IDAPA 35.01.01.548 — SALES FACTOR: SALE OF A SERVICE (RULE 548)

Section 63-3027(13)(c), Idaho Code
01.
General Rule. The receipts from a sale of a service are in this state if and to the extent that the
service is delivered to a location in this state. In general, the term "delivered to a location" refers to the location of the
taxpayer's market for the service, which may not be the location of the taxpayer's employees or property. The rules to
determine the location of the delivery of a service in the context of several specific types of service transactions are
set forth below in Subsections 548.02 through 548.04.
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02.
In-Person Services.
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a.
In General. Except as otherwise provided in this Subsection 548.02, in-person services are services
that are physically provided in person by the taxpayer, where the customer or the customer's real or tangible property
upon which the services are performed is in the same location as the service provider at the time the services are
performed. This Rule 548 includes situations where the services are provided on behalf of the taxpayer by a third-
party contractor. Examples of in-person services include, without limitation, warranty and repair services; cleaning
services; plumbing services; carpentry; construction contractor services; pest control; landscape services; medical
and dental services, including medical testing, x-rays and mental health care and treatment; childcare; hair cutting and
salon services; live entertainment and athletic performances; and in-person training or lessons. In-person services
include services within the description above that are performed at (1) a location that is owned or operated by the
service provider or (2) a location of the customer, including the location of the customer's real or tangible personal
property. Various professional services, including legal, accounting, financial and consulting services, and other
similar services as described in Subsection 548.04 of this rule, although they may involve some amount of in-person
contact, are not treated as in-person services within the meaning of this Subsection 548.02.
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b.
Assignment of Receipts, Rule of Determination. Except as otherwise provided in this paragraph
(b.), if the service provided by the taxpayer is an in-person service, the service is delivered to the location where the
service is received. Therefore, the receipts from a sale are in this state if and to the extent the customer receives the
in-person service in this state. In assigning its receipts from sales of in-person services, a taxpayer must first attempt
to determine the location where a service is received, as follows:
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i.
If the service is performed with respect to the body of an individual customer in this state (e.g. hair
cutting or x-ray services) or in the physical presence of the customer in this state (e.g. live entertainment or athletic
performances), the service is received in this state.
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ii.
If the service is performed with respect to the customer's real estate in this state or if the service is
performed with respect to the customer's tangible personal property at the customer's residence or in the customer's
possession in this state, the service is received in this state.
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IDAHO ADMINISTRATIVE CODE
IDAPA 35.01.01
Idaho State Tax Commission
Income Tax Administrative Rules
Section 548
Page 75
iii.
If the service is performed with respect to the customer's tangible personal property and the
tangible personal property is to be shipped or delivered to the customer, whether the service is performed within or
outside this state, the service is received in this state if the property is shipped or delivered to the customer in this
state.
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c.
Rule of Reasonable Approximation. In an instance in which the state or states where a service is
actually received cannot be determined, but the taxpayer has sufficient information regarding the place of receipt
from which it can reasonably approximate the state or states where the service is received, the taxpayer shall
reasonably approximate such state or states.
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03.
Services Delivered to the Customer or on Behalf of the Customer, or Delivered Electronically
Through the Customer.
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a.
In General. If the service provided by the taxpayer is not an in-person service within the meaning of
Subsection 548.02 of this rule or a professional service within the meaning of Subsection 548.04 of this rule), and the
service is delivered to or on behalf of the customer, or delivered electronically through the customer, the receipts from
a sale are in this state if and to the extent that the service is delivered in this state. For purposes of this Subsection
548.03, a service that is delivered "to" a customer is a service in which the customer and not a third party is the
recipient of the service. A service that is delivered "on behalf of" a customer is one in which a customer contracts for
a service but one or more third parties, rather than the customer, is the recipient of the service, such as fulfillment
services, or the direct or indirect delivery of advertising to the customer's intended audience (see Subparagraph
548.03.b.i. below and the Example under 548.03.b.i.(3)(d) below). A service can be delivered to or on behalf of a
customer by physical means or through electronic transmission. A service that is delivered electronically "through" a
customer is a service that is delivered electronically to a customer for purposes of resale and subsequent electronic
delivery in substantially identical form to an end user or other third-party recipient.
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b.
