Chipman-Union, Inc. v. Greene County (In re Chipman-Union, Inc.)

285 B.R. 752, 2002 Bankr. LEXIS 1261
CourtUnited States Bankruptcy Court, M.D. Georgia
DecidedNovember 1, 2002
DocketNo. 01-31418 RFH
StatusPublished

This text of 285 B.R. 752 (Chipman-Union, Inc. v. Greene County (In re Chipman-Union, Inc.)) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering United States Bankruptcy Court, M.D. Georgia primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Chipman-Union, Inc. v. Greene County (In re Chipman-Union, Inc.), 285 B.R. 752, 2002 Bankr. LEXIS 1261 (Ga. 2002).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM OPINION

ROBERT F. HERSHNER, Jr., Chief Judge.

Chipman-Union, Inc., Movant, filed on August 9, 2002, its Amended and Restated Motion for Determination of Tax Liability Under 11 U.S.C. § 505. Greene County, Georgia, Respondent, filed a response on August 27, 2002. Movant’s motion came on for a hearing on August 27, 2002. The Court, having considered the evidence presented and the arguments of counsel, now publishes this memorandum opinion.

Movant was a textile manufacturer. Movant operated facilities in Greene County, which were known as the Union Point Plant and the Bryan Scott Plant.

Movant had financial problems. An involuntary Chapter 7 case was filed against Movant on October 15, 2001. The Court entered an order for relief under Chapter 7 on November 8, 2001. The Court also entered an order converting Movant’s Chapter 7 case to a Chapter 11 case on November 8, 2001.

Movant is liquidating its assets and will not reorganize as a going concern. Movant has sold its Union Point Plant.1 Movant has employed Republic Textile Equipment Company to sell some of Movant’s remaining assets.

Movant’s equipment2 and inventory were subject to ad valorem taxation. O.C.G.A. § 48-5-3 (1999). Movant was obligated to file ad valorem tax returns by April 1 of each year. Movant was to “return” all equipment and inventory that it owned as of January 1. O.C.G.A. § 48-5-10, -18(a) (1999 & Supp.2002). Movant was to return its equipment and inventory at fair market value. O.C.G.A. § 48-5-6 (1999). Movant’s representative was to “solemnly swear” that the information on the return was true and correct. O.C.G.A. § 48-5-19 (Supp.2002).

[754]*754Simply stated, Movant was obligated to file ad valorem tax returns by April 1. Movant was to return, at fair market value, the equipment and inventory that it owned on January 1.

Movant filed its 2001 ad valorem tax returns on May 10, 2001.3 Movant’s chief financial officer signed a Taxpayer’s Declaration, asserting that the “true market value” of Movant’s equipment was $8,866,450.4

Movant filed its 2002 ad valorem tax returns on March 13, 2002. Movant’s president signed a Taxpayer’s Declaration, asserting that the “true market value” of Movant’s equipment was $8,679,443.

The Taxpayer’s Declaration,5 which is part of the ad valorem tax return, provides as follows:

TAXPAYER’S DECLARATION
“I do solemnly swear that I have carefully read (or have had read) and have duly considered the questions propounded in the foregoing tax list, and that the value placed by me on the property returned, as shown by the list, is the true market value thereof; and I further swear that I returned, for the purpose of being taxed thereon, every species of property that I own in my own right or have control of either as agent, executor, administrator, or otherwise; and that in making this return, for the purpose of being taxed thereon, I have not attempted either by transferring my property to another or by any other means to evade the laws governing taxation in this state. I do further swear that in making this return I have done so by estimating the true worth and value of every species of property contained therein.”

The ad valorem tax returns require Movant to determine the “basic cost approach value” of its equipment. This requires Movant to determine the original cost and the economic life of the equipment. Movant then multiplies the cost times a depreciation factor.6 The result is the basic cost value. Should Movant believe that the basic cost value does not reflect fair market value, then Movant may list its estimate of value under a column titled Taxpayer Returned Value.

Movant reported the basic cost value of its equipment for 2001 as $8,866,450 and for 2002 as $8,679,443. Movant did not list different values in the column titled Taxpayer Returned Value.

Movant, in the motion before the Court, contends that the fair market value of its equipment on January 1 of 2001 and January 1 of 2002 was $1,296,000. Movant urges the Court to determine the value of its equipment to be $1,296,000. Movant notes that this would reduce its ad valorem tax obligations. Movant relies upon section 505(a) of the Bankruptcy Code,7 which [755]*755provides, in relevant part, that the court may determine the amount or legality of any tax, whether or not previously assessed or paid.

Movant relies upon Mocco v. City of Jersey City (In re Mocco) 8 in which the Bankruptcy Court for New Jersey stated:

I. Bankruptcy Court Authority to Review Tax Assessments

The bankruptcy court has authority to adjudicate tax assessments of real property pursuant to 11 U.S.C. § 505(a) ....
Section 505 has been interpreted to permit the bankruptcy court to determine the amount of any tax, including real estate tax assessments. The ability of a bankruptcy court to determine any and all issues of tax liability of debtors, when there has been no prior determination by any state, judicial or judicial body, is well established in the Third Circuit. In determining such tax liabilities, section 505 grants a bankruptcy court broad discretionary powers.
A debtor’s failure to meet state procedural requirements (such as payment of tax obligation) or the lapse of time between a tax year and the time of the filing does not limit the applicability of 11 U.S.C. § 505. In permitting assessments of real estate taxes where state law procedural requirements are not met, the bankruptcy code through section 505, seeks to protect creditors from dissipation of an estate’s assets. Such dissipation could result if creditors are bound, by a tax judgment which a debt- or, due to-its ailing conditions, failed to contest.
Once beyond the state’s procedural requirements, the bankruptcy court must give full faith and credit to the substantive law of the state to answer the ultimate question of whether the taxes are legally due and owing.

222 B.R. at 455.

Thus, the Court must look to state substantive law to determine the value of Movant’s equipment for ad valorem tax purposes.

The Georgia Code provides, in part, as follows:

48-5-1. Legislative intent.

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Related

Rockdale County v. Finishline Industries, Inc.
518 S.E.2d 720 (Court of Appeals of Georgia, 1999)
Fulton County Tax Commissioner v. General Motors Corp.
507 S.E.2d 772 (Court of Appeals of Georgia, 1998)
Mocco v. City of Jersey City (In Re Mocco)
222 B.R. 440 (D. New Jersey, 1998)
Committee for Better Government v. Black
453 S.E.2d 772 (Court of Appeals of Georgia, 1995)
Gwinnett County Board of Tax Assessors v. Makita Corp. of America
460 S.E.2d 538 (Court of Appeals of Georgia, 1995)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
285 B.R. 752, 2002 Bankr. LEXIS 1261, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/chipman-union-inc-v-greene-county-in-re-chipman-union-inc-gamb-2002.