Court Opinion

ID: 875443
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2013-06-04 19:59:48.654625+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:15:38.802613
License: Public Domain

No. 12248

          I N THE SUPREME C U T O THE STATE O M N A A
                           OR    F           F OTN

                                         1972

LAZY J D CATTLE C M A Y e t a l . ,
                 O PN

                            P l a i n t i f f s and Respondents,
         and
HERRIN RANCH, I N C .      ,
                            P l a i n t i f f i n Intervention,

         -vs    -
STATE BOARD O EQUALIZATION O T E
             F              F H
STATE O M N A A e t a l . ,
       F OTN

                            Defendants and A p p e l l a n t s ,

Appeal from:        D i s t r i c t Court of t h e F i r s t J u d i c i a l D i s t r i c t ,
                    Honorable Gordon R. Bennett, Judge p r e s i d i n g .

Counsel of Record:

    For Appellants :

            Edward Jene B e l l argued, Board o f E q u a l i z a t i o n ,
             Helena, Montana.

    For Respondents:

     H4   d Luxan                    Helena, Montana.
            H. J. Luxan appeared, Helena, Montana.
            John R, K l i n e argued, Helena, Montana.
            Loble, P i c o t t e and Loble, Helena, Montana.
            Douglas M. Greenwood appeared, Helena, Montana.

                                                  Submitted:          September 27, 1972
Yr. J u s t i c e Frank I . Yaswell d e l i v e r e d t h e Opinion of t h e C o u r t ,

        P l a i n t i f f s a r e c o r p o r a t e t a x p a y e r s who brought a c l a s s a c t i o n
a g d i n s t defendant S t a t e Board of E q u a l i z a t i o n s e e k i n g a d e c l a r a -

t o r y judgment e s t a b l i s h i n g t h e i r r i g h t t o n e t o p e r a t i n g l o s s de-
d u c t i o n s i n computing t h e i r s t a t e c o r p o r a t i o n l i c e n s e t a x e s .        The
d i s t r i c t c o u r t of Lewis and Clark County, t h e Hon. Gordon B e n n e t t ,
d i s t r i c t judge, e n t e r e d summary judgment f o r p l a i n t i f f s and denied
t h e summary judgment sought by d e f e n d a n t ,                     From t h i s f i n a l judg-
ment, defendant S t a t e Board of E q u a l i z a t i o n a p p e a l s .
        The t h i r t e e n p l a i n t i - f f c o r p o r a t i o n s a r e each s u b j e c t t o pay-
ment of f e d e r a l income t a x e s p u r s u a n t t o t h e I n t e r n a l Revenue

Code, T i t l e 2 6 , U.S.C.,            and t o Montana c o r p o r a t i o n l i c e n s e t a x e s
pursuant t o s e c t i o n s 84-1501 through 84-1519, R.C.M.                               1947.     Each
~ f p l a i n t i f f c o r p o r a t i o n s was l a w f u l l y e n t i t l e d t o a n e t o p e r a t i n g
l o s s d e d u c t i o n on i t s f e d e r a l t a x r e t u r n s p u r s u a n t t o t h e I n t e r n a l
Revenue Code, 26 U.S.C.                  §   172, c o v e r i n g one o r more of i t s t a x a b l e
p e r i o d s ending on o r b e f o r e December 31, 1970.                        Each f i l e d Montana

c o r p o r a t i o n l i c e n s e t a x r e t u r n s (accompanied by c l a i m s f o r r e f u n d )
f o r t a x a b l e p e r i o d s ending on o r b e f o r e December 31, 1970, and
edch claimed n e t o p e r a t i n g Loss d e d u c t i o n s under s e c t i o n 84-1504,

