Ariz. Admin. Code § R15-2D-305 - Deferred Exploration Expenses

A. A taxpayer may elect to subtract a ratable portion of deferred exploration expenses added to income under A.R.S. § 43-1121. To make the election, a taxpayer shall attach a statement to the return for the applicable taxable year. The taxpayer shall disclose the following in the statement:

1. The amount of exploration expenses subject to the election; and

2. The name, location, and nature of the ore or mineral deposit to which the election relates.

B. A taxpayer may make an election under this Section at any time before the expiration of the period for filing a claim for credit or refund for the taxable year the election is to be effective. An election made under this Section is binding for the taxable year unless the taxpayer revokes the election to deduct exploration expenses under Internal Revenue Code § 617. If the taxpayer revokes the federal election, the taxpayer shall file Arizona amended income tax returns to reflect the changes in federal taxable income and Arizona taxable income that result from the revocation of the election.

C. Except as provided by subsection (D), a taxpayer shall compute the subtraction for a ratable portion of deferred exploration expenses by using the following formula:

A = B x [C / (C + D)]

The above variables are defined as follows:

"A" is the deferred exploration expense subtraction allowable for the taxable year,

"B" is the total deferred exploration expenses reduced by the amount of deferred exploration expenses subtracted in prior taxable years,

"C" is the number of units of ore or mineral sold during the taxable year from the mine or deposit for which the deferred exploration expenses were incurred, and

"D" is the number of units of ore or mineral remaining at the end of the taxable year to be recovered and sold from the mine or deposit for which the deferred exploration expenses were incurred.

D. A taxpayer that has elected to recapture and capitalize exploration expenses under Internal Revenue Code § 617(b)(1)(A) shall reduce the amount computed under subsection (C) by the amount of the federal depletion deducted for the current taxable year that is allocable to the amount of Arizona deferred exploration expenses. A taxpayer shall not reduce the amount computed under subsection (C) to less than zero. A taxpayer shall compute the amount of the federal depletion deduction allocable to the Arizona deferred exploration expenses by multiplying the federal depletion deduction that relates to the mineral interest for which the exploration expenses were incurred by the ratio of the Arizona deferred exploration expenses to the total federal adjusted basis of the mineral interest before any depletion deduction. A taxpayer shall make the computation under this subsection for each subsequent taxable year until the cumulative amount of subtractions for deferred exploration expenses for all taxable years equals the total amount of exploration expenses that were deferred. The amount of the federal depletion deduction allocable to the deferred exploration expenses shall be considered a subtraction of deferred exploration expenses for purposes of computing:

1. The variable B in the formula under subsection (C) for subsequent taxable years,

2. The Arizona adjusted basis under subsection (I), and

3. The cumulative amount of subtractions for deferred exploration expenses.

E. A taxpayer that has elected to recapture and capitalize exploration expenses under Internal Revenue Code § 617(b)(1)(A) and not to defer up to $75,000 of exploration expenses under A.R.S. § 43-1121, shall add to Arizona gross income the amount of federal depletion deducted for the current taxable year that is allocable to the exploration expenses not deferred. A taxpayer shall compute the amount of the federal depletion deduction allocable to the exploration expenses not deferred by multiplying the federal depletion deduction that relates to the mineral interest for which the exploration expenses were incurred by the ratio of the exploration expenses not deferred to the total federal adjusted basis of the mineral interest before any depletion deduction. A taxpayer shall make the adjustment under this subsection for each subsequent taxable year until the cumulative adjustments for all taxable years equal the total amount of exploration expenses not deferred.

F. For purposes of computing the subtraction under subsection (C), a taxpayer shall estimate the number of recoverable units of ore or mineral according to an accepted industry method. The taxpayer shall revise the estimate if, before the close of the current taxable year, it is determined, as the result of further discovery, development, or operation, that the remaining units are materially greater or less than the units previously estimated. The revised estimate shall be used for the current taxable year and subsequent taxable years until it is determined that another revision is required.

G. A taxpayer that leases an ore or mineral deposit and retains a royalty interest in the ore or mineral deposit may subtract the ratable portion of related deferred exploration expenses as computed under subsection (C).

H. If a taxpayer abandons an ore or mineral interest, the taxpayer may subtract the related unamortized deferred exploration expenses in the taxable year of abandonment. For purposes of this subsection, a taxpayer has abandoned an ore or mineral interest during the taxable year if all of the following conditions exist:

1. The taxpayer has discontinued all operations and activities with respect to the ore or mineral interest.

2. The taxpayer has no intention of exploring, developing, or otherwise using the ore or mineral interest in the future.

3. The taxpayer has no intention of selling, exchanging, or otherwise disposing of the ore or mineral interest.

I. A taxpayer that sells property for which exploration expenses were incurred shall report the difference between the federal adjusted basis of the property and the Arizona adjusted basis of the property in the year of the sale. If the Arizona adjusted basis exceeds the federal adjusted basis, a subtraction from income for the excess is required. If the federal adjusted basis exceeds the Arizona adjusted basis, an addition to income for the excess is required. The Arizona adjusted basis of the property is computed as follows:

1. The federal adjusted basis, plus

2. The exploration expenses added to income under A.R.S. § 43-1121, minus

3. The subtraction from income for the federal exploration expense recapture under A.R.S. § 43-1122, minus

4. The total subtractions from income for deferred exploration expenses allowed under this Section.

J. A taxpayer shall not include the amount of mine exploration expenses that were not deferred under A.R.S. § 43-1121 in computing the subtraction from income for the recapture of mine exploration expenses under A.R.S. § 43-1122.

K. Under A.R.S. § 43-1122, a taxpayer may elect to subtract a ratable portion of deferred exploration expenses related to oil, gas, or geothermal resources. A taxpayer shall make the election and compute the subtraction in the same manner as the election related to ore and mineral property.

Notes

Ariz. Admin. Code § R15-2D-305

Recodified at 6 A.A.R. 2308, filed in the Office of the Secretary of State June 2, 2000 (Supp. 00-2). Section repealed; new Section adopted by final rulemaking at 6 A.A.R. 4105, effective October 4, 2000 (Supp. 00-4).