United States Supreme Court Cases & Opinions

U.S. Supreme Court

Cory Corp. v. Sauber, 363 U.S. 709 (1960)

Cory Corporation v. Sauber

No. 436

Argued May 16, 1960

Decided June 20, 1960

363 U.S. 709

Syllabus

The Internal Revenue Codes of 1939, § 3405 (c), and 1954, § 4111, placed a 10% excise tax on sales of "self-contained air conditioning units" and gave the Commissioner of Internal Revenue, with the approval of the Secretary of the Treasury, power to prescribe needful rules and regulations for the enforcement of the provisions relating to such taxes. The Commissioner published revenue rulings in 1948 and 1954 holding that the statute taxed air conditioning units which had certain physical features, were designed for installation in a window or other opening, and had "a total motor horsepower of less than 1 horsepower."

Held:

1. These rulings were valid. Pp. 363 U. S. 711-712.

2. The case is remanded to the Court of Appeals for consideration of the question what is meant by "horsepower" and any other questions which may remain. P. 363 U. S. 712.

3. This disposition of the case is without prejudice to such action as the lower courts may deem appropriate to prevent taxpayers, should they ultimately prevail, from obtaining a windfall by reason of taxes collected by them but not paid to the Government. P. 363 U. S. 712.

266 F.2d 58, 267 F.2d 802, reversed.

Page 363 U. S. 710