2636 ARTICLE 81.

County and municipal taxes.

Municipal taxes upon corporate stock can be levied only upon valuation thereof
by tax commissioner under this section, the municipality having no power to increase
or diminsh such valuation. Hence, a notice from city to shareholders of an increase
in assessment is nugatory, the corporation being treated as representing shareholders.
How provision of this section relative to shares being assessed against shareholders
may be complied with. Clark Distilling Co. v. Cumberland, 95 Md. 471.

This section construed in connection with secs. 157 and 163, means that county and
municipal, as well as state, taxes are to be assessed as of January first. Hence, where
corporate stock is held by non-residents on January 1, 1905, and on February 1, 1905,
it is transferred to residents, the stock is taxable for 1905 where corporation has its
principal office, and not where holders reside. (Sec. 163 was amended by the act of
1906, ch. 84.) Baltimore City v. Chester River, etc., Co., 103 Md. 404; Union Trust
Co. v. Belvedere Co., 105 Md. 525.

As to county and municipal taxation of property owned by railroads, see sec. 204;
see also sec. 223.

Generally.

Taxes on corporate stock may be recovered in an action at law against the cor-
poration, and it is (by virtue of the statute), the duty and obligation of corporation
to pay taxes without regard to whether dividends are paid to stockholders, and
although corporation has become insolvent and gone into hands of receivers. Union
Trust Co. v. Belvedere Co., 105 Md. 522; Carstairs v. Cochran, 95 Md. 503 (affirmed
in 193 U. S. 10); Hull v. Southern Development Co., 89 Md. 9; Casualty Company's
Case, 82 Md. 564; American Coal Co. v. Allegany County, 59 Md. 190.

The property of a corporation, however, cannot be levied on and sold for taxes.
Hull v. Southern Development Co., 89 Md. 9.

Taxes on the stock of a corporation are not due by corporation but by individuals
who own stock, corporation for sake of convenience being made agent of state and
county to collect tax, and being entitled to charge same against stockholder. This
section referred to in declaring invalid act of 1900, ch. 579, purporting to apply to
Allegany county. Baltimore v. Allegany County, 99 Md. 5; Hull v. Southern
Development Co., 89 Md. 9; Crown Cork and Seal Co. v. State, 87 Md. 696;
United States Power, etc., Co. v. State, 79 Md. 69; American Coal Co. v. Allegany
County, 59 Md. 190.

Stock held under a voting trust is taxable to substantial owners rather than to
voting trustees. Meaning of word " owner" as used in this section and sec. 2; that
word is applicable to non-resident holders as well as to resident holders, stock in
former case being taxed where corporation is situated. State Tax Comn. v. Baltimore
County, 138 Md. 678.

The act of 1914, ch. 197, was not repealed by act of 1914, ch. 528, both acts being
in force. Repeal of statutes by. implication; references to different editions of. Code;
two acts of same session approved by Governor on different dates; intention of
legislature. This section does not violate the Federal Constitution or sec. 33 of art. 3
of Md. Constitution. Baltimore v. German-American Fire Ins. Co., 132 Md. 382.

This section and sec. 170 do not contemplate a personal notice to property holder;
a compliance with requirements of statute is a sufficient notice to non-resident
property holder of assessment and valuation of property. Corry v. Baltimore, 96
Md. 322 (affirmed in 196 U. S. 466).

Construing together this section and secs. 154, 155 and 163, only issued stock of
corporation may be taxed. Consumers' Ice Co. v. State, 82 Md. 136.

The fact that capital stock of a corporation is principally invested in patent rights
granted by United States does not exempt such stock from taxation, nor is value of
such patent rights to be deducted in assessing the stock. Crown Cork and Seal Co. v.
State, 87 Md. 696.

Where property has been improperly assessed for taxation, mandamus is proper
remedy. Anne Arundel County v. Baltimore Sugar Refining Co., 99 Md. 485.

Assessment and levy held to have been made in time. American Coal Co. v. Alle-
gany County, 59 Md. 193.

A street railway company held not to be a " railroad company " within meaning
of act of 1878, ch. 178. Baltimore v. Baltimore, etc., Ry. Co., 57 Md. 35.

A corporation's failure to pay taxes held to be a default under a mortgage given
by corporation which entitled trustee to sell under mortgage. Union Trust Co. v.
Belvedere Co., 105 Md. 521.