Court Opinion

ID: 8639566
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-11-24 19:50:56.339137+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T16:56:03.288654
License: Public Domain

NELSON, District Judge.
The demurrer must be sustained. If the penalty is claimed for a failure to make a return in accordance with the 120th section of the internal revenue act of June 30th, 1864 fas amended by the act of July 13th, 1866), which was re-enacted July 14th, 1870, the complaint should have alleged that the sum therein mentioned as net earnings, income and gains was dividends declared or excess of profits over such dividends added during the year to their surplus or contingent fund. This is manifest, for the section imposes a tax upon two subjects: First, dividends due and payable; second, undistributed sums or excess over dividends which had been carried to a surplus fund. See Sav*1299ings Bank v. U. S., 19 Wall. [86 U. S.] 235. The complaint should, therefore, specifically state the character of the earnings, income and gains which were liable to a tax, and that a list and return thereof had not been made as provided in this section. If the penalty is claimed under the 121st section of the act, the complaint should have charged that the defendant had neglected or omitted to make dividends or additions to its surplus or contingent fund within the period of time therein mentioned, and had failed to make the return required by this section. Only the earnings, income and profits of the defendant, not thus disposed of, were subject to a tax, and the penalty could only be maintained in case of a default of the president or cashier of the bank to make a list or return of such profits and payment of the tax imposed, on the first day of July, or within thirty days thereafter. Tiie act of congress of July 14, 1870, not only imposed the tax mentioned in the 120th and 121st sections above referred to, but also continued in force all the provisions of said acts for maintaining and continuing the penalties incurred under and by virtue thereof. This act virtually re-enacted the 120th and 121st sections, and the right of congress to pass such a statute, retroactive in its effect, was declared by the supreme court, in the ease of Stockdale v. Insurance Co. [20 Wall. (87 U. S.) 323]. An order will be entered sustaining the demurrer, with leave to the plaintiff to amend the complaint within twenty days after sery.iee_.of the same upon.the district attorney.
[See Case No. 16,381.]