Flores v. Colorado Department of Revenue, State, Tax Division

802 P.2d 1175, 14 Brief Times Rptr. 1471, 1990 Colo. App. LEXIS 324, 1990 WL 174107
CourtColorado Court of Appeals
DecidedNovember 8, 1990
DocketNo. 89CA1427
StatusPublished
Cited by2 cases

This text of 802 P.2d 1175 (Flores v. Colorado Department of Revenue, State, Tax Division) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Colorado Court of Appeals primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Flores v. Colorado Department of Revenue, State, Tax Division, 802 P.2d 1175, 14 Brief Times Rptr. 1471, 1990 Colo. App. LEXIS 324, 1990 WL 174107 (Colo. Ct. App. 1990).

Opinion

Opinion by

Judge MARQUEZ.

The Colorado Department of Revenue appeals from an adverse judgment of the trial court construing certain provisions of § 39-21-101, et seq., C.R.S. (1982 Repl.Vol. 16B). We affirm.

The Department issued notices of jeopardy assessment and demand for immediate payment, pursuant to “Section 111, Article 21, Title 39 Colorado Revised Statutes of 1973” and dated December 6, 1988, to Marcella Juanita Flores, Marvin Flores, Tammy Jayne Rumsey, Martin Delgado Flores, and Lee James Flores, identified by the Department as a partnership (taxpayers), for collection of Colorado sales and use taxes, penalties, and interest. These notices were subsequently served on taxpayers. The jeopardy assessments were allegedly issued on the basis of investigations conducted by the Pueblo Police Department and Department of Revenue into the alleged drug trafficking of taxpayers.

The record reflects that the Department proceeded to enforce the jeopardy assessments pursuant to § 39-21-114, C.R.S. (1982 Repl.Vol. 16B), by issuing distraint warrants dated December 7, 1988, and seizing certain items of personal property on or about December 12, 1988. A notice of Director of Revenue’s sale which was to be held on a date in early January 1989, listing the items to be sold, was issued in December 1988.

On December 28, 1988, taxpayers filed a “Petition for Judicial Review” pursuant to § 24-4-106, C.R.S. (1988 Repl.Vol. 10A).

In the summer of 1989, after a number of motions had been made, and the sale of assets stayed, the trial court ruled on taxpayers’ petition for judicial review. The court, not knowing whether the Department had proceeded with the jeopardy assessment under § 39-21-111(1), C.R.S. (1982 Repl.Vol. 16B) or § 39-21-111(2), C.R.S. (1982 Repl. Vol. 16B) determined [1177]*1177that in either event, taxpayers were not allowed an opportunity for an administrative hearing prior to the scheduled public sale of their property and that this procedure denied taxpayers due process of law. It further ruled that, under § 39-21-111(1), the provisions of § 39-21-103, C.R.S. (1982 Repl.Vol. 16B) (hearings) and § 39-21-105, C.R.S. (1982 Repl.Vol. 16B) (appeals) apply; that § 39-21-111(2) does not allow this right for an administrative hearing and is therefore unconstitutional as it violates due process; and that, if the Department was acting under § 39-21-111(1), then judicial review was premature since taxpayers had not exhausted their administrative remedies. Therefore, the court denied the petition for judicial review and ordered an administrative hearing to be held within 30 days.

The central issue on appeal is whether taxpayers, in requesting judicial review under § 24-4-106, C.R.S. (1988 Repl.Vol. 10A) of the Colorado Administrative Procedure Act, and not under the provisions of § 39-21-101, et seq., C.R.S. (1982 Repl.Vol. 16B), were properly before the district court. We hold that the taxpayers did proceed properly and that, therefore, the district court had subject matter jurisdiction.

Initially, we must determine whether the ruling of the trial court ordering an administrative hearing is a final appealable judgment since the trial court did not adjudicate the substantive claims of the parties. We conclude that the ruling is a final ap-pealable judgment.