Assignment of Receipts. The assignment of receipts to a state or states in the instance of a sale of a
service that is delivered to the customer or on behalf of the customer, or delivered electronically through the
customer, depends upon the method of delivery of the service and the nature of the customer. Separate rules of
assignment apply to services delivered by physical means and services delivered by electronic transmission. (For
purposes of this Subsection 548.03, a service delivered by an electronic transmission is not a delivery by a physical
means). If a rule of assignment set forth in this Subsection 548.03 depends on whether the customer is an individual
or a business customer, and the taxpayer acting in good faith cannot reasonably determine whether the customer is an
individual or business customer, the taxpayer shall treat the customer as a business customer.
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i.
Delivery to or on Behalf of a Customer by Physical Means Whether to an Individual or Business
Customer. Services delivered to a customer or on behalf of a customer through a physical means include, for
example, product delivery services where property is delivered to the customer or to a third party on behalf of the
customer; the delivery of brochures, fliers or other direct mail services; the delivery of advertising or advertising-
related services to the customer's intended audience in the form of a physical medium; and the sale of custom
software (e.g., where software is developed for a specific customer in a case where the transaction is properly treated
as a service transaction for purposes of corporate taxation) where the taxpayer installs the custom software at the
customer's site. The rules in this Subparagraph 548.03.b.i. apply whether the taxpayer's customer is an individual
customer or a business customer.
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(1)
Rule of Determination. In assigning the receipts from a sale of a service delivered to a customer or
on behalf of a customer through a physical means, a taxpayer must first attempt to determine the state or states where
the service is delivered. If the taxpayer is able to determine the state or states where the service is delivered, it shall
assign the receipts to that state or states.
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(2)
Rule of Reasonable Approximation. If the taxpayer cannot determine the state or states where the
service is actually delivered, but has sufficient information regarding the place of delivery from which it can
reasonably approximate the state or states where the service is delivered, it shall reasonably approximate the state or
states.
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ii.
Delivery to a Customer by Electronic Transmission. Services delivered by electronic transmission
IDAHO ADMINISTRATIVE CODE
IDAPA 35.01.01
Idaho State Tax Commission
Income Tax Administrative Rules
Section 548
Page 76
include, without limitation, services that are transmitted through the means of wire, lines, cable, fiber optics,
electronic signals, satellite transmission, audio or radio waves, or other similar means, whether or not the service
provider owns, leases or otherwise controls the transmission equipment. In the case of the delivery of a service by
electronic transmission to a customer, the following provisions apply.
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(1)
Services Delivered By Electronic Transmission to an Individual Customer.
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(a)
Rule of Determination. In the case of the delivery of a service to an individual customer by
electronic transmission, the service is delivered in this state if and to the extent that the taxpayer's customer receives
the service in this state. If the taxpayer can determine the state or states where the service is received, it shall assign
the receipts from that sale to that state or states.
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(b)
Rules of Reasonable Approximation. If the taxpayer cannot determine the state or states where the
customer actually receives the service, but has sufficient information regarding the place of receipt from which it can
reasonably approximate the state or states where the service is received, it shall reasonably approximate the state or
states. If a taxpayer does not have sufficient information from which it can determine or reasonably approximate the
state or states in which the service is received, it shall reasonably approximate the state or states using the customer's
billing address.
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(2)
Services Delivered By Electronic Transmission to a Business Customer.
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(a)
Rule of Determination. In the case of the delivery of a service to a business customer by electronic
transmission, the service is delivered in this state if and to the extent that the taxpayer's customer receives the service
in this state. If the taxpayer can determine the state or states where the service is received, it shall assign the receipts
from that sale to the state or states. For purposes of this subpart (548.03.b.ii.(2), it is intended that the state or states
where the service is received reflect the location at which the service is directly used by the employees or designees
of the customer.
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(b)
Rule of Reasonable Approximation. If the taxpayer cannot determine the state or states where the
customer actually receives the service, but has sufficient information regarding the place of receipt from which it can
reasonably approximate the state or states where the service is received, it shall reasonably approximate the state or
states.
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(c)
Secondary Rule of Reasonable Approximation. In the case of the delivery of a service to a business
customer by electronic transmission where a taxpayer does not have sufficient information from which it can
determine or reasonably approximate the state or states in which the service is received, the taxpayer shall reasonably
approximate the state or states as set forth in Rules 546 through 551. In these cases, unless the taxpayer can apply the
safe harbor set forth in Subsection 548.03.b.ii.(2)(d) below, the taxpayer shall reasonably approximate the state or
states in which the service is received as follows: first, by assigning the receipts from the sale to the state where the
contract of sale is principally managed by the customer; second, if the state where the customer principally manages
the contract is not reasonably determinable, by assigning the receipts from the sale to the customer's place of order;
and third, if the customer's place of order is not reasonably determinable, by assigning the receipts from the sale
using the customer's billing address; provided, however, if the taxpayer derives more than five percent (5%) of its
receipts from sales of services from any single customer, the taxpayer is required to identify the state in which the
contract of sale is principally managed by that customer.
