New Mexico Newspapers, Inc. v. Bureau of Revenue

483 P.2d 317, 82 N.M. 436
CourtNew Mexico Court of Appeals
DecidedMarch 5, 1971
Docket516
StatusPublished
Cited by5 cases

This text of 483 P.2d 317 (New Mexico Newspapers, Inc. v. Bureau of Revenue) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering New Mexico Court of Appeals primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
New Mexico Newspapers, Inc. v. Bureau of Revenue, 483 P.2d 317, 82 N.M. 436 (N.M. Ct. App. 1971).

Opinions

OPINION

SPIESS, Chief Judge.

This appeal challenges an administrative decision and order of the Commissioner of Revenue assessing gross receipts tax [§§ 72-16A-1 through 72-16A-19, N.M.S.A. 1953 (Rpl. Vol. 10, pt. 2) (Supp. 1969)], against certain receipts of appellant-taxpayer which are derived from out-of-state advertising published in its newspaper.

Taxpayer bases its contention of nontaxability upon two alternative grounds:

I. The receipts in question are immune because taxation of them would be violative of the Commerce Clause of the United States Constitution.

II. Application of the tax to these receipts would be violative of the equal protection provisions of both state and federal Constitutions, as broadcasters similarly situated are tax exempt.

We affirm the decision and order of the Commissioner.

I.

VIOLATION OF COMMERCE CLAUSE

Stipulated facts relevant to taxpayer’s first argument are:

(1) Taxpayer is a New Mexico corporation engaged in the publication of a newspaper in Farmington, New Mexico.

(2) Taxpayer maintains no office or other place of business outside New Mexico.

(3) Part of taxpayer’s income is derived from printing advertisements which are part of national advertising campaigns by foreign marketers of goods and services.

(4) Taxpayer’s receipts from advertisements as in (3) are received pursuant to contracts made outside New Mexico, between advertisers and solicitation representatives of taxpayer, neither of which are engaged in business in New Mexico.

(5) Receipts in (3) are for printing and publication only. All preparation of mats is done outside New Mexico by the advertising agency.

(6) Taxpayer receives payment in the following manner:

(a) Taxpayer prints the advertisement.

(b) Taxpayer presents a bill and proof of printing to Representative.

(c) Representative presents same to Agency.

(d) Agency presents bill to Advertiser, who pays Agency.

(e) Agency remits to Representative, retaining a percentage for its services.

(f) Representative remits to Taxpayer, retaining a percentage for its services. Thus, Taxpayer receives less than face value of its original bill.

Both parties to this appeal rely on Western Live Stock v. Bureau of Revenue, 303 U.S. 250, 58 S.Ct. 546, 82 L.Ed. 823 (1939), affirming Western Live Stock v. Bureau of Revenue, 41 N.M. 288, 67 P.2d 505 (1937). There are three cases bearing the name “Western Live Stock v. Bureau of Revenue.” (1) that found at 41 N.M. 141, 65 P.2d 863 (1937), hereinafter referred to as "Western I”, (2) that found at 41 N.M. 288, 67 P.2d 505 (1937), hereinafter referred to as “Western II”, (3) that found at 303 U.S. 250, 58 S.Ct. 546, 82 L.Ed. 823 (1939), hereinafter referred to as “Western III.”

The facts upon which the Western Cases were based are:

“Appellants publish a monthly livestock trade journal which they wholly prepare, edit, and publish within the state of New Mexico, where their only office and place of business is located. The journal has a circulation in New Mexico and other states, being distributed to paid subscribers through the mails or by other means ' of transportation. It carries advertisements, some of which are obtained from advertisers in other states through appellants’ solicitation there. Where such contracts are entered into, payment is :made 'by remittance to appellants sent ' interstate; and the contracts contemplate and' provide for the interstate shipment by the advertisers to appellants of advertising cuts, mats, information, and copy. Payment is due after the printing of such advertisements in the journal and its ultimate circulation and distribution, which is alleged to be in New Mexico and other states.” “Western III,” 303 U.S. at 252, 58 S.Ct. at 547.

It further appears that the transactions before the court involved representation by foreign advertising agencies.

“ * * * These foreign advertisements are obtained by plaintiff both through perso'nal solicitation and through what are known as advertising agencies, located in states other than New Mexico. Some -of these advertising contracts are made between plaintiffs and the manufacturer, located in a foreign state, while others, as stated, are made between the plaintiffs and an advertising' agency, which advertising agency having a different and a separate contract with the manufacturer, and in such cases all dealings in connection therewith are between the plaintiffs and the agency.” Western I, 41 N.M. at 143, 65 P.2d at 865.

A. Is the tax in question violative of the Commerce Clause as an undue burden on interstate commerce? No.It appears to us that each of the elements involved here was a subject of consideration by the Supreme Court of the United States in Western III and it was. there held that tax was “not forbidden.”

“That the mere formation of a contract between persons in different states is not within the protection of the commerce clause, at least in the absence of Congressional action, unless the performance is within its protection, is a proposition no longer open to question, [citations omitted]. Hence, it is unnecessary to' consider the impact of the tax upon the advertising contracts except as it affects their performance, presently to be discussed. Nor is taxation of a local business or occupation which is separate and' distinct from the transportation and intercourse which is interstate commerce forbidden merely because in the ordinary course such transportation or intercourse is induced or occasioned by the business, [citations omitted]. Here the tax which is laid on the compensation re-, ceived under the contract is not forbidden either because the contract, apart from its performance, is within the protection of the commerce clause, or because as an incident preliminary to printing and publishing the advertisements the advertisers send cuts, copy and the like to appellants.” “Western III,” 303 U.S. at 253, 58 S.Ct. at 547.

B. Is the tax forbidden because of the possibility of multiple taxation ?

In Western III, the court considered multiple taxation with reference to the magazines’ activities as a whole, including interstate distribution, and said:

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New Mexico Newspapers, Inc. v. Bureau of Revenue
483 P.2d 317 (New Mexico Court of Appeals, 1971)

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483 P.2d 317, 82 N.M. 436, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/new-mexico-newspapers-inc-v-bureau-of-revenue-nmctapp-1971.