The trial court's ruling is based on the finding that taxpayers were not allowed an opportunity for an administrative hearing prior to the scheduled public sale and the conclusion that this procedure denied the taxpayers due process of law. Under such circumstances, we conclude this matter is ripe for appeal. See Scott v. City of Englewood, 672 P.2d 225 (Colo.App.1983).

Section 24-4-106 provides a judicial remedy to persons aggrieved by final agency action. Section 24-4-106(2), C.R.S. (1988 Repl.Vol. 10B). If there is a conflict between § 24-4-106 and a specific statutory provision relating to the Department, then the specific statutory provision controls. See § 24-4-107, C.R.S. (1988 Repl.Vol. 10A).

We must, therefore, determine whether § 39-21-101, et seq., C.R.S. (1982 Repl.Vol. 16B) provides specific procedures for a taxpayer to challenge a jeopardy assessment and distraint warrant issued pursuant to §§ 39-21-111 and 39-21-114, C.R.S. (1982 Repl.Vol. 16B) and whether these conflict with § 24-4-106.

This is a case of first impression in Colorado and, therefore, calls for an interpretation of § 39-21-101, et seq., C.R.S. (1982 Repl.Vol. 16B). Specifically, we must ascertain ■ the relationship between § 39-21-103 (hearings), § 39-21-105 (appeals), § 39-21-111 (jeopardy assessment and demands), and § 39-21-114 (methods of enforcing collection).

Interpretation of statutes is a question of law, and appellate courts need not defer to the trial court’s interpretation. People v. Terry, 791 P.2d 374 (Colo.1990).

The first goal of a court in construing a statute is to ascertain and give effect to the intent of the General Assembly. To determine the legislative intent, courts look first to statutory language. People v. Terry, supra.

If the statutory language is clear and unambiguous, there is no need to resort to interpretative rules of statutory construction. If, however, statutory language is uncertain as to its intended scope, with the result that the statutory text lends itself to alternative constructions, then a court may apply other rules of statutory construction and look to pertinent legislative history. Griffin v. S. W. Devanney & Co., 775 P.2d 555 (Colo.1989); see § 2-4-203, C.R.S. (1980 Repl.Vol. IB).

A statute should be interpreted as a whole to give a consistent, harmonious, and sensible effect to all of its parts. Griffin v. S. W. Devanney & Co., supra. See § 2-4-201(1)(b), C.R.S. (1980 Repl.Vol. IB). A statute must also be construed to further the legislative intent evidenced by the entire statutory scheme. Martinez v. Conti[1178]*1178nental Enterprises, 730 P.2d 308 (Colo.1986).

In addition, construction of a statute by administrative officials charged with its enforcement must be given deference by courts. Larimer County School District v. Industrial Commission, 727 P.2d 401 (Colo.App.1986).

Section 39-21-101, et seq., C.R.S. (1982 Repl.Vol. 16B) provides a general statutory scheme for the procedure and administration of the collection of certain state taxes.

Under usual tax collection procedures, if the tax found due is greater than the amount assessed or paid, the Department mails a notice of deficiency to the taxpayer, who then has a right to a hearing before the Department under § 39-21-103, C.R.S. (1982 Repl.Vol. 16B). That statutory section provides in part:

“(1) ... If the tax found due is greater than the amount theretofore assessed or paid, a notice of deficiency shall be mailed to the taxpayer by certified mail.

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

Richmond Petroleum, Inc. v. Oil & Gas Conservation Commission
907 P.2d 732 (Colorado Court of Appeals, 1995)
Gabriel ex rel. Gabriel v. City & County of Denver
824 P.2d 36 (Colorado Court of Appeals, 1991)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
802 P.2d 1175, 14 Brief Times Rptr. 1471, 1990 Colo. App. LEXIS 324, 1990 WL 174107, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/flores-v-colorado-department-of-revenue-state-tax-division-coloctapp-1990.