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(d)
Safe Harbor. In the case of the delivery of a service to a business customer by electronic
transmission a taxpayer may not be able to determine, or reasonably approximate under Subsection 548.03.b.ii.(2)(b)
above, the state or states in which the service is received. In these cases, the taxpayer may, in lieu of the rule stated at
Subsection 548.03.b.ii.(2)(c) above, apply the safe harbor stated in this subpart. Under this safe harbor, a taxpayer
may assign its receipts from sales to a particular customer based upon the customer's billing address in a taxable year
in which the taxpayer (1) engages in substantially similar service transactions with more than two hundred fifty (250)
customers, whether business or individual, and (2) does not derive more than five percent (5%) of its receipts from
sales of all services from that customer. This safe harbor applies only for purposes of services delivered by electronic
transmission to a business customer, and not otherwise.
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(e)
Related Party Transactions. In the case of a sale of a service by electronic transmission to a
IDAHO ADMINISTRATIVE CODE
IDAPA 35.01.01
Idaho State Tax Commission
Income Tax Administrative Rules
Section 548
Page 77
business customer that is a related party, the taxpayer may not use the secondary rule of reasonable approximation in
Subsection 548.03.b.ii.(2)(c) above, but may use the rule of reasonable approximation in Subsection
548.03.b.ii.(2)(b) above, and the safe harbor in Subsection 548.03.b.ii.(2)(d) above, provided that the Tax
Commission may aggregate sales to related parties in determining whether the sales exceed five percent (5%) of
receipts from sales of all services under that safe harbor provision if necessary or appropriate to prevent distortion.
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iii.
Services Delivered Electronically Through or on Behalf of an Individual or Business Customer. A
service delivered electronically "on behalf of" the customer is one in which a customer contracts for a service to be
delivered electronically but one or more third parties, rather than the customer, is the recipient of the service, such as
the direct or indirect delivery of advertising on behalf of a customer to the customer's intended audience. A service
delivered electronically "through" a customer to third-party recipients is a service that is delivered electronically to a
customer for purposes of resale and subsequent electronic delivery in substantially identical form to end users or
other third-party recipients.
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(1)
Rule of Determination. In the case of the delivery of a service by electronic transmission, where the
service is delivered electronically to end users or other third-party recipients through or on behalf of the customer, the
service is delivered in this state if and to the extent that the end users or other third-party recipients are in this state.
For example, in the case of the direct or indirect delivery of advertising on behalf of a customer to the customer's
intended audience by electronic means, the service is delivered in this state to the extent that the audience for the
advertising is in this state. In the case of the delivery of a service to a customer that acts as an intermediary in
reselling the service in substantially identical form to third-party recipients, the service is delivered in this state to the
extent that the end users or other third-party recipients receive the services in this state. The rules in this part
(548.03.b.iii.(1)) apply whether the taxpayer's customer is an individual customer or a business customer and
whether the end users or other third-party recipients to which the services are delivered through or on behalf of the
customer are individuals or businesses.
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(2)
Rule of Reasonable Approximation. If the taxpayer cannot determine the state or states where the
services are actually delivered to the end users or other third-party recipients either through or on behalf of the
customer, but has sufficient information regarding the place of delivery from which it can reasonably approximate the
state or states where the services are delivered, it shall reasonably approximate the state or states.
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(3)
Select Secondary Rules of Reasonable Approximation.
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(a)
If a taxpayer's service is the direct or indirect electronic delivery of advertising on behalf of its
customer to the customer's intended audience, and if the taxpayer lacks sufficient information regarding the location
of the audience from which it can determine or reasonably approximate that location, the taxpayer shall reasonably
approximate the audience in a state for the advertising using the following secondary rules of reasonable
approximation. If a taxpayer is delivering advertising directly or indirectly to a known list of subscribers, the taxpayer
shall reasonably approximate the audience for advertising in a state using a percentage that reflects the ratio of the
state's subscribers in the specific geographic area in which the advertising is delivered relative to the total subscribers
in that area. For a taxpayer with less information about its audience, the taxpayer shall reasonably approximate the
audience in a state using the percentage that reflects the ratio of the state's population in the specific geographic area
in which the advertising is delivered relative to the total population in that area.
