42 Ohio St. 2d 150 | Ohio | 1975
Lead Opinion
Appellant contends that the Tax Commissioner’s letter, given before an audit and without specification of claimed deficiencies, is not proper notice to start the running of the 60-day period within R. C. 5739.03. That section, in pertinent part, provides:
“If any sale is claimed to be exempt * * * the consumer must furnish to the vendor, and the vendor must obtain from the consumer, a certificate specifying the reason that the sale is not legally subject to the tax. * * * If no certificate is furnished or obtained within the period for filing
This court has often stated that statutory exemptions from a tax must be strictly construed, and one claiming an exemption must affirmatively establish his right thereto. National Tube Co. v. Glander (1952), 157 Ohio St. 407, 105 N. E. 2d 648; Goldman v. Robert E. Bentley Post No. 50 (1952), 158 Ohio St. 205, 107 N. E. 2d 528, Canton Malleable Iron Co. v. Porterfield (1972), 30 Ohio St. 2d 163, 283 N. E. 2d 434. It is evident from a literal reading of R. 0. 5739.03, that the notice of an intention to levy an assessment may be given before an audit has been completed.
Appellant also urges that the letter in the present case was not proper notice because it did not specifically state what the deficiencies were. It is argued that the company could not, from the notice, ascertain what exemption certificates the agent found to be missing. In Union Metal Mfg. Co. v. Kosydar (1974), 38 Ohio St. 2d 53, 310 N. E. 2d 249, it is noted that a taxpayer has the burden of affirmatively establishing sales tax exemption by obtaining the necessary exemption certificates. Once such certificates are not timely furnished or obtained, it is presumed that the sales are taxable. R. C. 5739.03. If the taxpayer fails to meet the statutory obligations concerning the certificates, he is allowed the 60-day period to obtain “letters of usage” establishing exception from the tax. In that context, it is the taxpayer who is in a position to know from which customers he has failed to obtain the proper exemption certificates. Furthermore, the record reflects the fact that appellant did procure many “letters of usage” from other customers before the end of the 60-day period.
We are aware of the erroneous statements alleged to have been made by appellee’s agent, which may have play
The duty imposed upon a taxpayer who neglects to obtain exemption certificates is clear; 60 days is provided, from the notice of intention to levy an assessment, to overcome the presumption that the tax applies. This was unambiguously expressed in the letter of March 3, 1972, and appellant’s failure to obtain the “letters of usage” within the 60-day period stems from its disregard of the specific mandates of that letter and R. C. 5739.03.
The decision of the Board of Tax Appeals is affirmed.
Decision affirmed.
Dissenting Opinion
dissenting. This is a case in which the Tax Commissioner levied an assessment for sales taxes of an amount in excess of $6,000 against the taxpayer, when, in truth and in fact, in the first instance no such tax was rightfully due to the state under the sales tax laws.
It is undisputed that the sales in question were exempt from the tax. However, in connection with such exemptions, the vendor should obtain from the consumer certain exemption certificates. If the vendor fails to obtain exemption certificates from the consumer, an additional opportunity is provided to establish the tax exempt nature of the sales under R. C. 5739.03. The pertinent subsection of that statute reads:
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“If any sale is claimed to be exempt under division
The single contention of the taxpayer in this appeal is that the notice given by the Tax Commissioner herein, prior to the conducting of an audit, of intention to levy an assessment is not a valid notice under the statute to start the running of the 60-day period.
I.
It might be appropriate to observe at this point that simplicity has never been the dominant factor of tax legislation. No other branch of the law touches human activities at so many points. Of course, it cannot be made simple, but we can try to avoid making it needlessly complex. As Justice Cardozo said in his dissenting opinion in Stewart Dry Goods Co. v. Lewis (1935), 294 U. S. 550, 576: “* * * Elaborate machinery, designed to bring about a perfect equilibrium between benefit and burden, may at times defeat its aim through its own elaboration.”
Too, the fact is perennially present that the executive branch of state government must continuously be appeased with more cash flow which can only come from taxes. The Tax Commissioner is the teaser under the sales tax laws. He must assess, pursuant to legislative enactment, and seemingly incite the taxpayer by persistent actions
II.
Taxpayer argues forcefully, and with a degree of persuasion, that constitutional due process, rules of statutory construction and principles of fairness require that notice called for by R. C. 5739.03 include any claimed tax deficiencies so that the taxpayer may present its defense.
Upon analyzing R. C. Chapter 5739, it seems clear that the sales tax is imposed on individual sales transactions. R. C. 5739.02 provides that:
“* * * an excise tax is hereby levied on each retail sale made in this state.
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“The tax applies and is collectible when the sale is made # * *.” (Emphasis added.)
R. C. 5739.03 speaks of “the full and exact amount of the tax payable on each taxable sale * * R. C. 5739.03(A) refers to the price for “the thing sold.” In subsection (B) thereof it is provided that “[sjuch sale shall be reported on and the amount of the tax applicable thereto shall be remitted with the return for the period in which the sale is made * * *.” The next paragraph begins: “If any sale” and continues to “the return for the period in which such sale is consummated * * *.” The sentence covering the 60-day notice again refers to “the sale.” (Emphasis added.)
