Court Opinion

ID: 9725524
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-26 11:51:31.994448+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:25:16.210439
License: Public Domain

Mr. Justice House delivered the opinion of the court: Plaintiffs, bottlers and distributors of soft drinks, brought this action to enjoin the Department of Revenue from imposing and collecting the retailers’ occupation tax and use tax on their purchase of bottles, cartons and shells (cases). The department appeals directly to this court from a decree of the circuit court of Cook County enjoining the imposition of the taxes. We have jurisdiction because the revenue is involved. The department adopted an amendment to Rule 51 of its Rules and Regulations reading: “Effective February 1, 1965, sellers of containers which are reusable, and which in the ordinary course of business are returned to the purchaser to be used again as containers for tangible personal property, are making sales for use or consumption, and their receipts from such sales are subject to the retailers’ occupation tax. This is true regardless of the fact that the purchaser may charge a deposit at the time of transferring the container to his customer.” This amendment was held to be invalid by the trial court. The facts are stipulated. Plaintiffs purchase bottles, fill them with their beverages and place them in cartons or shells for sale to grocers, drug stores and others. The purchasers pay a deposit on the bottles and containers (less than the actual value) when they buy the beverage, and possession of them is surrendered without any right of reclamation. When a new supply is purchased, credit is given for an amount equal to the required deposit for a like amount of containers. In this State the average number of times used or ’’trips” of the containers is 18 to 24 for bottles, 2 to 6 for cartons and 30 to 73 for shells. Two elements must be present before there is a taxable sale. First, there must be a sale for use and consumption, and second, the item sold is not for resale. (Modern Dairy Co. v. Department of Revenue, 413 Ill. 55; Burrows Co. v. Hollingsworth, 415 Ill. 202; Material Service Corp. v. Isaacs, 25 Ill.2d 137.) The Department’s contention is that the containers are purchased for use and consumption and that this is indicated by acceptance of a “deposit” of an amount considerably less than the cost price. It argues that since cost of the containers is about 2j4 times the deposit, the intention of the parties is manifested that the transaction is not a sale, but is a loan with a deposit to ensure the containers return. This is said to constitute a bailment rather than a sale. In Owens-Illinois Glass Co. v. McKibbin, 385 Ill. 245, a similar attempt was made to impose a retailers’ occupation tax upon beer bottles sold to breweries in Illinois. There, as here, the bottles were filled with beverage, deposits were taken separate from the cost of the contents, and refunds of the deposits were made when the empty bottles were returned, but without any duty to return the bottles. This court held the sale of the bottles to the breweries was not a sale for use and consumption and the purchasers were not liable for the tax. The Department suggests that the differential between cost price and deposit, the showing of average number of trips a bottle makes and the imprint of trade names or trademarks on the containers are additional facts not available in the Owens-Illinois case and that they show the intent of the parties that no sale takes place. This suggestion is predicated upon the fact that there the cause came up on complaint and answer, while here it is on stipulation. Those pleadings are not before us, but the opinion shows that the court was thoroughly apprised of the manner of doing business, “the practice with respect to the collection of deposits on bottles,” and the operation of the system. It seems apparent that the difference between cost and amount of deposit is reflected in the price charged for a beverage, as evidenced by the fact that the cost of a no return or “throw away” container is included and absorbed with the price of the contents. Finally with respect to Owens-Illinois, we find no substantial basis for the assertion that it “apparently admitted” by the pleadings that containers were resold. It is stated that the complaint read: “Breweries which sell beer and charge deposits for bottles, transfer the ownership and title, as well as possession of the bottles, to their customers.” Here it was stipulated: “When plaintiffs deliver such bottles, cartons and shells to their customers, the plaintiffs surrender the possession of such containers and all right to reclaim the possession thereof.” We see no significant difference between the two cases. Rulings on this subject from other jurisdictions are based on widely varying statutory provisions with varying results. No useful purpose would be served by reviewing them. We adhere to the holding in Owens-Illinois Glass Co. v. McKibbin, 385 Ill. 245. The decree of the circuit court of Cook County is affirmed. , Decree affirmed.