Finger Contract Supply Co. v. Republic National Bank of Dallas

412 S.W.2d 79, 1967 Tex. App. LEXIS 2782
CourtCourt of Appeals of Texas
DecidedJanuary 27, 1967
DocketNo. 16791
StatusPublished

This text of 412 S.W.2d 79 (Finger Contract Supply Co. v. Republic National Bank of Dallas) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals of Texas primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Finger Contract Supply Co. v. Republic National Bank of Dallas, 412 S.W.2d 79, 1967 Tex. App. LEXIS 2782 (Tex. Ct. App. 1967).

Opinion

MASSEY, Chief Justice.

The action is one to determine priority in rights to monies coming into the hands of a receiver of specific corporate assets pursuant to the operation of a motel by the receiver. There was no receivership of any corporation as such. The trial court’s judgment was an award of first priority in settlement of various tax claims of the United States, the State of Texas, and the Arlington Independent School District; and next to the mortgagee, Republic National Bank of Dallas and its assignee Warren Donaldson. All of the aforesaid parties are appellees. In consequence the appellant, Finger Contract Supply Company, was left with nothing to acquire out of the profits realized during receivership of the subject property in satisfaction of a deficiency judgment it had obtained against Admiral Motor Hotel of Texas, Incorporated. Because thereof said appellant perfected its appeal to this court.

Judgment affirmed in part and in part reformed and affirmed.

At the outset of our hearing the appellant conceded upon the matter of tax claim priority except as to the priority of the ad valorem tax claims of the State of Texas and the Arlington Independent School District. These'taxes accrued upon the receivership property beginning long prior thereto. The appellant’s position is grounded upon the contention that as a “lien” upon the property taxed the claims of the governmental agencies would be sound, but that such lien would not extend to profits realized from the operation of the receivership property, as to which a lien could only attach after a judgment for taxes and after a levy made under authority of the judgment. There has been neither judgment nor levy.

[82]*82After the appointment of a receiver of the specific corporate assets in question, to-wit: a particular motel premises owned and operated by the greater corporate entity, Admiral Motor Hotel of Texas, Incorporated, an order was entered setting a date by which all claims to funds remaining in the hands of the receiver must be filed. Claims were filed by the governmental agencies predicated upon tax liabilities accrued.

Public policy demands that taxes owing by everyone against whom they are assessed, including corporations and receivers, must be paid. There is no contention in this case that the taxes in question are not justly owed. They were properly assessed and due notice was given.

Applicable Constitutional and statutory provisions are:

“Article VIII, § 15, Texas Constitution. Lien of assessment; seizure and sale of property
“Sec. 15. The annual assessment made-upon landed property shall be a special lien thereon; and all property, both real and personal, belonging to any delinquent taxpayer shall be liable to seizure and sale for the payment of all the taxes and penalties due by such delinquent; and such property may be sold for the payment of the taxes and penalties due by such delinquent, under such regulations as the Legislature may provide.”
“Art. 7172. Lien for taxes
“All taxes upon real property shall be a lien upon such property until the same shall have been paid. * * * ”
“Art. 7269. Tax lien superior
“In all cases where a taxpayer makes an assignment of his property for the payment of his debts, or where his property is levied upon by creditors, by writs of attachments or otherwise, or where the estate of a decedent is or becomes insolvent, and the taxes assessed against such person or property, or against any of his estate remain unpaid in part or in whole, the amount of such unpaid taxes shall be a first lien upon all such property; provided, that when taxes are due by an estate of a deceased person, the lien herein provided for shall be subject to the allowances to widows and minors, funeral expenses, and expenses of last sickness. Such unpaid taxes shall be paid by the assignee, when said property has been seized by the sheriff, out of the proceeds of sale in case such property has been seized under attachment or other writ, and by the administrator or other legal representative of decedents; and, if said taxes shall not be paid, all said property may be levied on by the tax collector and sold for such taxes in whomsoever’s hands it may be found."
“Art. 7048. County ad valorem, etc.
“ * * * In all cases where any dealer in merchandise, wares or goods of any kind, subject to ad valorem or occupation taxes, or both, under the provisions of this law, who shall after the rendition of said merchandise, wares or goods for taxation, or after becoming liable for any occupation tax, become bankrupt or make assignment of said merchandise, wares or goods, then the tax collector shall at once demand of the receiver or assignee of said dealer payment of the amount due for said taxes by said dealer; and in case of failure of said receiver or assignee to at once pay the amount of said taxes, the said collector shall levy upon, seize and sell from the said merchandise, wares or goods, enough to satisfy the amount of said taxes, and said taxes, until paid, shall constitute a prior lien on said merchandise, goods and wares in default of said taxes.”
“Art. 1.07 Lien and Recording; Failure to Withhold Taxes; Penalties; Fines, etc., Cumulative
“(1) All taxes, fines, penalties and interest due by an individual, firm, association, joint stock company, syndicate, co-[83]*83partnership, corporation, agency, trustee or receiver to the State of Texas, by virtue of this Title, shall be a preferred lien, first and prior to any and all other existing liens, contract or statutory, legal or equitable, and regardless of the time such liens originated, subject, however, to the modification hereinafter contained, upon all the property of any individual, firm, association, joint stock company, syndicate, co-partnership, corporation, agency, trustee, or receiver. This lien shall be cumulative, and in addition to the liens for taxes, fines, penalties, and interest now provided by law, and shall attach as of the date such tax or taxes are due and payable. Provided, however, before the taxes provided for in this law shall become a lien on real estate, notice thereof must be filed in the county where the real estate is located on which the lien is desired as provided in Article 1.07A of this Act. Such lien shall not be valid or effective as against any mortgagee, holder of a deed of trust, purchaser, pledgee, or judgment creditor acquiring title, lien or other right or interest before such notice has been so filed and recorded.”
“Art. 7343. Similar proceedings by cities and independent school districts
<( * * *
“All laws of this State for the purpose of collecting delinquent State and county taxes are by this law made available for, and when invoked shall be applied to, the collection of delinquent taxes of cities and towns and independent school districts in so far as such laws are applicable.”

As a general rule, a school district has no specific statutory tax lien on personal property. Only when certain facts exist bringing into operation the provisions of Articles 7269 and 7048, Vernon’s Ann.Tex.Civ.St. quoted in material part above, are specific tax liens created thereon. See City of San Marcos v.

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City of San Marcos v. Zimmerman
361 S.W.2d 929 (Court of Appeals of Texas, 1962)
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Bluebook (online)
412 S.W.2d 79, 1967 Tex. App. LEXIS 2782, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/finger-contract-supply-co-v-republic-national-bank-of-dallas-texapp-1967.