%.C.M. 19-47, i n computing i t s s t a t e c o r p o r a t i o n t a x l i a b i l i t y .
        P l a i n t i f f s a s a c l a s s were given a h e a r i n g b e f o r e t h e S t a t e
Soard of E q u a l i z a t i o n and t h e r e a f t e r t h e Board d i s a l l o w e d t h e i r
claimed d e d u c t i o n s and r e f u n d s .         Having exhausted t h e i r adminis-
t r d t i v e remedies, p l a i n t i f f s f i l e d a c l a s s a c t i o n i n t h e d i s t r i c t
c o u r t of Lewis and C l a r k county s e e k i n g a d e c l a r a t o r y judgment
(1) t h a t t h e c o r p o r a t i o n s were e n t i t l e d t o n e t o p e r a t i n g 1-oss de-
d u c t i o n s i n computing t h e i r s t a t e c o r p o r a t i o n l i c e n s e t a x l i a b i l i t y ,
(2) a n n u l l i n g a l l r u l e s , o r d e r s , and a c t i o n s of t h e S t a t e Board

o f E q u a l i z a t i o n t o t h e c o n t r a r y , and ( 3 ) such a n c i l l a r y r e l i e f i n

dicier of judgment a s a p p e a r s proper.                     ~ e f e n d a n t ' sanswer i n sub-
s t a n c e a d m i t t e d t h e f a c t s concerning what was done, b u t denied
t h a t p l a i n t i f f s were e n t i - t l e d t o t h e r e l i e f r e q u e s t e d .
        U l t i m a t e l y b o t h p a r t i e s moved f o r summary judgment.                    The
d i s t r i c t c o u r t denied summary judgment t o defendant and g r a n t e d
summary judgment t o p l a i n t i f f s .               The d i s t r i c t c o u r t e x p r e s s l y
r u l e d , i n t e r a l i a , t h a t t h e c o r p o r a t i o n s were e n t i t l e d t o n e t
o p e r a t i n g l o s s deductions a s computed by them f o r t a x a b l e y e a r s
p r i o r t o 1971; d e c l a r e d c e r t a i n r e g u l a t i o n s of t h e Board c o n t r a r y
t h e r e t o i n v a l i d ; d e c l a r e d t h e f i n d i n g s , conclusions and o r d e r
of t h e Board i n t h e a d m i n i s t r a t i v e proceeding i n v a l i d ; voided
Board d e f i c i e n c y assessments of $55,824.14 a g a i n s t s i x of p l a i n t i f f
corporati-ons, and cxckredthe Board t o refund $25,627.03 w i t h
i n t e r e s t t o t e n of p l a i n t i f f c o r p o r a t i o n s .
        Defendant S t a t e Board of E q u a l i z a t i o n now a p p e a l s from t h i s
f i n a l judgment.
        The u l t i m a t e i s s u e f o r review i s whether t h e Montana c o r -
p o r a t i o n l i c e n s e t a x law permits n e t o p e r a t i n g l o s s deductions
f o r t a x a b l e y e a r s p r i o r t o 1971,
        The S t a t e Board of E q u a l i z a t i o n argues t h a t t h e s t a t e c o r -
p o r a t i o n l i c e n s e t a x law ( s e c t i o n 84-1501, e t s e q . , R.C.M.               1947),
both p r i o r and subsequent t o i t s amendment i n 1971, d i d n o t permit

n e t o p e r a t i n g l o s s deductions because (1) t h e d e f i n i t i o n s of
g r o s s income and n e t income i n s e c t i o n 84-1504, R.C.M.                           1947,
do n o t i n c l u d e a deduction f o r n e t o p e r a t i n g l o s s e s , (2) s e c t i o n
84-1502, R , C . M .       1947, does n o t s p e c i f i c a l l y provide f o r a n e t
o p e r a t i n g l o s s d e d u c t i o n , and ( 3 ) t h e l e g i s l a t u r e i n i t s 1971
amendment i n d i c a t e d t h a t s e c t i o n s 84-1502 and 84-1504 d i d n o t
provide f o r n e t o p e r a t i n g l o s s deductions p r i o r t o such amendment,
The Board f u r t h e r argues t h a t t o permit such deduction i s t o
permit a double allowance f o r t h e same t h i n g , a s such allowance
i s already incorporated i n t h e s t a t e corporation l i c e n s e tax a c t ,
        P l a i n t i f f s , on t h e o t h e r hand, contend t h a t they a r e e n t i t l e d
t o a n e t o p e r a t i n g l o s s deduction and t o t h e carry-over and c a r r y -
back p r o v i s i o n s of t h e f e d e r a l income t a x law i n computing t h e i r
s t a t e c o r p o r a t i o n l i c e n s e t a x e s f o r t a x a b l e y e a r s p r i o r t o 1971.
They argue t h a t g r o s s income and n e t income f o r Montana corpora-
t i o n l i c e n s e t a x purposes i s d e f i n e d w i t h r e f e r e n c e t o t h e Federal
l n t e r n a l Revenue Code and by v i r t u e t h e r e o f they a r e e n t i t l e d
t o t h e n e t o p e r a t i n g l o s s deduction provided i n T i t l e 26, U . S . C .

