Davor Vulic v. Department of Treasury

909 N.W.2d 487, 321 Mich. App. 471
Michigan Court of Appeals·Decided September 26, 2017·No. 333255·Published·Cited by 3 cases

Opinions

Boonstra, P.J.

*475Petitioner appeals by right the Michigan Tax Tribunal's (the Tribunal) grant of summary *476disposition in favor of respondent. Because we hold that summary disposition was properly granted, but do so primarily for different reasons than those cited by the Tribunal, we affirm in part and vacate in part the Tribunal's final opinion and judgment, and we remand for entry of an order granting summary disposition in favor of respondent for the reasons stated in this opinion.

I. PERTINENT FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY

Petitioner purchased 1,799 cartons (each carton containing 10 packs) of cigarettes from an out-of-state business and shipped them to a friend in Bosnia-Herzegovina. The cigarettes were purchased with funds from an account in petitioner's name. The friend reimbursed petitioner (or paid him in advance) for his costs in obtaining and shipping the cigarettes, and petitioner made no profit from the endeavor. His friend asserted via letter that all relevant taxes and duties in Bosnia-Herzegovina were appropriately paid. The cigarettes *489were eventually sold at petitioner's friend's store. No taxes were paid for the cigarettes in Michigan, and neither petitioner nor the out-of-state business was licensed to sell or receive cigarettes in Michigan. Respondent assessed tax on petitioner under the Tobacco Products Tax Act (TPTA), MCL 205.421 et seq . Petitioner contested the tax, asserting that he should not be liable for taxes on the cigarettes because he was not a "consumer" of the cigarettes, noting that the cigarettes were located in Michigan for less than 24 hours, the cigarette cartons were never opened in Michigan, the cigarettes were never smoked in Michigan, and all relevant taxes were paid at their final destination. The Tribunal disagreed. This appeal followed. We note that the only issue before us is whether *477petitioner is personally liable for taxes under the TPTA, not whether petitioner's actions were otherwise lawful.

II. STANDARD OF REVIEW

We review de novo the Tribunal's grant of summary disposition. Paris Meadows, LLC v. Kentwood , 287 Mich. App. 136, 141, 783 N.W.2d 133 (2010). We generally give deference to an administrative agency's interpretation of a statute the agency is delegated to administer, but we are not bound to such an interpretation. Bechtel Power Corp. v. Dep 't of Treasury , 128 Mich. App. 324, 329, 340 N.W.2d 297 (1983). Notwithstanding any deference that might be afforded to the Tribunal, we review de novo the interpretation and application of statutory language. Paris Meadows , 287 Mich. App. at 141-142, 783 N.W.2d 133. Plain and unambiguous language in a statute must be enforced as written, and a forced construction or implication will not be upheld. Sebastian J Mancuso Family Trust v. City of Charlevoix , 300 Mich. App. 1, 4-5, 831 N.W.2d 907 (2013).

III. ANALYSIS

The TPTA " 'can aptly be described as a pervasive group of tobacco product regulations....' " Value, Inc. v. Dep't of Treasury , 320 Mich. App. 571, 577, 907 NW2d 872 (2017), quoting People v. Beydoun , 283 Mich. App. 314, 328, 770 N.W.2d 54 (2009). It " 'contains detailed definitions, licensing and stamping requirements, recordkeeping and document maintenance obligations, schedules of tax rates, civil and criminal penalties for violations of the TPTA, procedures governing seized property, and a delineation of tobacco tax disbursements for various purposes.' " Value, Inc., 320 Mich.App. at 577, 907 N.W.2d 872., quoting Beydoun , 283 Mich.App. at 328, 770 N.W.2d 54. "[T]he *478TPTA is at its heart a revenue statute, designed to assure that tobacco taxes levied in support of Michigan schools are not evaded." Value, Inc. , 320 Mich App at 577, 907 N.W.2d 872. (quotation marks and citations omitted; alteration in original).

Petitioner argues that he is not subject to tax under the TPTA because he was not a "consumer" of the tobacco products at issue. We disagree.

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Davor Vulic v. Department of Treasury, 909 N.W.2d 487, 321 Mich. App. 471 (Mich. Ct. App. 2017).

909 N.W.2d 487 (Davor Vulic v. Department of Treasury) — published by Counsel Stack Legal Research, free access to 12M+ legal documents.

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