Bogigian v. Commissioner of Corporations & Taxation

Carroll, J. This is a petition for the abatement of taxes assessed upon income received by the petitioner during the years 1919, 1920 and 1921. He alleges that for many years prior to the year 1915 he was a resident of the town of Lancaster; that in the year 1914 he took up his residence in California; that he seasonably applied to the commissioner for an abatement of these taxes and on December 22, 1922, was notified by the commissioner that his petition for abatement was denied. This petition was then brought in the Superior Court; the defendant demurred on the ground that the petition contained no allegation that the taxes complained of had ever been paid. The demurrer was sustained. G. L. c. 62, § 47, gives to the taxpayer who is aggrieved by the refusal of the tax commissioner to abate the tax, “ and who has paid his tax,” the right to petition in the Superior Court for an abatement. The remedy sought by [547] the petitioner is under this statute and is given only to one who has paid his tax. As to tax assessed on income for the year 1921: it is clear that the statute was then effective; and, not having complied with its terms by the payment of the tax the petitioner cannot prevail under these proceedings. He contends that the statute is unconstitutional, on the ground that it requires a nonresident to pay his tax before he can have it abated. Without intimating that the statute is unconstitutional, the petitioner is seeking a remedy given by this particular statute. He asserts a right derived solely from the statute. He cannot, therefore, at the same time urge the unconstitutionality of the enactment under which he seeks his remedy. “If he takes advantage of the protection given by the statute for a review ... he can enjoy that protection only upon the terms set out in the statute.” Stevens, landowner, 228 Mass. 368, 374. Pitkin v. Springfield, 112 Mass. 509. Moore v. Sanford, 151 Mass. 285. New York Life Ins. Co. v. Hardison, 199 Mass. 190, 196. As to the taxes assessed for the years 1919 and 1920: the petitioner contends that as St. 1916, c. 269, § 20, contains no provision requiring the payment of the tax before seeking relief by petition to the Superior Court, and as G. L. c. 62, § 47, requiring this payment, did not become effective until January 1, 1921, the taxes assessed for these years can be abated under the petition without first paying the tax. Although the payment of the tax was not mentioned in § 20 of St. 1916, c. 269, that section provides for the filing of a petition in the Superior Court and directs that the “ subsequent proceedings shall be conducted in accordance with the provisions of sections seventy-seven to eighty, inclusive, of Part I of chapter four hundred and ninety of the acts of the year nineteen hundred and nine.” This section further enacts that “ If an abatement is granted, the amount thereof shall be repaid to the complainant.” By § 80 of St. 1909, c. 490, Part I, an abatement may be granted if the court finds that the complainant has complied with the provisions of the law “ and has paid the tax.” The abatement of the tax in this proceeding was based on the [548] payment of the tax by the complainant; and his petition under the statute was to recover the money already paid. The court could not grant relief to him unless the tax had been paid and the terms of St. 1909, c. 490, Part I, § 80, controlling the proceedings, provides that before an abatement could be granted, it was essential that the complainant had paid the tax. Section 20, of St. 1916, c. 269, was expressly repealed by G. L. c. 282, and no procedure was provided for after January, 1921, except that mentioned in G. L. c. 62, § 47. It may be added that in the matters affecting procedure statutes may be construed to operate retroactively. See Stocker v. Foster, 178 Mass. 591; Woodvine v. Dean, 194 Mass. 40; Howard v. Fall River Iron Works Co. 203 Mass. 273. It was necessary for the complainant to allege in his petition the payment of the tax; in order to secure the relief sought he must show a compliance with the statute; failing in this the demurrer was properly sustained. See International Paper Co. v. Commonwealth, 232 Mass. 7, 10; Lever Brothers Co. v. Commonwealth, 232 Mass. 22, 24. Without paying his tax, the plaintiff might have applied to the commissioner for an abatement under G. L. c. 62, § 43, and have had that action revised by the board of appeal in tax matters under § 45. Worcester v. Board of Appeal in Tax Matters, 184 Mass. 460. The words of § 45 that decision by the board of appeal shall be “ final and conclusive ” do not prevent the use of certiorari by an aggrieved taxpayer. Swan v. Justices of the Superior Court, 222 Mass. 542. Commissioner of Public Works of Boston v. Justice of Municipal Court of Dorchester District of Boston, 228 Mass. 12. The opportunity of hearings fully satisfy every constitutional requirement. Palmer v. McMahon, 133 U. S. 660, 669. The plaintiff cannot recover in these proceedings, since he has failed to bring himself within the terms of the statute. A decree is to be entered sustaining the demurrer. So ordered.