9 172, and t h e c a r r y - o v e r and carry-back p r o v i s i o n s t h e r e i n .
They f u r t h e r t a k e t h e p o s i t i o n t h a t t h e 1971 amendment by t h e
Montana l e g i s l a t u r e r e d e f i n e d "net o p e r a t i n g l o s s " and "net
o p e r a t i n g l o s s deduction1' i n terms of s e c t i o n 84-1502, R,C.M.
1947, and a p p l i e d t h i s new d e f i n i t i o n t o l o s s e s o c c u r r i n g i n
1971 and subsequent y e a r s ,
        I n determining t h e i s s u e b e f o r e u s , we n o t e a t t h e o u t s e t
t h a t s e c t i o n 84-1504, R.C.M.           1947, i s t h e b a s i s of p l a i n t i f f s '
c l a i m t h a t they a r e e n t i t l e d t o those n e t o p e r a t i n g l o s s deductions
a1.lowable under § 172 of t h e I n t e r n a l Revenue Code.                           Section
84-1504 provides t h a t t h e Montana c o r p o r a t i o n l i c e n s e t a x s h a l l
b e computed "upon t h e t o t a l n e t income of t h e c o r p o r a t i o n " f o r

t h e preceding c a l e n d a r o r f i s c a l y e a r ; d e f i n e s "net income" a s
"gross income of t h e c o r p o r a t i o n l e s s t h e allowable deductions";
and d e f i n e s "gross income" a s income from a l l sources w i t h i n

