Perkins v. Dept. of Rev.

22 Or. Tax 370
CourtOregon Tax Court
DecidedMarch 23, 2017
DocketTC 5275
StatusPublished
Cited by14 cases

This text of 22 Or. Tax 370 (Perkins v. Dept. of Rev.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Oregon Tax Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Perkins v. Dept. of Rev., 22 Or. Tax 370 (Or. Super. Ct. 2017).

Opinion

370 March 23, 2017 No. 38

IN THE OREGON TAX COURT REGULAR DIVISION

Randall A. PERKINS, Plaintiff, v. DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE, Defendant. (TC 5275) Plaintiff (taxpayer) filed a complaint containing claims for relief regarding timber tax. Taxpayer argued that ORS 321.600, being a statute of limitations on collection actions of timber taxes, was a tax law of this state and that the Tax Court had jurisdiction in the matter. Taxpayer further alleged that Defendant (the department) could no longer collect on timber tax amounts due from tax- payer to the State of Oregon. The underlying and recurring premise in taxpayer’s claims was that the department had untimely instituted collection proceedings in contravention of ORS 321.600, which established a six-year statute of limita- tions on collection proceedings for timber taxes. Moving to dismiss taxpayer’s complaint, the department argued that the Tax Court did not have subject mat- ter jurisdiction over the case, because the underlying tax assessments were final and further, that the court’s jurisdiction did not extend to collection matters. Granting the department’s motion, the court ruled that the statutory provisions overwhelmingly demonstrated that the legislature intended to locate jurisdic- tion over the issuance and enforcement of timber tax warrants in either circuit court or before the department, but also that the department’s general jurisdic- tion assertion regarding collections was too broad; in at least two instances, the legislature appeared to have provided that the Tax Court may address certain collection matters. The court concluded, in either event, that the processes for issuing and enforcing warrants for timber tax amounts due in this case were outside the jurisdiction of the Tax Court.

Oral argument on Defendant’s Motion to Dismiss was held August 8, 2016, in the courtroom of the Oregon Tax Court, Salem. Robert C. Weaver, Jr., Garvey Schubert Barer PC, Portland, filed the response and argued the cause for Plaintiff (taxpayer). James C. Strong, Assistant Attorney General, Depart- ment of Justice, Salem, filed the motion and argued the cause for Defendant Department of Revenue (the department). Decision for Defendant rendered March 23, 2017. HENRY C. BREITHAUPT, Judge. Cite as 22 OTR 370 (2017) 371

I. INTRODUCTION This case is before the court on the motion of Defendant Department of Revenue (the department) to dis- miss the complaint filed by Plaintiff (taxpayer) for lack of subject matter jurisdiction, failure to state ultimate facts sufficient to constitute a claim, and failure to timely bring the action. Tax Court Rule (TCR) 21 A. Because this court lacks subject matter jurisdiction over taxpayer’s claims, this court does not address the department’s alternative bases for dismissal. II. FACTS In considering a motion to dismiss for lack of subject matter jurisdiction, the facts in the complaint are accepted to be true. However, this court’s review is not limited solely to those facts. The court may also consider “ ‘matters out- side the pleading, including affidavits, declarations and other evidence.’ ” Douglas County v. Smith, 18 OTR 450, 453 (2006) (citing TCR 21 A). The record in this case comprises the allegations in taxpayer’s complaint and the declara- tion of Marcus Cridge, collections policy coordinator for the department, which was attached to the department’s motion to dismiss. Between 1993 and 1995, taxpayer owned forestland subject to the Western Oregon Forestland and Privilege Tax (privilege tax) and Forest Products Harvest Tax (harvest tax) provisions contained in ORS chapter 321 (referred to collectively as timber taxes). Taxpayer has not alleged that he filed timber tax returns for either tax for tax years 1993, 1994, or 1995. Nor has taxpayer alleged that he submitted timely payment for either tax for tax years 1993, 1994, or 1995. The department assessed taxpayer for unpaid timber taxes on September 24, 1997, for tax year 1993; September 26, 1997, for tax year 1994; and July 6, 1999, for tax year 1995. Appeal from such assessments may be made to this court. ORS 305.275 (1993);1 see also ORS 305.280(2), 1 The 1993 and 1995 editions of the Oregon Revised Statutes (ORS) apply to the specific tax years at issue. There is no difference in text of the statutes in effect during those tax years. 372 Perkins v. Dept. of Rev.

(3) (1993) (providing time limitations for appeals of taxes contained in ORS chapter 321 to this court). Taxpayer did not allege that he appealed these assessments. They there- fore became final and personal obligations. ORS 305.265(14) (1993) (providing that “[a]ssessments and billings of taxes shall be final after the expiration of the appeal period spec- ified in ORS 305.280”); ORS 321.600 (1993) (providing that liabilities for timber taxes “constitute a debt due the State of Oregon”). A. Multnomah County Warrants On February 15, 2000, the department recorded warrants in Multnomah County against taxpayer for priv- ilege taxes due for tax years 1993, 1994, and 1995. On the same date, the department also recorded warrants in Multnomah County against taxpayer for harvest taxes due for tax years 1993 and 1995. On July 21, 2005, the depart- ment recorded a warrant in Multnomah County against taxpayer for harvest taxes due for tax year 1994. Taxpayer alleges that the department did not renew its warrants that were filed on February 15, 2000, in Multnomah County. Taxpayer alleges that the warrants therefore expired on February 15, 2010, pursuant to ORS 18.182 (formerly ORS 18.360) (extension of judgment rem- edies) and ORS 205.126(2) (enacted 1997) (expiration and extension of warrants filed in circuit court). There is no allegation that the department renewed or failed to renew its warrant filed in Multnomah County on July 21, 2005. However, taxpayer has not alleged that this warrant has expired. B. Benton County Warrants On April 19, 2006, the department recorded war- rants in Benton County against taxpayer for the timber taxes due for tax years 1993, 1994, and 1995. Taxpayer alleges that on October 16, 2013, the department “again filed distraint warrants in Benton County on five of the six alleged tax debts: the 1993, 1994 and 1995 Harvest Taxes, and the 1994 and 1995 Timber Privilege Taxes.” Taxpayer alleges that the department did not “file” a warrant in 2013 with respect to timber privilege taxes for tax year 1993. Cite as 22 OTR 370 (2017) 373

C. The Department’s Collection Actions The department began garnishing taxpayer’s wages in September 2006 and has continued to do so at least through May 2015. “As of May 7, 2015, $57,634.22 had been garnished” from taxpayer’s wages. The department applied the garnishments solely to taxpayer’s 1993 privilege tax debt.

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Bluebook (online)
22 Or. Tax 370, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/perkins-v-dept-of-rev-ortc-2017.