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(b)
If a taxpayer's service is the delivery of a service to a customer that then acts as the taxpayer's
intermediary in reselling that service to end users or other third party recipients, if the taxpayer lacks sufficient
information regarding the location of the end users or other third party recipients from which it can determine or
reasonably approximate that location, the taxpayer shall reasonably approximate the extent to which the service is
received in a state by using the percentage that reflects the ratio of the state's population in the specific geographic
area in which the taxpayer's intermediary resells the services, relative to the total population in that area.
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(c)
When using the secondary reasonable approximation methods provided above, the relevant specific
geographic area [of delivery] include only the areas where the service was substantially and materially delivered or
resold. Unless the taxpayer demonstrates the contrary, it will be presumed that the area where the service was
substantially and materially delivered or resold does not include areas outside the United States.
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IDAHO ADMINISTRATIVE CODE
IDAPA 35.01.01
Idaho State Tax Commission
Income Tax Administrative Rules
Section 548
Page 78
04.
Professional Services.
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a.
In General. Except as otherwise provided in this Subsection 548.04, professional services are
services that require specialized knowledge and in some cases require a professional certification, license or degree.
These services include the performance of technical services that require the application of specialized knowledge.
Professional services include, without limitation, management services, bank and financial services, financial
custodial services, investment and brokerage services, fiduciary services, tax preparation, payroll and accounting
services, lending services, credit card services (including credit card processing services), data processing services,
legal services, consulting services, video production services, graphic and other design services, engineering services,
and architectural services.
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b.
Overlap with Other Categories of Services.
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i.
Certain services that fall within the definition of "professional services" set forth in this Subsection
548.04 are nevertheless treated as "in-person services" within the meaning of subsection 548.02 above, and are
assigned under the rules of that subsection. Specifically, professional services that are physically provided in person
by the taxpayer such as carpentry, certain medical and dental services or child care services, where the customer or
the customer's real or tangible property upon which the services are provided is in the same location as the service
provider at the time the services are performed, are "in-person services" and are assigned as such, notwithstanding
that they may also be considered to be "professional services." However, professional services where the service is of
an intellectual or intangible nature, such as legal, accounting, financial and consulting services, are assigned as
professional services under the rules of this Subsection 548.04, notwithstanding the fact that these services may
involve some amount of in-person contact.
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ii.
Professional services may in some cases include the transmission of one (1) or more documents or
other communications by mail or by electronic means. In some cases, all or most communications between the
service provider and the service recipient may be by mail or by electronic means. However, in these cases, despite
this transmission, the assignment rules that apply are those set forth in this Subsection (548.04), and not those set
forth in subsection 03 above, pertaining to services delivered to a customer or through or on behalf of a customer.
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c.
Assignment of Receipts. In the case of a professional service, it is generally possible to characterize
the location of delivery in multiple ways by emphasizing different elements of the service provided, no one of which
will consistently represent the market for the services. Therefore, the location of delivery in the case of professional
services is not susceptible to a general rule of determination, and must be reasonably approximated. The assignment
of receipts from a sale of a professional service depends in many cases upon whether the customer is an individual or
business customer. In any instance in which the taxpayer, acting in good faith, cannot reasonably determine whether
the customer is an individual or business customer, the taxpayer shall treat the customer as a business customer. For
purposes of assigning the receipts from a sale of a professional service, a taxpayer's customer is the person that
contracts for the service, irrespective of whether another person pays for or also benefits from the taxpayer's services.
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i.
General Rule. Receipts from sales of professional services other than those services described in
Subparagraph 04.c.ii. below (architectural and engineering services), subparagraph 04.c.iii. below (services provided
by a financial institution) and Subparagraph 548.04.c.iv. below (transactions with related parties) are assigned in
accordance with this Subparagraph (548.04.c.i.).
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(1)
Professional Services Delivered to Individual Customers. Except as otherwise provided in this
Subsection 548.04 (see in particular Subparagraph 548.04.c.iv.), in any instance in which the service provided is a
professional service and the taxpayer's customer is an individual customer, the state or states in which the service is
delivered must be reasonably approximated as set forth in part 548.04.c.i.(1) of this rule. In particular, the taxpayer
shall assign the receipts from a sale to the customer's state of primary residence, or, if the taxpayer cannot reasonably
identify the customer's state of primary residence, to the state of the customer's billing address; provided, however, in
any instance in which the taxpayer derives more than five percent (5%) of its receipts from sales of all services from
an individual customer, the taxpayer shall identify the customer's state of primary residence and assign the receipts
from the service or services provided to that customer to that state.
