SUPERIOR COURT OF NEW JERSEY
APPELLATE DIVISION
A-2741-01T3
RIVER SYSTEMS, INC.,
Plaintiff-Appellant,
v.
STATE OF NEW JERSEY, DEPARTMENT
OF THE TREASURY, DIVISION OF
TAXATION,
Defendant-Respondent.
RUBACHEM INTERNATIONAL, LTD.,
Plaintiff-Appellant,
v.
STATE OF NEW JERSEY, DEPARTMENT
OF THE TREASURY, DIVISION OF
TAXATION,
Defendant-Respondent.
RUBACHEM, INC.,
Plaintiff-Appellant,
v.
STATE OF NEW JERSEY, DEPARTMENT
OF THE TREASURY, DIVISION OF
TAXATION,
Defendant-Respondent.
Argued February 3, 2003 - Decided March 14,
2003
Before Judges Havey, Wells and Payne.
On appeal from a Final Judgment of the Tax
Court, Docket Numbers 005627-1999, 005628-
1999 and 005629-1999, whose opinion is
reported at
19 N.J. Tax 599 (Tax 2001).
Gary J. Hoagland argued the cause for
appellants (Hoagland, Longo, Moran, Dunst &
Doukas, attorneys; Mr. Hoagland, of counsel
and on the brief).
Carol Johnston, Deputy Attorney General,
argued the cause for respondent (David
Samson, Attorney General, attorney; Patrick
DeAlmeida, Deputy Attorney General, of
counsel; Ms. Johnston, on the brief).
PER CURIAM
Under N.J.S.A. 54:10A-6, a New Jersey corporation that
maintains a regular place of business outside New Jersey may
allocate a portion of its income away from New Jersey in
computing income taxable under the New Jersey Corporate Business
Tax Act, N.J.S.A. 54:10A-1 to -4. Plaintiffs, River Systems,
Inc., Rubachem International, Ltd. and Rubachem, Inc., filed
separate complaints in the Tax Court challenging a determination
by the Department of the Treasury, Division of Taxation, denying
plaintiffs' application for refunds based on an allocation of
some income to the State of New York predicated on sales
solicited in New City, New York. General Litesearch, Inc., which
has offices in New City, has owners in common with plaintiffs,
sells light bulbs to plaintiffs, and engages in telemarketing
activity and administrative services from its offices on
plaintiff's behalf. The facilities in which General Litesearch
engages in its activities are owned by Lemar Investment Company,
also owned in common by plaintiffs owners.
Plaintiffs' complaints were consolidated in the Tax Court
and heard on motions and cross-motions for summary judgment.
Judge Joseph C. Small granted summary judgment in defendant's
favor.
On appeal, plaintiffs assert that the judge erred because:
(1) they maintain a regular place of business outside New Jersey
and are thus entitled to utilize the business formula of N.J.S.A.
54:10A-6 to determine which portions of their income are to be
used in measuring corporate business tax due; (2) even if they do
not maintain a regular place of business outside New Jersey, they
are entitled to the application of the three-factor allocation
formula of N.J.S.A. 54:10A-6 through N.J.S.A. 54:10A-8; and
(3) genuine issues of material fact exist precluding the grant of
summary judgment in favor of defendant.
We affirm substantially for the reasons expressed by Judge
Small, whose opinion is reported at
19 N.J. Tax 599 (Tax 2001).
Affirmed.