Head v. Maxwell , 60 Ga. App. 488 ( 1939 )

Guerra, J.

As stated by the trial judge, “The sole and only question for decision is whether, for the year 1935, a partner residing in Georgia is subject to income tax for that year upon partnership income earned outside of Georgia.” The trial court decided that such income was not subject to income tax in Georgia, and the State Revenue Commissioner excepted.

The Code, declares: “A tax is hereby imposed upon every resident of the State, which tax shall be levied, collected, and paid annually, with respect to the entire net income of, the taxpayer as hereinafter defined” (italics ours). § 92-3101. “Individuals carrying on business in partnership shall be liable for income tax only in their individual capacity, and each partner shall include in his individual return his distributive share, whether distributed or not, of the net income of the partnership for the taxable year.” § 92-3104. “Resident individuals having an established business in another State, or investment in property in another State, may deduct from the tax due upon the entire net income of such resident individual the tax paid upon the net income of such business or investment in another State, if such business or investment is in a State that levies a tax upon net income, but in no case shall the credit permitted under this section exceed the tax which would be payable to this State upon a like amount of taxable income.” § 92-3111. Georgia places an income tax on non-residents owning property or doing business within this State. § 92-3112. This section declares: “The tax imposed by this law shall apply to the entire net income received from all property owned or from business carried on in this State by natural persons nob residents of the State.” (Italics ours.) Construing together this and the preceding section, it will be seen that Georgia places an income tax on non-residents whose income is derived from property within this State or from business carried on in this State. It likewise levies this tax on “resident individuals” having established business or property in another State, upon the net income derived from such business or property, but provides that there may be deducted from the income earned in another State the income tax which such other State may itself levy upon such income from such property or business, provided the deduction allowed shall not exceed the amount of income tax to be paid to this State upon a like amount of taxable income. From a reading of section 92-3111 it seems clear that where a resident of Georgia has a business in another State, the net income from such business is to be treated as a part of his “entire net income;” and in the event such other State levies no income tax on such brrsiness, this State will levy its income tax thereon. If such other State does levy an income tax on the business conducted in that State, then and in that event the Georgia resident is allowed to deduct the amount paid to such State from the amount he is to pay in Georgia; provided, however, that such amount does not exceed the tax rate fixed in this State. Georgia, itself, under the provisions of section 92-3112 taxes non-residents on their income derived from property or business conducted within this State, II: the defendant in this case does business in North Carolina, and the State of North Carolina levies no income tax npon such business, this State will levy its income tax thereon. If the State of North Carolina levies an income tax thereon, the resident taxpayer will be allowed a credit on his income tax of the amount he paid such State, provided such amount so paid is not greater than the amount that is fixed under the Georgia rate.

It is true that the State legislature (Ga. L. Ex. Sess. 1937-38, pp. 150, 154, sec. 6 (a)) amended the income-tax law, and it was provided: “Effective January 1, 1937, where one or more of the individual members is a resident of Georgia but a member of a partnership doing business without the State of Georgia, such resident member, or members shall include in his individual return his distributable share (whether distributed or not) of the net income of the partnership for the taxable year.”' It is evident that the General Assembly, for the years 1937-38, wished to eliminate any doubt, if such there was, that the previous law did not cover the net income of a resident of Georgia who had an income from a business or property not located in Georgia, and for that reason wanted to be sure that the law covered such income. We think, however, that the language of the Code, § 92-3111, is broad enough to cover such income. As to the wording of the section, “Resident individuals having an established business in another State,” we think the term, “established business” is broad enough to cover a business conducted or operated by the individual alone or a business operated by himself and partners, and that such resident individual must pay on his “entire net income,” subject to the provision made for deductions for any income tax levied by the State where the business is located. It will be noted that the income tax is levied on the income of the individual as a unit, and not upon the partnership as such. Code, § 92-3104. The use of the words, “entire net income,” as used in § 92-3101, is nowhere limited to a net income earned solely within the State of Georgia, and § 92-3111 provides that the income tax paid to the foreign State may be deducted from the “tax due upon the entire net income of such business or investment in another State.” There is no limitation in the income-tax act, “as herein defined,” which prevents the net income of a resident of Georgia, although it is from a business or property outside the State, from being a part of his “entire net income.” The court erred in holding that the net income of Maxwell, although it was the proceeds of a foreign partnership, was not subject to Georgia income tax.

Judgment reversed.

MacIntyre, J., concurs. Broyles, G. J., dissents.