Rexach Construction Co. v. Secretary of the Treasury
Rexach Construction Co. v. Secretary of the Treasury
Opinion of the Court
The taxpayer, Rexach Construction Co., points out and the evidence shows that: the crane involved in this complaint has been designed for and used exclusively to alleviate the construction of multi-storied buildings and, as such, it constitutes construction equipment; that it is moved by electric motors; that the electric energy used by the motors is provided by the Water Resources Authority, and that according to § 22 of the Excise Act (13 L.P.R.A. § 4022) the collection of tax on this equipment was improper since it is not a taxable electrical apparatus but construction equipment not subject to taxation under the above-mentioned Act. On the contrary, the Solicitor General contends that no reimbursement of the $4,083.95 tax paid on the crane in question should be made because the crane is an electrical apparatus not specifically included among those exempt from taxation by the aforementioned Act.
There is no doubt that the Legislature’s intent was in approving the new Excise Act, to eliminate the taxation of construction equipment. This can be seen in the report of the Treasury Committee of the Senate of Puerto Rico of December 2, 1955 (Journal of Proceedings, Vol. VII, Book II, 1955), where, in connection with the most essential and important provisions, the Committee reported under the topic “Relief for Industry, Trade and Business” that the project repeals, as in fact the Act repealed, the tax on construction equipment. The Treasury Committee of the House of Representatives expressed itself more clearly (Journal of Proceedings, Vol. VII, Book I, 1955, p. 320), in reporting that “for the purpose of developing the construction business the equipment of the industry is exempt [from taxation]
If under the prior law cranes were subject to a specific 5% tax and the tax was not included in the new act and the intent of the Legislature was clearly against their taxation, it is not logical that cranes, even though operated by electricity, are taxable under the new law as electrical apparatus. Such, a conclusion would completely defeat the indi
Therefore, the decision rendered by the Superior Court, San Juan Part, on May 1, 1963, shall be reversed and a new decision ordering the Secretary of the Treasury to reimburse the taxpayer the $4,083.95 tax unduly collected in this case, shall be ordered.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.