Chickasha Federal Savings & Loan Ass'n v. Oklahoma Tax Commission

1974 OK 61, 528 P.2d 1384
CourtSupreme Court of Oklahoma
DecidedMay 14, 1974
DocketNo. 46050
StatusPublished
Cited by3 cases

This text of 1974 OK 61 (Chickasha Federal Savings & Loan Ass'n v. Oklahoma Tax Commission) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Supreme Court of Oklahoma primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Chickasha Federal Savings & Loan Ass'n v. Oklahoma Tax Commission, 1974 OK 61, 528 P.2d 1384 (Okla. 1974).

Opinion

BERRY, Justice.

Appellees are federal savings and loan associations and an Oklahoma savings and loan association which is insured by the Federal Savings and Loan Insurance Corporation. In computing their Oklahoma taxable income for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1971, appellees included amounts paid to holders of “savings deposits” and “savings” or “share accounts” for use of deposited funds. They paid taxes on these amounts under protest. They then brought this action to recover the taxes paid under protest. The trial court entered judgment for appellees and the Tax Commission appeals.

The Home Owners Loan Act of 1933 and regulations passed pursuant thereto provide for organization and regulation of federal savings and loan institutions. ' 12 U.S.C. §§ 1461-1468, 12 C.F.R., Parts 541 et seq.

The Oklahoma Savings and Loan Code of 1970, 18 O.S.1971 § 381.1 et seq., provides for organization and regulation of Oklahoma Savings and Loan Associations.

Federal statutes and regulations also govern insurance of state savings and loan associations by the Federal Savings and Loan Insurance Corporation, 12 U.-S.C. § 1724 et seq.; 12 C.F.R., Parts 561 et seq.

A state may tax the income of federal savings and loan associations provided the tax imposed is not greater than the tax it imposes upon similar local associations. 12 U.S.C. § 1464(h).

The Oklahoma Income Tax Act provides that “Oklahoma Taxable Income” is taxable income reported [or which would have been reported had the taxpayer filed a return] to the federal government adjusted further as provided in the Oklahoma Income Tax Act. 68 O.S.1971 § 2353(12).

[1386]*138668 O.S.1971 § 2358B(4) sets out the following adjustment to be made by savings and loan associations in determining Oklahoma taxable income:

“In the case of savings and loan associations located in Oklahoma, there shall be added to taxable income the amount of any dividend or distribution of earnings to shareholders, members or certificate holders of such association deducted in arriving at taxable income for such taxable year.”

In computing their federal taxable income appellees deducted the payments in question. This was done pursuant to 26 U.S.C. § 591. Section 591 provides that in computing federal taxable income savings and loan associations are entitled to deduct amounts paid or credited to accounts of depositors or holders of accounts as “dividends or interest” on their deposits or withdrawable accounts.

Furthermore, these payments were made to members of the associations. All shareholders, certificate holders, savings accounts holders, and savings deposit holders in a savings and loan association are members of the association. 18 O.S.1971 § 381.2(10) — (13), 12 C.F.R., Parts 541-545.

Therefore, the sole question presented is whether such payments are “any dividend or distribution of earnings” within the meaning of § 2358B(4), supra.

The quoted phrase is not defined in the Oklahoma Income Tax Act.

Appellees contend the payments in question constitute payments of interest, rather than “dividends or distributions of earnings.”

Both federal and state statutes allow savings and loan associations to become deposit associations by adopting certain charter amendments. 12 C.F.R., Part 545.-1-2 (a); 18 O.S.1971 § 381.50.

Each appellee which is a federal association has qualified as a deposit association under federal regulations. The Oklahoma association has qualified as a deposit association under applicable Oklahoma statutes.

Appellees contend applicable statutes and regulations create a debtor-creditor relationship between a deposit association and holders of savings deposits. As a general rule payments to creditors for use of borrowed funds constitute interest. Federal regulations applicable to federal deposit associations refer to payments to holders of savings deposits for use of deposited funds as interest.

Appellees contend they are entitled to deduct these sums in computing federal taxable income because § 591, supra, allows them to deduct amounts paid as interest or dividends on deposits. They contend § 2358B(4) does not require them to add these amounts in computing Oklahoma taxable income because the term “dividend or distribution of earnings” refers only to payments to holders of equity interests and does not include interest payments made to creditors.

Appellees further contend applicable statutes and regulations treat share accounts and savings deposits in deposit associations the same and payments to holders of share accounts in deposit associations should therefore be treated as payments of interest.

The Tax Commission contends the payments constitute a distribution of earnings regardless of whether they are designated as payments of interest or dividends. In support of this contention the Commission cites 18 O.S.1971 § 381.2(6), of the Oklahoma Savings and Loan Code. This section provides:

“ ‘Earnings’ means the money payable or to be credited to holders of savings accounts by an association as payment for the use of the funds which constitute such accounts. Earnings on savings accounts in a deposit association may be designated as interest, and earnings on other savings accounts may be designated as dividends.”

The term savings account includes both savings deposits and share accounts. 18 O.S.1971 § 381.2(11) (12) and (13). Therefore, § 381.2(6) refers to payments [1387]*1387by deposit associations to holders of share accounts and savings deposits as distributions of earnings to members regardless of whether the payments are designated as dividends or interest. See 18 O.S.1971 § 381.49.

The trial court found:

1. The relationship between deposit associations and their holders of savings deposits and owners of share accounts is one of debtor and creditor;
2. There is no distinction between payments by deposit associations to holders of savings deposits and owners of share accounts;
3. Payments to holders of savings deposits and owners of share accounts constitute interest;
4. The definition of earnings set out in 18 O.S.1971 § 381.2(6) is inapposite in this case because it is not applicable to Federal Savings and Loan Associations and State Savings and Loan Associations insured by the Federal Savings and Loan Insurance Corporation;
5. § 2358B(4) is a taxing statute and must be strictly construed against the State of Oklahoma;
6. Payments of interest by appellees to holders of savings deposits and owners of share accounts do not constitute “any dividend or distribution of earnings” within the meaning of § 2358B(4).
We disagree.

In construing a statute it is presumed every provision was intended to have some useful purpose and all provisions should be given effect. Equitable Royalty Corporation v. State, Okl., 352 P.2d 365.

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Related

Estate of LeDonne v. Stearman
1986 OK 77 (Supreme Court of Oklahoma, 1986)
Continental Federal Savings & Loan Ass'n v. Oklahoma Tax Commission
601 P.2d 743 (Court of Civil Appeals of Oklahoma, 1979)
In re the Protest of Vernon Savings & Loan Ass'n
1978 OK 87 (Supreme Court of Oklahoma, 1978)

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1974 OK 61, 528 P.2d 1384, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/chickasha-federal-savings-loan-assn-v-oklahoma-tax-commission-okla-1974.