(2) The provisions of subsection (1) of this section dealing with the apportionment of income earned from sources both within and without the State of Oregon are designed to allocate to the State of Oregon on a fair and equitable basis a proportion of such income earned from sources both within and without the state. Any taxpayer may submit an alternative basis of apportionment with respect to the income of the taxpayer and explain that basis in full in the return of the taxpayer. If approved by the department that method will be accepted as the basis of allocation.
(3)(a) Apportionment rules adopted by the department under this section must apply the weightings used in ORS 314.650 to comparable factors used to apportion income from business activity of taxpayers subject to this section.
(b) Notwithstanding paragraph (a) of this subsection, a taxpayer primarily engaged in utilities or telecommunications may elect to have income from business activity apportioned by applying the weightings used in ORS 314.650 (1999 Edition) to comparable factors used to apportion such income.
(c) The election shall be made in the time and manner prescribed by the department by rule. The election shall continue in force and effect for the tax year for which the election is made and for each subsequent tax year until the year in which the taxpayer revokes the election.
(d) An electing taxpayer may revoke the taxpayer’s election by filing a revocation of election in the time and manner prescribed by the department. The revocation shall apply to the tax year following the year in which the election is made and to each subsequent tax year.
(e) As used in this subsection:
(A) "Telecommunications" means business operations that conduct, maintain or provide for the transmission of voice data and text between network termination points and telecommunications reselling. Transmission facilities may be based on one technology or a combination of technologies.
(B) "Utilities" means business operations that provide electric power, natural gas, steam supply, water supply or sewage removal through a permanent infrastructure of lines, mains and pipes. [1957 c.632 §4 (enacted in lieu of 316.205 and 317.180); 1963 c.319 §1; 1965 c.152 §22; 2001 c.933 §1; 2009 c.403 §5]