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IDAHO ADMINISTRATIVE CODE
IDAPA 35.01.01
Idaho State Tax Commission
Income Tax Administrative Rules
Section 549
Page 79
(2)
Professional Services Delivered to Business Customers. Except as otherwise provided in this
Subsection 548.04, in any instance in which the service provided is a professional service and the taxpayer's
customer is a business customer, the state or states in which the service is delivered must be reasonably approximated
as set forth in this section. In particular, unless the taxpayer may use the safe harbor set forth at part 548.04.c.i.(3)
below, the taxpayer shall assign the receipts from the sale as follows: first, by assigning the receipts to the state where
the contract of sale is principally managed by the customer; second, if the place of customer management is not
reasonably determinable, to the customer's place of order; and third, if the customer place of order is not reasonably
determinable, to the customer's billing address; provided, however, in any instance in which the taxpayer derives
more than five percent (5%) of its receipts from sales of all services from a customer, the taxpayer is required to
identify the state in which the contract of sale is principally managed by the customer.
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(3)
Safe Harbor; Large Volume of Transactions. Notwithstanding the rules set forth in parts
548.04.c.i.(1) and (2) above, a taxpayer may assign its receipts from sales to a particular customer based on the
customer's billing address in any taxable year in which the taxpayer (1) engages in substantially similar service
transactions with more than two hundred fifty (250) customers, whether individual or business, and (2) does not
derive more than five percent (5%) of its receipts from sales of all services from that customer. This safe harbor
applies only for purposes of this Subparagraph (548.04.c.i., Professional Services General Rule) and not otherwise.
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ii.
Architectural and Engineering Services with respect to Real or Tangible Personal Property.
Architectural and engineering services with respect to real or tangible personal property are professional services
within the meaning of this Subsection 548.04. However, unlike in the case of the general rule that applies to
professional services, (1) the receipts from a sale of an architectural service are assigned to a state or states if and to
the extent that the services are with respect to real estate improvements located, or expected to be located, in the state
or states; and (2) the receipts from a sale of an engineering service are assigned to a state or states if and to the extent
that the services are with respect to tangible or real property located in the state or states, including real estate
improvements located in, or expected to be located in, the state or states. These rules apply whether or not the
customer is an individual or business customer. In any instance in which architectural or engineering services are not
described in this Subparagraph (548.04.c.ii.), the receipts from a sale of these services must be assigned under the
general rule for professional services. See Subparagraph 548.04.c.i. above.
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iii.
Services Provided by a Financial Institution. The apportionment rules that apply to financial
institutions are set forth in Rule 582. Rule 582 includes specific rules to determine a financial institution's sales
factor. However, the Financial Institutions Rule also provides that receipts from sales, other than sales of tangible
personal property, including service transactions, that are not otherwise apportioned under the Financial Institutions
Rule [see section 3(o) of the 1995 MTC version of the regs or section 3(n) of the 1994 version], are to be assigned
pursuant to Section 63-3027, Idaho Code, and these rules. In any instance in which a financial institution performs
services that are to be assigned pursuant to Section 63-3027, Idaho Code. and these rules including, for example,
financial custodial services, those services are considered professional services within the meaning of this
Subsection(548.04, and are assigned according to the general rule for professional service transactions as set forth at
Subparagraph 548.04.c.i. above.
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iv.
Related Party Transactions. In any instance in which the professional service is sold to a related
party, rather than applying the rule for professional services delivered to business customers in part 548.04.c.i.(2)
above, the state or states to which the service is assigned is the place of receipt by the related party as reasonably
approximated using the following hierarchy: (1) if the service primarily relates to specific operations or activities of a
related party conducted in one or more locations, then to the state or states in which those operations or activities are
conducted in proportion to the related party's payroll at the locations to which the service relates in the state or states;
or (2) if the service does not relate primarily to operations or activities of a related party conducted in particular
locations, but instead relates to the operations of the related party generally, then to the state or states in which the
related party has employees, in proportion to the related party's payroll in those states. The taxpayer may use the safe
harbor provided by part 548.04.c.i.(3) provided that Tax Commission may aggregate the receipts from sales to related
parties in applying the five percent (5%) rule if necessary or appropriate to avoid distortion.
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05.
Examples. Available at Income Tax Rules Examples.
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