St. Ledger v. Commonwealth

912 S.W.2d 34, 64 U.S.L.W. 2285, 1995 Ky. LEXIS 128
CourtKentucky Supreme Court
DecidedOctober 19, 1995
Docket94-SC-468-DG, 94-SC-875-DG
StatusPublished
Cited by9 cases

This text of 912 S.W.2d 34 (St. Ledger v. Commonwealth) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Kentucky Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
St. Ledger v. Commonwealth, 912 S.W.2d 34, 64 U.S.L.W. 2285, 1995 Ky. LEXIS 128 (Ky. 1995).

Opinions

STEPHENS, Chief Justice.

INTRODUCTION

In this appeal, we are addressing the constitutionality of Kentucky's ad valorem tax provisions. Specifically, we determine the validity of two provisions pertaining to the taxation of bank deposits located outside the Commonwealth and to certain corporate shares. KRS 132.020; KRS 132.030; KRS 136.030(1). In addition to making a determination as to these two specific provisions we have also been requested to determine the constitutionality of the entire intangibles tax scheme, if this Court finds that these two individual provisions are invalid.

The intangibles tax scheme in Kentucky levies an ad valorem tax upon intangibles, which include bank deposits and corporate shares, at the rate of 25 cents per 100 dollar value. KRS 132.020 and related statutes. However, two statutes within these provisions create the questions that are being considered here.

KRS 132.030 effectively lessens the amount of tax upon “deposits] in any bank, trust company, or combined bank and trust company organized under the law of this state, or in any national bank of this state.” For in-state accounts the rate is lowered from the 25 cents per 100 dollars of value cited in KRS 132.020 to one-thousandth of one percent (0.001%) on the amount of the holding. KRS 132.030(1). The rate of taxation on certain corporate shares is modified by KRS 136.030 [hereinafter “the exemption statute”]. This statute creates an exemption for shareholders of corporations that “pays taxes to the state of Kentucky on at least 75% of its total property, wherever located.” KRS 136.030(l)(a).

Appellants assert that these specific provisions are unconstitutional under U.S. Const. Art. I, sec. 8, Cl. 3, the commerce clause; U.S. Const. Amend. XIV, sec. 1, equal protection clause; and under Ky. Const. secs. 3 and 171, the equal protection provision and the classification, uniformity, and equality provision.

PROCEDURAL HISTORY

The Jefferson Circuit Court certified two classes, those who hold bank deposits in out-of-state banks and those who own stock in corporations that do not qualify for the exemption outlined in KRS 136.030(1). After a bench trial, the Circuit Court found that the exemption statute is “obviously unenforceable as written” and is “so incomplete or conflicting in provisions that [it] cannot be executed and will be declared void.” As a result of this conclusion, the Circuit Court did not reach the commerce clause question on the exemption statute. As to the modified tax rate on bank deposits held in in-state banks, the Circuit Court concluded the statute violated the commerce clause and was unconstitutional. The Circuit Court also held that out-of-state bank deposits were to be taxed in the same manner as in-state deposits. Further, the Circuit Court held that appellants were entitled to apply for refunds of taxes paid for the preceding two year period pursuant to KRS 134.590.

The Court of Appeals reversed, holding the exemption statute enforceable and valid. The Court of Appeals further held that the entire intangibles tax scheme did not violate the Equal Protection Clause of the U.S. Constitution and the similar provision in the Kentucky Constitution, sec. 3. As to the commerce clause issues, the Court of Appeals determined that both provisions were constitutionally valid. The corporate shares tax was deemed valid under a “compensatory tax” theory and the bank deposits tax fell outside of the commerce clause protection since the bank deposits did not “fall into the category of interstate commerce.”

The Bank Deposits Tax

We first turn to the issue of the tax on bank deposits. It is clear to this Court that KRS 132.030 changes the rate of taxation on domestic bank accounts as compared to those accounts held in institutions located [38]*38out-of-state. Appellants assert that this provision is violative of the equal protection provisions of both the Kentucky and U.S. Constitution as well as the Commerce Clause. The questions regarding violations of equal protection principles have already been addressed by the United States Supreme Court in Madden v. Commonwealth of Kentucky, 309 U.S. 83, 60 S.Ct. 406, 84 L.Ed. 590 (1940). This Court concludes that Madden is dispositive and controlling, and therefore reversal is not warranted on this issue.

In Madden, Kentucky created two different classes of people, those who had accounts in Kentucky banks and those who had deposits in out-of-state institutions. The United States Supreme Court concluded that the state had a legitimate purpose when taxing out-of-state accounts at a higher rate due to the expense of collecting taxes on those accounts. Therefore, the Court held that the bank deposits tax did not violate the equal protection clause. The same reasoning applies in this ease.

Appellants urge this Court to recognize that the United States Supreme Court’s holding in Metropolitan Life Ins. Co. v. Ward, 470 U.S. 869, 105 S.Ct. 1676, 84 L.Ed.2d 751 (1985), heightened the standard applied in Madden in fact situations similar to the one under review. Appellants characterize Metropolitan Life Ins. as follows: “We hold that under the circumstances of this case, promotion of domestic business by discrimination against nonresident competitors is not a legitimate state purpose.” Id. at 882, 105 S.Ct. at 1683. However, this court understands that the purpose of the higher tax on out-of-state bank deposits is to cover the increased costs of collection of that tax. This classification of taxable groups is not “based solely upon an in-state/out-of-state characterization” as appellants assert. As a result, this court cannot hold that this tax is viola-tive of the equal protection clause.

Appellants also urge this Court to conclude that the bank deposits tax fails under Kentucky Constitution sec. 171. Appellant maintains that the bank deposits tax is not “uniform upon all property of the same class.” Kentucky Constitution, sec. 171. In order for this tax to satisfy the mandate of sec.

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St. Ledger v. Commonwealth
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Bluebook (online)
912 S.W.2d 34, 64 U.S.L.W. 2285, 1995 Ky. LEXIS 128, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/st-ledger-v-commonwealth-ky-1995.