Georgetown University Employees Federal Credit Union v. District of Columbia
Docket: No. 85-1103
Court: District of Columbia Court of Appeals; November 18, 1986; District Of Columbia; State Supreme Court
Appellant, a federal credit union established in 1964, seeks review of a Superior Court decision allowing the District of Columbia to tax its personal property starting from the 1982 tax year. The court affirms the decision, noting that the District’s authority to impose personal property taxes is granted by statute, specifically D.C. Code 47-1501 et seq. Exemptions from taxation are explicitly defined in D.C. Code 47-1508, which does not exempt federally chartered credit unions. Consequently, the appellant is deemed a taxable entity under these provisions. The court evaluates whether this tax liability conflicts with federal credit union statutes. According to Section 122 of the Federal Credit Union Act, 12 U.S.C. 1768, federal credit unions are subject to local taxation if similar property is also taxed. Since the District began taxing similar financial institutions under D.C. Code 47-2510, federal credit unions are now liable for personal property tax, as they are not included in the definition of financial institutions under the aforementioned statute. The appellant argues that the precedent set in Washington Telephone Federal Credit Union v. District of Columbia exempts them from this tax. However, the court finds this precedent inapplicable due to the absence of discriminatory tax treatment and the current lack of a dual credit union system that previously afforded exemptions to locally organized institutions. The judgment granting summary judgment to the District of Columbia is affirmed.