CITE: 91 Wn.2d 132, 587 P.2d 535
VITA FOOD PRODUCTS v. STATE
CAUSE NUMBER: 45486
FILE DATE: December 7, 1978
CASE TITLE: Vita Food Products, Inc., Appellant, v. The
State of Washington, et al,
Respondents.
[1] Taxation - Fish - Privilege Fee - Original Receiver - What Constitutes. The fact that a party is not subject to taxation by the State does not prevent that party from being the "original receiver" of fish, for purposes of a privilege fee, under the definition contained in RCW 75.32.080 prior to amendment in 1977.
[2] Statutes - Construction - Unambiguous Statute - In General. An unambiguous statute is not subject to construction, and the courts may not add language to a clear statute even if it believes that the legislature intended some additional provisions.
[3] Taxation - Statutory Provisions - Construction. Ambiguous taxing statutes should be construed in favor of the taxpayer.
[4] Statutes - Construction - Change in Law - Effect. An amendment to a statute is presumed to reflect a legislative intent to change the effect of the statute.
NATURE OF ACTION: A fish processor sought a declaratory judgment that it was not an "original receiver" within the meaning of the privilege fee statute (RCW 75.32).
Superior Court: The Superior Court for King County, No. 820510, James J. Dore, J., entered a summary judgment in favor of the State on April 15, 1977.
Supreme Court: Holding that the statute in question was clear and did not include the plaintiff in the definition of original receiver, the court REVERSES the judgment.
COUNSEL: CARL G. KOCH and TERENCE P. LUKENS (of KARR, TUTTLE, KOCH, CAMPBELL, MAWER & MORROW, P.S.), for appellant.
SLADE GORTON, ATTORNEY GENERAL, and DENNIS D. REYNOLDS, ASSISTANT, for respondents.
JOHN K. HOERSTER on behalf of Quileute Indian Tribe, amicus curiae.
AUTHOR OF MAJORITY OPINION: Brachtenbach, J.-
MAJORITY OPINION: This is a tax case. The State has imposed a "privilege fee" upon certain fish handlers, RCW 75.32.030, who are the "original receivers" of such fish. Plaintiff sought a declaratory judgment that it was not an "original receiver" as defined in RCW 75.32.080. The trial court granted the State's motion for a summary judgment. We reverse.
The facts are that the Quileute Indian Tribe operates on its reservation a fish processing plant which purchases fish from Indians and non-Indians. The tribe processes those fish for resale to others, including to the plaintiff.
The statute levies the privilege tax upon the original receiver which is defined as "the person first receiving, handling, dealing in, or dealing with the fresh . . . fish . . . within the state of Washington . . ." The Tribe is the first person physically receiving and dealing in the fish within the activities described in the statute. However, the State argues that since the Quileute Tribe is beyond the taxing jurisdiction of the State, the statute was intended to apply to the first person receiving the fish which is subject to the taxing jurisdiction of the State.
[1] The statute is clear on its face. It defines the original receiver as the first person actually, physically receiving the fish.
[2] We should not and do not construe an unambiguous statute. POPE & TALBOT, INC. v. DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE, 90 Wn.2d 191, 194, 580 P.2d 262 (1978); SNOW'S MOBILE HOMES, INC. v. MORGAN, 80 Wn.2d 283, 494 P.2d 216 (1972). The State would have us add words to the statute to ascribe legislative intent, I.E., that the legislature meant the first receiving person to mean the first person over whom taxing authority may be asserted. It is not within our power to add words to a statute even if we believe the legislature intended something else but failed to express it adequately. JEPSON v. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR & INDUS., 89 Wn.2d 394, 403, 573 P.2d 10 (1977); ALLEN v. EMPLOYMENT SECURITY DEP'T, 83 Wn.2d 145, 148, 516 P.2d 1032 (1973).
[3] The next point is that if there is doubt as to the meaning of a taxing statute, it is to be construed in favor of the taxpayer and against the taxing body. DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE v. HOPPE, 82 Wn.2d 549, 552, 512 P.2d 1094 (1973).
Finally, our conclusion is buttressed by subsequent legislative action. After this lawsuit was commenced the legislature, at the request of the Department of Fisheries, amended the statute to define original receiver as a person, described above, "within the jurisdiction of the state of Washington." Laws of 1977, 1st Ex. Sess., ch. 327, 27.
[4] The presumption is that every amendment is made to effect some material purpose. CHILDERS v. CHILDERS, 89 Wn.2d 592, 596, 575 P.2d 201 (1978); GRAFFELL v. HONEYSUCKLE, 30 Wn.2d 390, 400, 191 P.2d 858 (1948). An amendment of an unambiguous statute clearly indicates that the change is material. ALLEN v. EMPLOYMENT SECURITY DEP'T, SUPRA at 150. The State cannot have it both ways. It contends that the prior statute was clear and imposed a tax and then argues that the amendment, made at its request, was meaningless. That is inconsistent.
The summary judgment is reversed and the cause remanded for entry of a declaratory judgment in favor of the plaintiff.
CONCURRING JUDGES: Wright, C.J., and Rosellini, Hamilton, Stafford, Utter, Horowitz, Dolliver, and Hicks, JJ., concur.
POST-OPINION INFORMATION: