Document Type
Article
Abstract
Having recently weathered one fiscal crisis due to statutory changes in federal law, several states now face the possibility of further revenue loss. For those states which impose a tax on the shares of national bank and other financial institutions' stock, pending constitutional challenges could result in a substantial erosion of the tax base, and de facto elimination of the shares tax. Indeed, one court has significantly impaired the use of bank and other financial institution stock as a state tax source. Other courts have been forced to go to some length to validate their state's shares tax. The primary issue in the viability of shares taxes is whether the value of federal obligations held by financial institutions can be included in the calculation of the shares tax. Final resolution of this issue will lie with the decision of the United States Supreme Court in American Bank and Trust Co. v. Dallas County.
This article will examine state shares taxes and the judicial scrutiny which has jeopardized this avenue of taxation. It will also suggest options, including alternative revenue raising methods, which states might pursue to preserve the continued viability of this tax. Particular emphasis will be placed upon those issues which states will have to face when drafting alternative taxes.
Recommended Citation
McNulty, Arthur F.
(1983)
"State Taxation of Financial Institution Stock - Its Continued Viability as a Source of Revenue,"
University of Dayton Law Review: Vol. 8:
No.
2, Article 2.
Available at:
https://ecommons.udayton.edu/udlr/vol8/iss2/2
Publication Date
3-1-1983
Comments
Arthur F. McNulty: Legal Counsel, House Finance Committee, House of Representatives, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, B.A., Temple University (1976); J.D., Drake University (1979).