Opinion

City of Newark v. Essex County Board of Taxation

  • 127 N.J.L. 314
  • 22 A.2d 562
  • 1941 N.J. Sup. Ct. LEXIS 76
Court
Supreme Court of New Jersey
Filed
Nov 13, 1941
Status
Published
On the bench
Bodine, Perskie, Porter
Cited by
0 cases

The opinion

Per Curiam.

The writ of

certiorari

brings up for review a judgment of the Essex County Board of Taxation granting, in part, a motion of the Pottersville Water Company to dismiss the complaint of the City of Newark. The complaint was filed pursuant to

N. J. S. A.

54:3-20, and sought to have omitted property entered on the duplicate pursuant to the statute. The property alleged to be omitted was described as follows:

*315

“Water — Eixed capital ............... $161,545.18

Cash ........................... 315.09

Consumers Accounts Receivable ........ 47,781.74

$309,641.01”

The County Board held that the classification of “Cash $315.09” was sufficient.

Duke Power Co.

v.

Somerset County Board,

124

N. J. L.

481;

affirmed,

125

Id.

431. There seems to be no dispute as to the correctness of this characterization. The item “Water — Eixed Capital $161,545.18” does not sufficiently specify property.

Duke Power Co.

v.

Essex County Board, &c.,

122

Id.

589;

affirmed,

124

Id.

41.

Eixed capital may or may not be personalty having a

situs

in the City of Newark. Our Board of Public Utility Commissioners, pursuant to the statute, have prescribed a uniform system of accounts for our utilities. Capital moans all property devoted to the business. In such classification, land would be included as well as personalty.' Clearly, the taxpayer is entitled to have a specification of what property is intended to be included within the category of omitted property.

The prosecutor, with respect to the item “Accounts Receivable,” relies upon

Duke Power Co.

v.

Somerset County Board, &c., supra.

It was there held that the characterization as to the money item was proper. What was said in that case seems to apply to the item “Accounts Receivable $47,781.74.” The taxpayer and the taxpayer alone knows what is claimed. To list the accounts receivable would require an examination of the taxpayer books. Without that the assessor could not be more specific. “Consumers Accounts Receivable” in the sum of $47,781.74 calls for a defense. Such classification conforms to the requirements of

N. J. S. A.

54:3-30.

The judgment under review will be affirmed in part and reversed in part, in accordance with this opinion.

This is a copy of a public record, reproduced as it was published. It is not legal advice, and it may not be the version a court would rely on. Check the official source before you cite it.

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