t h e s t a t e "recognized i n t h e d e t e r m i n a t i o n of t h e c o r p o r a t i o n ' s
f e d e r a l income t a x l i a b i l i t y " i n c l u d i n g i n a d d i t i o n i n t e r e s t
exempt from f e d e r a l income t a x .               I t s p e c i f i c a l l y provides t h a t
t h e d e f i n i t i o n of g r o s s income and n e t income " s h a l l n o t be
construed a s a l l o w i n g t h e deductions s e t f o r t h i n s e c t i o n 243 of t h e
F e d e r a l I n t e r n a l Revenue Code a s now w r i t t e n , o r a s t h a t s e c t i o n
s h a l l be l a b e l e d o r amended. I t
        Thus t h e l e g i s l a t u r e i n s e c t i o n 84-1504, R.C.M.              1947, p r i o r
t o i t s 1971 amendment s t a t e d , i n e f f e c t , t h a t g r o s s income f o r
s t a t e c o r p o r a t i o n l i c e n s e t a x purposes means t h e same t h i n g a s
g r o s s income f o r f e d e r a l income t a x purposes (excepting i n t e r e s t
exempt from f e d e r a l income t a x which i s n o t p e r t i n e n t h e r e ) ;
t h a t n e t income f o r c o r p o r a t i o n l i c e n s e t a x purposes i s e q u i v a l e n t
t o f e d e r a l g r o s s income l e s s allowable deductions; and, t h a t
allowable deductions do n o t i n c l u d e t h e dividend deduction under
9 243 of t h e Federal I n t e r n a l Revenue Code.                       "Gross income",
II
 n e t income1', and "allowable deductions" f o r s t a t e c o r p o r a t i o n
l i c e n s e t a x purposes a r e thus d e f i n e d w i t h r e f e r e n c e t o t h e
g e n e r a l s t r u c t u r e of t h e F e d e r a l I n t e r n a l Revenue Code.           With
t h e e x c e p t i o n o f t h e exempt i n t e r e s t e x c l u s i o n and dividend
deduction contained i n t h e F e d e r a l I n t e r n a l Revenue Code, t h e
legislature l e f t         i n t a c t t h e i n t e r r e l a t i o n of s t a t e c o r p o r a t i o n
l i c e n s e t a x g r o s s and n e t income and f e d e r a l income t a x g r o s s
and n e t income a s provided i n t h e F e d e r a l I n t e r n a l Revenue Code.
Thus t h e conclusion t h a t s t a t e g r o s s income and n e t income f o r
c o r p o r a t i o n l i c e n s e t a x purposes a r e based on t h e F e d e r a l I n t e r n a l
Revenue Code i s a p p a r e n t .
        Three d e c i s i o n s of t h i s Court c o n s t r u i n g s e c t i o n 84-1504,
p r i o r t o t h e 1971 amendment b e a r t h i s o u t .               I n Board of Equali-
z a t i o n v. Farmers Union, 140 Mont. 523, 374 P.2d 231, we h e l d
t h a t co-ops s u b j e c t t o Montana c o r p o r a t i o n l i c e n s e t a x e s a r e
e n t i t l e d t o deduct patronage dividends from g r o s s income because
s e c t i o n 84-1504 i n c o r p o r a t e s by r e f e r e n c e t h e F e d e r a l I n t e r n a l
Revenue Code i n which                 522 allows t h e s e deductions i n d e t e r -
mining f e d e r a l income t a x l i a b i l i t y ,
        I n Home Bldg. & Loan               v . Board of E q u a l i z a t i o n , 141 Mont.
113, 375 P.2d 312, t h i s Court h e l d t h a t b u i l d i n g and loan a s s o -
c i a t i o n s s u b j e c t t o Montana c o r p o r a t i o n l i c e n s e t a x were e n t i t l e d
under s e c t i o n 84-1504 t o deduct dividends p a i d , because t h e
I n t e r n a l Revenue Code was i n c o r p o r a t e d by r e f e r e n c e i n t o t h a t
s e c t i o n and ! 591 t h e r e o f allowed such deduction i n determining
                  j

