waters, or beyond the Gulfward boundary of this state.
(b) The appraisal office shall make the allocation as provided by Subsections (b-1), (b-2), and (b-3).
Terms Used In Texas Tax Code 21.031
- Appraisal: A determination of property value.
- Comptroller: means the Comptroller of Public Accounts of the State of Texas. See Texas Tax Code 1.04
- Fair market value: The price at which an asset would change hands in a transaction between a willing, informed buyer and a willing, informed seller.
- in writing: includes any representation of words, letters, or figures, whether by writing, printing, or other means. See Texas Government Code 312.011
- Market value: means the price at which a property would transfer for cash or its equivalent under prevailing market conditions if:
(A) exposed for sale in the open market with a reasonable time for the seller to find a purchaser;
(B) both the seller and the purchaser know of all the uses and purposes to which the property is adapted and for which it is capable of being used and of the enforceable restrictions on its use; and
(C) both the seller and purchaser seek to maximize their gains and neither is in a position to take advantage of the exigencies of the other. See Texas Tax Code 1.04 - Property: means real and personal property. See Texas Government Code 311.005
- Tax year: means the calendar year. See Texas Tax Code 1.04
- Taxing unit: means a county, an incorporated city or town (including a home-rule city), a school district, a special district or authority (including a junior college district, a hospital district, a district created by or pursuant to the Water Code, a mosquito control district, a fire prevention district, or a noxious weed control district), or any other political unit of this state, whether created by or pursuant to the constitution or a local, special, or general law, that is authorized to impose and is imposing ad valorem taxes on property even if the governing body of another political unit determines the tax rate for the unit or otherwise governs its affairs. See Texas Tax Code 1.04
- Year: means 12 consecutive months. See Texas Government Code 311.005
(b-1) Except as provided by Subsection (b-2), the allocable portion of the total fair market value of a vessel or other watercraft used as an instrumentality of commerce that is taxable in this state is determined by multiplying the total fair market value by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of miles the vessel or watercraft was operated in this state during the year preceding the tax year and the denominator of which is the total number of miles the vessel or watercraft was operated during the year preceding the tax year.
(b-2) A property owner that operates a fleet of vessels or other watercraft that are used as instrumentalities of commerce may elect in writing submitted to the appraisal office to have the appraisal office make the allocation under this subsection. If the property owner makes the election, the allocable portion of the total fair market value of a vessel or other watercraft that is part of the property owner’s fleet, is used as an instrumentality of commerce, is taxable in this state, and has taxable situs at a location in the appraisal district is determined by multiplying the total fair market value of the vessel or other watercraft by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of miles that all the vessels or other watercraft of the property owner’s fleet that are used as instrumentalities of commerce, are taxable in this state, and have taxable situs at a location in the same appraisal district as the vessel or other watercraft the value of which is allocated under this subsection were operated in this state during the year preceding the tax year and the denominator of which is the total number of miles that all the vessels or other watercraft of the property owner’s fleet that are used as instrumentalities of commerce, are taxable in this state, and have taxable situs at a location in the same appraisal district as the vessel or other watercraft the value of which is allocated under this subsection were operated during the year preceding the tax year. Notwithstanding Sections 21.02 and 21.021, a property owner that elects to have the appraisal office make the allocation of the property owner’s fleet under this subsection may designate the location of the property owner’s principal place of business as the taxable situs of the fleet.
(b-3) The allocable portion of the total fair market value of a special-purpose vessel or other watercraft not used as an instrumentality of commerce is determined by multiplying the total fair market value by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of days the vessel or watercraft was physically located in this state during the year preceding the tax year and the denominator of which is 365.
(c) A vessel or other watercraft used as an instrumentality of commerce or a special-purpose vessel or other watercraft not used as an instrumentality of commerce that is used outside this state and is in this state solely to be converted, repaired, stored, or inspected is presumed to be in interstate, international, or foreign commerce and not located in this state for longer than a temporary period for purposes of Sections 11.01 and 21.02.
(d) If the allocation provisions of this section do not fairly reflect the use of a vessel or other watercraft in this state, an alternate allocation formula shall be utilized if the property owner or appraisal office demonstrates that:
(1) the allocation formula specified in this section is arbitrary and unreasonable as applied to the vessel or watercraft; and
(2) the formula or indication of use proposed by the property owner or appraisal office more fairly reflects the vessel or watercraft’s use in this state than that specified in this section.
(e) To receive an allocation of value under this section, a property owner must apply for the allocation on a form that substantially complies with the form prescribed by the comptroller. The application must be filed with the chief appraiser for the district in which the property to which the application applies is taxable before the approval of the appraisal records by the appraisal review board as provided by § 41.12 of this code.
(f) The comptroller shall promulgate forms and may adopt rules consistent with the provisions of this section.
(g) A vessel or other watercraft to be used as an instrumentality of commerce or a special-purpose vessel or other watercraft not to be used as an instrumentality of commerce that is under construction in this state is presumed to be in interstate, international, or foreign commerce and not located in this state for longer than a temporary period for purposes of Sections 11.01 and 21.02.
(h) Tangible personal property in this state is presumed to be in interstate, international, or foreign commerce and not located in this state for longer than a temporary period for purposes of Sections 11.01 and 21.02 if the owner demonstrates to the chief appraiser that the owner intends to incorporate the property in or attach the property to an identified vessel or other watercraft described by Subsection (c) or (g).
(i) For purposes of this section:
(1) “Special-purpose vessel or other watercraft not used as an instrumentality of commerce” means a vessel or other watercraft that:
(A) is designed to be transient and customarily is moved from location to location on a more or less regular basis;
(B) is economically employed when operated in a localized area or in a fixed place; and
(C) is not primarily employed to transport cargo, passengers, and equipment but rather to perform some specialized function or operation not requiring constant movement from point to point.
(2) “Vessel or other watercraft used as an instrumentality of commerce” means a vessel or other watercraft that is primarily employed in the transportation of cargo, passengers, or equipment, and that is economically employed when it is moving from point to point as a means of transportation.