Source: https://caselaw.findlaw.com/us-supreme-court/313/443.html
Timestamp: 2019-04-24 19:12:32+00:00

Document:
[313 U.S. 443, 444] Messrs. Robert H. Jackson, Atty. Gen., and Arnold Raum, Sp. Asst. to Atty. Gen., for petitioner.
Mr. Alexander Levene, of New York City, for respondent.
The Commissioner found that respondent had overpaid its 1920 taxes in the sum of $14,833.68. In October, 1929, he sent respondent a certificate of overassessment which noted that there had been an overpayment in that amount but that $13,471.18 was 'barred by statute of limitations'. Accompanying the certificate was a check for the difference, $1,362.50, which respondent apparently accepted. In thus computing the refund owing to respondent, the Commissioner assumed that subsections (b)(1), (b)(2), [313 U.S. 443, 445] and (g) of 2841 of the Revenue Act of 1926, 44 Stat. 9, 66, 67, 26 U.S.C. A. Int.Rev.Acts, pages 220, 222, authorized him to remit only that part of the 1920 tax which was paid in 1926.
On March 7, 1932, respondent brought the present action in a United States District Court to recover the sum withheld. At the close of the trial, petitioner moved for judgment on the ground that the action was barred by 1113(a) of the Revenue Act of 1926, 44 Stat. 9, 116, 26 U.S.C. A. Int.Rev.Acts, page 324. The District Court granted the motion and entered judgment for petitioner. 30 F.Supp. 722. The Circuit Court of Appeals reversed, one judge dissenting, holding that the general six-year limitation in 24(20) of the Judicial Code, 28 U.S.C. 41(20), 28 U.S.C. A. 41(20) rather than the limitations in 1113(a) determined the timeliness of respondent's action. 3 Cir., 97 F. 2 387.
The cause was returned to the District Court. Over the renewed contention of petitioner that the action was barred by 1113(a), the District Court proceeded to the merits. It held, in effect, that 284(b)( 2) did not limit the refund sanctioned by 284(g) to the portion of the [313 U.S. 443, 446] tax paid within four years of respondent's claim, and entered judgment as prayed in the complaint. 30 F.Supp. 724. The Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed, accepting as the law of the case its earlier decision that the action was timely, despite petitioner's argument to the contrary. 3 Cir., 117 F.2d 133. On April 14, 1941, we granted certiorari. 313 U.S. 552 , 61 S. Ct. 843, 85 L.Ed. --.
Relying principally on Bonwit-Teller & Co. v. United States, 283 U.S. 258 , 51 S.Ct. 395, respondent maintains that its action was commenced well within the applicable period of limitation. Further, respondent contends that both courts below correctly refused to regard 284(b)(2) as a limitation on the Commissioner's duty to make refunds under 284(g). We find it unnecessary to examine the latter contention, for we are of opinion that respondent sued too late.
Undoubtedly, respondent has failed to begin its action within either of the periods specified in 1113(a). See A. S. Kreider Co. v. United States, 3 Cir., 97 F.2d 387, 388. The suit was not instituted until March 7, 1932, although the last tax payment was made on July 26, 1926, and the claim for refund was disallowed in October, 1929.2 But as al- [313 U.S. 443, 447] ready stated, the court below held that the action was not barred because the Tucker Act (24 Stat. 505), later incorporated in 24(20) of the Judicial Code, rather than 1113(a) prescribed the period within which respondent was bound to bring suit. We view the statutes differently.
We think the quoted language was intended merely to place an outside limit on the period within which all suits might be initiated under 24( 20). Clearly nothing in that language precludes the application of a different and shorter period of limitation to an individual class of actions even though they are brought under 24(20). Phrasing the condition negatively, Congress left it open to provide less liberally for particular ctions which, because of special consdierations, required different treatment. See Christie-Street Commission Co. v. United States, 8 Cir., 136 F. 326, 332, 333.
Bonwit-Teller & Co. v. United States, supra, does not remove the bar of 1113(a) here. There we held under the peculiar facts disclosed that the taxpayer could evade the limitations of that section by grounding its action on a subsequent 'account stated' rather than on the original, wrongful overassessment. But the instant case is plainly distinguishable, for, assuming that familiar doctrines of contracts furnish the test (Daube v. United States, 289 U.S. 367, 370 , 53 S.Ct. 597, 598), we are unable to find the requisites of an account stated in the transactions on which respondent relies.
To establish an account stated, respondent must show that a balance was struck 'in such circumstances as to import a promise of payment on the one side and acceptance on the other'. R. H. Stearns Co. v. United States, 291 U.S. 54, 65 , 54 S.Ct. 325, 329; see also, Toland v. Sprague, 12 Pet. 300, 325; Nutt v. United States, 125 U.S. 650 , 8 S.Ct. 997. But plainly, 'no such promise is a just or reasonable inference from the certificate of overassessment delivered to this taxpayer, if the certificate is interpreted in the setting of the occasion.' R. H. Stearns Co. v. United States, supra. In fact, a contrary inference is the only legitimate supposition respondent could make. At most, respondent could assume that the United States prom- [313 U.S. 443, 449] ised to pay $1,362.50; the check was there in fulfillment. Obviously, refusal to refund the balance did not and could not imply a promise by pay the amount withheld.
Acceptance by respondent, another essential of an account stated, in equally lacking. By accepting the check for $1,362.50 respondent agreed only to a partial account stated (compare Sturm v. Boker, 150 U.S. 312, 340 , 14 S.Ct. 99, 108), thereby converting that much of the statement into an account settled. The institution of this suit is ample proof that respondent never intended to accept the certificate in its entirety as a correct computation of the amount which it claimed was due.
We conclude that respondent's suit is barred by the limitations of 1113(a). The judgment is reversed, and the cause is remanded with directions to dismiss the petition.
[ Footnote 1 ] 'Sec. 284. (a) Where there has been an overpayment of any income, war-profits, or excess-profits tax imposed (by specified Acts), the amount of such overpayment shall (subject to enumerated conditions) ... be refunded immediately to the taxpayer.
[ Footnote 2 ] It should be noted that this action seeks recovery of money which was paid in 1921. We assume, so far as this decision is concerned, that the phrase 'such tax' in the quoted language refers to the total tax for the year in question whenever determined and assessed; or stated differently, that 'payment' within the meaning of this statute does not occur until the entire tax for 1920 is paid, including deficiency assessments made several years later. Compare Union Trust Co. v. United States, 2 Cir., 70 F.2d 629.
We assume also that the Commissioner's refusal in 1929 to make the refund was a 'disallowance' of respondent's claim. Compare Bonwit-Teller & Co. v. United States, 283 U.S. 258, 265 , 51 S.Ct. 395, 397, with United States .v Bertelsen & Peterson Engineering Co., 306 U.S. 276, 280 , 59 S.Ct. 541, 542.
[ Footnote 3 ] Apparently the applicability of a specific limitation instead of the general Tucker Act limitation has not been challenged for 35 years. See Christie-Street Commission Co. v. United States, 8 Cir., 136 F. 326. The specific limitation has been assumed to apply in numerous cases. See, e.g., United States v. Bertelsen & Peterson Engineering Co., 306 U.S. 276 , 59 S.Ct. 541; Bates Mfg. Co. v. United States, 303 U.S. 567 , 58 S.Ct. 694; R. H. Stearns Co. v. United States, 291 U.S. 54 , 54 S.Ct. 325; Daube v. United States, 289 U.S. 367 , 53 S. Ct. 597.

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