f e d e r a l income t a x , * i a b i l i t y .
        F i n a l l y i n Barth v . S t a t e Board of Equal., 148 Mant. 259,
2 6 1 , 419 P.2d 484, w e a g a i n recognized t h a t s e c t i o n 84-1504
i n c o r p o r a t e d by r e f e r e n c e t h e F e d e r a l I n t e r n a l Revenue Code i n
h o l d i n g t h a t a g a i n r e a l i z e d i n a l i q u i d a t i o n s a l e was n o t recog-
nized f o r Montana c o r p o r a t i o n l i c e n s e t a x purposes because i t
was n o t recognized f o r f e d e r a l c o r p o r a t i o n income t a x purposes.
        I n Barth we s a i d :
        tI
          Thus, when Sweetheart [a 5reait company ] Ji.ssoFvrd,
        i t had t o pay a Montana c o r p o r a t i o n l i c e n s e t a x , and
        t h i s t a x was t o be based upon i t s ' n e t income. t
        S e c t i o n 84-1504 d e f i n e s 1 n e t income' i n terms o f g r o s s
        income and r e f e r s t o f e d e r a l law f o r a d e f i n i t i o n of
        g r o s s income.
        "Under s e c t i o n 337, I . R . C . 1954, t h e g a i n r e a l i z e d
        b y Sweetheart i n i t s l i q u i d a t i o n s a l e was n o t recog-
        nized f o r income t a x purposes. T h e r e f o r e , t h e g a i n
        r e a l i z e d upon t h e s a l e i s n o t recognized f o r Montana
        c o r p o r a t i o n l i c e n s e t a x purposes. I I
        Thus t h i s Court h a s c o n s i s t e n t l y h e l d t h a t t h e d e f i n i t i o n
of g r o s s income and n e t income f o r s t a t e c o r p o r a t i o n l i c e n s e
t a x purposes i s dependent upon and i n c o r p o r a t e s by r e f e r e n c e
the     p r o v i s i o n s of t h e F e d e r a l I n t e r n a l Revenue Code except a s
e x p r e s s l y provided o t h e r w i s e , a s i n t h e c a s e of t h e exempt i n t e r e s t
e x c l u s i o n and t h e dividend deduction.
        Apply t h e foregoing r a t i o n a l e t o t h e i n s t a n t c a s e , t h e
n e t o p e r a t i n g l o s s deduction i s allowable i n computing p l a i n t i f f
c o r p o r a t i o n s ' s t a t e c o r p o r a t i o n t a x l i a b i l i t y because s e c t i o n
84-1504, R.C.M.            1947, i n c o r p o r a t e s by r e f e r e n c e       1.72 of t h e
F e d e r a l I n t e r n a l Revenue Code i n determining n e t income f o r
f e d e r a l income t a x purposes which p e r m i t s such deduction.
        However, t h e Board u r g e s t h a t i f a n e t o p e r a t i n g l o s s
deduction i s allowed t o p l a i n t i f f c o r p o r a t i o n s under s e c t i o n
84-1504, then t h e c o r p o r a t i o n s w i l l be p e r m i t t e d t o c l a i m a
second n e t o p e r a t i n g l o s s deduction under s e c t i o n 84-1502, a s
amended by t h e 1971 l e g i s l a t u r e .            This c o n t e n t i o n i s specious.
The 1971 amendment p r o h i b i t s a double deduction f o r n e t o p e r a t i n g
bosses by d e f i n i t i o n :
        "The term ' n e t o p e r a t i n g l o s s ' means t h e excess of
        t h e deductions allowed by t h i s s e c t i o n , 84-1502,
        over t h e g r o s s income, w i t h t h e m o d i f i c a t i o n s s p e c i f i e d
        i n paragraph (b) of t h i s subsection."                (Ch. 358,L. 1971).
Thus any n e t o p e r a t i n g l o s s deduction t h e r e t o f o r e p e r m i t t e d
under s e c t i o n 84-1504, i n c l u d i n g by r e f e r e n c e n e t o p e r a t i n g
l o s s e s allowable under 5 172 of t h e I n t e r n a l Revenue Code,
would be e l i m i n a t e d under t h e new and amended d e f i n i t i o n of n e t
o p e r a t i n g l o s s contained i n t h e 1971 amendment t o s e c t i o n 84-1502.
        F i n a l l y , t h e Board contends t h a t t h e 1971 amendment t o
s e c t i o n 84-1502, R,C.M.          1947, c o n s t i t u t e d a l e g i s l a t i v e d e c l a r a -
t i o n of i t s i n t e n t w i t h r e s p e c t t o n e t o p e r a t i n g l o s s deductions.
The 1971 amendment provides i n p e r t i n e n t p a r t :
        "The n e t o p e r a t i n g l o s s deduction s h a l l n o t be
        allowed w i t h r e s p e c t t o t a x a b l e p e r i o d s which end
        on o r b e f o r e December 31, 1970, b u t s h a l l be allowed
        only with r e s p e c t t o t a x a b l e p e r i o d s beginning on
        o r a f t e r January 1, 1971." [Ch. 358, L. 1971, c o d i f i e d
        a s s e c t i o n 84-1502 (2) (B) ( f ) , R.C.M. 1947. ]
        A t i s s u e i s t h e e f f e c t of t h i s amendment on n e t o p e r a t i n g