It seems apparent that the terminology of the chapter refers in each instance to the imposition of a tax on the individual transaction and not to some tax that may be asserted in gross.
This conclusion finds support in the provisions of
Giving notice of intention to levy an assessment before the audit is made denies the taxpayer the right to know what the tax agent finds missing and the opportunity to establish that, in fact, no tax is due. Such “notice” is not notice at all, but rather a meaningless administrative pre
The General Assembly intended the sales tax statute to be a taxing statute. As the commissioner is using it, it has become a penalty statute, and, as in this case, it is being used in a manner to exact money never rightfully owed, simply because the Tax Commissioner does not give the taxpayer a fair opportunity to defend against specific claims. Since the sales tax is based on specific sales, the claimed deficiency should be specific so that there can be a defense against claims on a specific basis. It is completely illogical to interpret the statute to permit the Tax Commissioner to give a notice of intent to levy an assessment when he does not have before him specific facts.
III.
The notice given to the taxpayer in this case
In my view, the notice, couched in language in the past tense as though the audit was completed, is unfair and misleading, and does not comport with the requirements of due process and is, therefore, invalid.
The taxpayer was further misled, as the record demonstrates, by the agent of the Tax Commissioner, who indicated that evidence to show the taxpayer’s exempted sales could be presented after the close of the audit.
IV.
Taxpayer points out that E. C. 1.47 provides :
“In enacting a statute, it is presumed that:
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“(C) A just and reasonable result is intended.”
It is argued that a just and reasonable result certainly is not achieved by the method used here by the Tax Commissioner when, without an audit, he gives notice of an intention to levy an assessment—not knowing whether there will, in fact, be an assessment and does not specify items upon which a tax is claimed. This procedure does not give the taxpayer a fair opportunity to establish that a specific transaction is not subject to sales tax. In this case, there are only three letters of usage involved, each of which . could have been obtained at any time if the taxpayer had been apprised that they were needed, and each of which completely justifies exemption.
True, in cases cited in the briefs and the majority opinion, this court has stated that statutory exemptions from a tax should be strictly construed against the taxpayer.
It should be made clear once and for all that our decision in Dayton Sash & Door Co. v. Kosydar (1973), 36 Ohio St. 2d 120, merely held that it was not the investigative duty of the Department of Taxation to examine records in its possession to substantiate the tax exempt status of a sales item. Such were the facts under scrutiny in that case.
It should further be made clear that our decision in
In addition, the case of W. A. Storing Co. v. Porterfield (1968), 15 Ohio App. 2d 48, cited by appellee as authority for the Tax Commissioner’s action herein, has no binding force as a precedent on this court and is devoid of any reasoning applicable to the facts in our instant case. To adopt the interpretation of R. C. 5739.03 reached by that court would lead only to the gaucberie of inflexibility, regardless of what the justice of the cause seemed to require.
Such a rule in the cited cases is tantamount to judicial legislation, which must give way to rules of statutory construction announced by the General Assembly in R. C. 1.47 that in enacting a statute a just and reasonable result is intended. Any difficulties with prior decisions of this court in applying that required test of justice and reason certainly does not excuse ignoring justice and the abandonment of reason.
On the special facts in this case, I would reverse the decision of the Board of Tax Appeals as being unreasonable and unlawful.
ST 850-7 STATE OP OHIO DEPARTMENT OP TAXATION
Perry Payne Bldg., 740 Superior Avenue
Cleveland, Ohio 44113
March 1, 1972
American Handling Equipment Co. In Re V. L. 91-76301
13500 Enterprise Avenue
Cleveland, Ohio 44135
Gentlemen:
You are hereby notified of the intention of the Tax Commissioner to levy an assessment against you for any sales or use tax found due a? a result of the audit of your business.
In making this audit it is found that on certain sales you failed to collect the tax or to obtain properly completed exemption certificates. The sales tax law requires a vendor to obtain an exemption certificate
The law further provides, however, that even though the vendor has not obtained a certificate within the proper period, he shall be given the opportunity of establishing that the sale was not subject to the tax but that this must be done within sixty days of the giving of notice of intention to levy the assessment.
A.S previously stated, this is your notice of the intention to levy an assessment against you. You have, therefore, sixty days in which to establish that any sales in question are not subject to the tax. This cannot be done by obtaining an exemption certificate at this time. A statement from the purchaser, furnishing information concerning the exact use of each item involved, would, however, be given consideration.
Very truly yours,
DEPARTMENT OF TAXATION
/s/ Amil A. Gallitto
Amil A. Gallitto,
District Manager
Acknowledgement of Delivery of 60 Day Notice
Signed /s/ R. G. Welfare
(Vendor’s Signature)
Date March 3, 1972
Delivered by
Frank S. White, No. 1691
(Examiner’s Signature and No.)
