Blair v. State Ex Rel. Oklahoma Tax Commission

935 P.2d 1197, 1997 WL 165369
CourtCourt of Civil Appeals of Oklahoma
DecidedApril 17, 1997
Docket87035
StatusPublished
Cited by4 cases

This text of 935 P.2d 1197 (Blair v. State Ex Rel. Oklahoma Tax Commission) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Civil Appeals of Oklahoma primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Blair v. State Ex Rel. Oklahoma Tax Commission, 935 P.2d 1197, 1997 WL 165369 (Okla. Ct. App. 1997).

Opinions

MEMORANDUM OPINION

ADAMS, Chief Judge:

In 1984 and 1985, the OMahoma Tax Commission issued tax warrants against the property of Appellants Robert A. Blair and Donald L. Blair (the Blairs) for taxes, penalty and interest attributable to state sales tax unpaid by the Blairs. In December of 1986, each of the Blairs pleaded guilty to eleven counts charging them with embezzlement by a trustee due to a failure to remit the taxes covered by the warrants and other taxes. Judgment and sentencing was deferred as to each of the Blairs conditioned on the fulfillment of rules of probation for five years including payment of restitution totaling $108,438.04 by December of 1991 according to a schedule. The restitution period was extended, and the Blairs finally completed paying the balance due under the restitution schedule in January of 1994.

Although the Commission conceded that interest on the unpaid amounts did not accrue for purposes of the restitution, ie., failure to pay interest did not violate the terms of the Blairs’ probation, the Commission took the position that interest did accrue for purposes of civil liability and refused to release the warrants. According to the Commission, Robert A. Blair owed $17,888.69 and Donald L. Blair owed $13,030.37 in interest and penalty on the tax liability covered by the tax warrants.1

The Blairs filed this action in district court asking the trial court to determine their rights under the restitution agreement, contending that the Commission had effectively agreed that the Blairs’ obligation to the Commission would be satisfied upon completion of the criminal restitution. In addition, the Blairs claimed the tax warrants could not attach to their homestead property and asked the trial court to determine that the warrants created no liens against their homestead. The Commission filed a motion to dismiss any action to challenge the amount of the tax debt and attached material outside the petition to support its argument. The trial court sustained that motion, ruling that the only issue remaining was whether the tax warrant liens attached to the homestead property. Subsequently, ruling on the Commission’s summary judgment motion, the trial court concluded that the tax warrants were valid liens on the Blairs’ homesteads and entered judgment denying the Blairs’ claims. The Blairs then filed this appeal claiming errors in both decisions. Because the trial court considered material outside the petition in ruling on the Commission’s dismissal motion, we review both orders under the standards applicable to summary judgments. See 12 O.S.1991 § 2012(B).

In addressing the Blairs’ claim that summary adjudication in favor of the Commission was inappropriate, we must examine the pleadings, depositions, affidavits and other evidentiary materials submitted by the parties and affirm if there is no genuine issue as to any material fact and one party was enti-[1199]*1199tied to judgment as a matter of law. Perry v. Green, 468 P.2d 483 (Okla.1970). All inferences and conclusions to be drawn from the evidentiary materials must be viewed in a light most favorable to the Blairs. Ross v. City of Shawnee, 683 P.2d 535 (Okla.1984). We are limited to the issues actually presented below as reflected by the record which was before the trial court rather than one that could have been assembled. Frey v. Independence Fire and Casualty Co., 698 P.2d 17 (Okla.1985).

Tax Warrant Issues

The Blairs’ claim is based principally on their belief that their entire tax liability, both criminal and civil, was satisfied when they paid the amount stated in the restitution agreement. According to the Blairs, by entering into the restitution agreement and not including interest and penalties in the amount due under that agreement, the Commission’s lawyer agreed to waive interest and penalties they might have otherwise owed. The Commission denies it had any waiver agreement with the Blairs concerning the accrual of interest and penalties during the time period covered by the restitution agreement.

The Commission has the power to waive or remit interest and penalties under 68 O.S. 1991 § 220. However, no waiver or remission of interest or penalties is effective for an amount over $1500 unless approved by a judge of the district court of Oklahoma County, and then only after the application for approval of the waiver or remission has been on file with the court clerk for at least twenty days prior to the entiy of any order approving or disapproving the waiver or remission. 68 O.S.1991 § 220(b).2 The interest and penalty at issue here exceeded the limitation imposed in § 220(b), and the Blairs did not present any evidence or even argue that they had complied with § 220(b).

The Blairs also challenge the validity of the tax warrants issued and filed in 1985 and argue that the Commission’s attempt to collect any further sum is time-barred. Specifically, the Blairs claim no assessments were issued for taxes owed for September 1983 and April 1985. Section 223 of Title 68 provides that “no proceedings by tax warrant or in Court without the previous assessment for the collection” of tax shall be begun after the expiration of three years from the date a return was filed. The Blairs filed tax returns for the September 1983 taxes on November 2,1983, and for the April 1985 taxes on June 21, 1985. A tax warrant for the April 1985 taxes was filed September 6,1985 and one for the September 1983 taxes was filed March 1, 1984. The Commission admits it is unable to produce copies of assessments it claims were issued for the two time periods but argues assessments must have been issued before the tax warrants were ultimately issued.

The warrants themselves were issued within three years of the filing of the returns. The warrants describe the total amount due as a sum of the “total tax,” the interest which had accrued to the date of the warrant, and penalties owed, “together with interest on the total tax at the rate of 18% per annum from the date hereof until paid.” The Blairs claim that by attempting to collect interest which accrued during the time of the extension of the restitution agreement via the enforcement of its warrants, the Commission is essentially trying to make an assessment more than three years after the filing of the returns. However, the Blairs have cited no authority which requires the Commission to make an assessment of interest and penalties. Section 223 refers to the assessment of tax, not the accrual of interest or penalty. It has no application to the accrual of interest and penalties upon taxes which have already been assessed.

In challenging the validity of the tax warrants because of the alleged failure of the Commission to issue assessments, the Blairs are improperly challenging the validity of the method of collection used by the Commission. Section 225 of Title 68 provides the method for the appeal of “a tax, or the method of collection or enforcement thereof.” 68 O.S. 1991 § 225(h). This procedure requires a hearing before the Commission and a direct appeal to the Oklahoma Supreme Court. [1200]*1200The Blairs failed to avail themselves of their opportunity to challenge the Commission’s action in issuing the tax warrants and cannot question their validity in this proceeding.

Homestead Issues

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Blair v. State Ex Rel. Oklahoma Tax Commission
935 P.2d 1197 (Court of Civil Appeals of Oklahoma, 1997)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
935 P.2d 1197, 1997 WL 165369, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/blair-v-state-ex-rel-oklahoma-tax-commission-oklacivapp-1997.