Law Commons^™

The Reenactment And Inaction Doctrines In State Tax Litigation, Steve R. Johnson

Scholarly Publications

This installment of Interpretation Matters discusses two related canons of statutory interpretation and illustrates their use in state and local tax controversies. Assume that a state revenue agency or court construes a tax statute and that the construction is later challenged in another case. Between the two cases, the state legislature reenacts the provision without changing it or the legislature takes no action to amend the provision to overturn the construction in the first case. Some courts treat the reenactment without change, or even the inaction, as evidence that the legislature agreed with the construction in the first case, so …

Substance And Form In State Taxation, Steve R. Johnson

Scholarly Publications

In the interpretation of tax statutes, a venerable principle is that “taxation should move in an atmosphere of practical realities rather than amid the intricate and wooden concepts” of legal formalities. That principle is familiar in federal taxation, and it holds no less sway in state and local taxation. Indeed, the idea that the substance of a transaction usually controls over the form of the transaction is not confined to taxation; it is a principle of U.S. law generally.

The principle commands that the underlying reality of the events usually determines tax consequence; the forms or labels attached to the …

Will The Tax Man Cometh To Coach Rodriguez?, Jeffrey H. Kahn, Douglas A. Kahn

Scholarly Publications

No abstract provided.

Give The Tax Court Transfer Power And Plenary Civil Tax Jurisdiction, Steve R. Johnson

Scholarly Publications

A recent decision again raises questions about the powers that the Tax Court does and should possess. In Mobley v. Commissioner, No. 07-2019 (6th Cir. July 8, 2008), Doc 2008-14970, 2008 TNT 132-13, the Sixth Circuit affirmed a procedural decision of the Tax Court. The Tax Court dismissed a petition because it lacked jurisdiction, and it rejected the taxpayers’ request to transfer the case to a district court. The Tax Court concluded, and the Sixth Circuit agreed, that the Tax Court lacks transfer power. Under 28 U.S.C sections 1631 and 610, the power to transfer cases is conferred only upon …