Heart of America Tobacco & Candy Co. v. Aylward
Heart of America Tobacco & Candy Co. v. Aylward
Opinion of the Court
The issue in this case is whether respondent, Heart of America Tobacco & Candy Company, is entitled to replacement of wasted Jackson County cigarette stamps or a refund of the value of the stamps plus interest. The trial court held that respondent was entitled to a monetary refund equivalent to the value of wasted stamps. Jackson County and James P. Aylward, Jr., the Jackson County Collector at the time this suit was filed, have appealed. We have jurisdiction because the case involves construction of the Missouri revenue laws. Mo. Const, art. V, § 3. We vacate and remand.
Section 210.320, RSMo 1969,
Pursuant to this statutory authority Jackson County enacted the maximum tax of two and one-half mills per cigarette in 1971. Respondent, which wholesales cigarettes and other tobacco products in Jackson County, was required to affix a Jackson County cigarette tax stamp to each package of cigarettes it sold.
For the period between February 15, 1973, and June 1, 1976, respondent purchased Jackson County tax stamps under written protest pursuant to § 139.031(1). In May 1973 respondent brought this action to contest the validity of the tax on constitutional and other grounds. In Counts I
The case was tried upon a stipulation of facts. In that stipulation respondent abandoned its claim for the entire $715,000 and instead sought two smaller items of damage. First, respondent claimed $14,300 on the theory that it was entitled to a two percent discount on the cigarette stamps it had purchased during the period in question. Second, respondent claimed a refund of $8,048, plus interest, for stamps that were wasted because they were affixed to packages of cigarettes that were never sold or that were sold but recalled because of damage or spoilage. The parties stipulated that $8,048 worth of stamps were wasted between February 15, 1973, and June 30, 1975, and that respondent was entitled to “refunds from the Department of Revenue” therefor.
The trial court held that respondent was entitled to recover $8,048 plus interest from July 1, 1976. It is this judgment that has been appealed.
Appellants contend that § 210.-320(5), which refers to the state cigarette tax procedures under in Chapter 149, establishes an exclusive statutory procedure by which a refund is to be sought and that respondents are not entitled to seek a refund with this action. If this action had been brought after 1975, this argument might have some force. From the authorization of a county cigarette tax in 1969 until December 31, 1975, however, the Director of Revenue failed to promulgate implementing regulations under § 210.320 to provide a procedure for replacement of wasted stamps or redemption of unused stamps. Section 210.320(5) refers to Chapter 149, but this Court has held that regulations promulgated under Chapter 149 do not effectuate § 210.320. State v. Raccagno, 530 S.W.2d 699, 701-02 (Mo. 1975). The replacement or refund procedure is now prescribed by the statute and the regulations, see § 210.320(6), RSMo 1978; 12 C.S.R. 10-16.020(1), .110 (1977), but at the time respondent commenced this action the protest statute appeared to be the only available procedure. Appellants argue that, as stipulated, the Department of Revenue informed respondent by April 25, 1972, that it would replace wasted stamps.
The judgment of the trial court is vacated, and the cause is remanded with directions to enter judgment for replacement of $8,048 worth of Jackson County cigarette tax stamps.
. All statutory references are to RSMo 1969 unless otherwise indicated.
. References in this opinion to cigarette tax stamps are intended also to include ink meter impressions made on cigarette packages.
. Given the precise correlation of the stipulated amount of wasted stamps and the amount of the trial court’s judgment, we infer that the trial court intended that respondent be reimbursed for the wasted stamps. The trial court’s judgment recited that the court found “in favor of Plaintiff [respondent] on Counts II and III of its Petition.” The judgment for $8,048 plus interest necessarily was rendered on Count II, for Count III had previously been dismissed, and that dismissal was never appealed.
. The stipulation also indicates that before April 25, 1972, the Department of Revenue informed respondent that it could not replace wasted county tax stamps.
. We are aware that the legislature has now provided that the Director of Revenue “may make refunds or exchange county tax stamps or meter units.” § 210.320(6), RSMo 1978. See also § 149.031, RSMo 1978. The intent of a later legislature in changing the statute to provide for a monetary refund, however, has no application to this case. See Springfield Gen. Osteopathic Hosp. v. Industrial Comm’n, 538 S.W.2d 364, 369 (Mo.App. 1976). We therefore need not, and do not, decide in this case whether interest is recoverable whenever a monetary refund is allowed.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- HEART OF AMERICA TOBACCO & CANDY CO. v. James P. AYLWARD, Jr.
- Status
- Published