l o s s deductions f o r t a x a b l e y e a r s p r i o r t o 1971 pursuant t o
s e c t i o n 84-1504.       I n i t i a l l y , we observe t h a t t h e 1971 amendment
d i d n o t amend n o r p u r p o r t t o amend s e c t i o n 84-1504.                 The n e t
o p e r a t i n g l o s s deductions provided f o r t h e r e i n were a l l o w a b l e
pursuant t o 5 172 of t h e F e d e r a l I n t e r n a l Revenue Code, i n c o r -
porated t h e r e i n by r e f e r e n c e .      What t h e l e g i s l a t u r e d i d by t h e
1.971 amendment was t o comprehensively r e d e f i n e t h e n e t o p e r a t i n g
l o s s deduction f o r s t a t e c o r p o r a t i o n l i c e n s e t a x purposes without
r e f e r e n c e t o t h e p r o v i s i o n s governing n e t o p e r a t i n g l o s s deductions
i n 5 172 of t h e F e d e r a l I n t e r n a l Revenue Code. The l e g i s l a t u r e
simply adapted t h e n e t o p e r a t i n g l o s s deduction t o our s t a t e
s i t u a t i o n i n an e f f o r t t o c r e a t e a balanced, r e a s o n a b l e t a x
structure,
        But was t h i s zmendment intended t o have a r e t r o a c t i v e
effect?       W p e r c e i v e no such i n t e n t i o n on t h e p a r t of t h e l e g i s -
               e
lature.       It d i d n o t amend s e c t i o n 84-1504, under which p l a i n t i f f s
c l a i m t h e n e t o p e r a t i n g l o s s deduction f o r t h e i r t a x a b l e y e a r s
p r i o r t o 1971.       It s p e c i f i c a l l y applied t o n e t operating l o s s
deductions a s t h e r e i n d e f i n e d which were s u s t a i n e d a f t e r December
31, 1970.        I t changed t h e law w i t h r e s p e c t t o computation o f n e t
o p e r a t i n g l o s s e s , w h a t was included t h e r e i n and what was n o t
all.owable, f o r t a x a b l e y e a r s a f t e r 1970.            Aside from t h e q u e s t i o n
of t h e c o n s t i t u t i o n a l power of t h e l e g i s l a t u r e t o g i v e r e t r o a c t i v e
e f f e c t t o t h i s kind of l e g i s l a t i o n , t h e r e i s simply no i n d i c a t i o n
i t intended t o do so.
            S e c t i o n 12-201, K.C.M.         1947, provides :
            1I
             N law contained i n any of t h e codes o r o t h e r
                o
            s t a t u t e s of Montana i s r e t r o a c t i v e u n l e s s ex-
            pressly so declared. "
    This p r o v i s i o n was h e l d t o b e " e s p e c i a l l y a p p l i c a b l e " t o t h e
    Montana Corporation License Tax Act i n S t a t e v , J , C. Maguire
    Construction Co., 113 Mont. 324, 331, 125 P.2d 4 3 3 , where we
    said:
            "9;  **      t h e fundamental r u l e of c o n s t r u c t i o n i s
            t h a t r e t r o a c t i v e e f f e c t i s n o t t o be given t o a
            s t a t u t e u n l e s s commanded by i t s c o n t e x t , terms,
            o r manifest purpose. I t
            Here, t h e n e t o p e r a t i n g l o s s e s were d e d u c t i b l e under s e c t i o n
    84-1504 a t t h e time they were i n c u r r e d .                 There i s n o t h i n g i n
    the 1971 amendment t o s e c t i o n 84-1502 i n d i c a t i n g an i n t e n t i o n
    on t h e p a r t of t h e l e g i s l a t u r e t o r e t r o a c t i v e l y r e p e a l t h e

    s e c t i o n 85-1504 o p e r a t i n g l o s s deduction.            W e d e c l i n e t o so

    c o n s t r u e t h e 1971 amendment under t h e a u t h o r i t i e s s e t f o r t h
    above.
            The summary judgment of t h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t i s a f f i r m e d ,

                                                                    Associate J u s t i c e

/   ,    Chief J u s t i c e

         ~ s s o c d eu s t i c e s ,
                     J