Constitutional limitations of taxation

Answer 1

Constitutional limitations.

1. Observance of due process of law and equal protection of the laws. (sec, 1, Art. 3) Any deprivation of life , liberty or property is with due process if it is done under the authority of a valid law and after compliance with fair and reasonable methods or procedure prescribed. The power to tax, can be exercised only for a constitutionally valid public purpose and the subject of taxation must be within the taxing jurisdiction of the state. The government may not utilize any form of assessment or review which is arbitrary, unjust and which denies the taxpayer a fair opportunity to assert his rights before a competent tribunal. All persons subject to legislation shall be treated alike under like circumstances and conditions, both in the privileges conferred in liabilities imposed. Persons and properties to be taxed shall be group, and all the same class shall be subject to the same rate and the tax shall be administered impartially upon them.
2. Rule of uniformity and equity in taxation (sec 28(1)Art VI) All taxable articles or properties of the same class shall be taxed at the same rate. Uniformity implies equality in burden not in amount. Equity requires that the apportionment of the tax burden be more or less just in the light of the taxpayers ability to bear the tax burden.
3. No imprisonment for non-payment of poll tax (sec. 20, Art III) A person cannot be imprisoned for non-payment of community tax, but may be imprisoned for other violations of the community tax law, such as falsification of the community tax certificate, or for failure to pay other taxes.
4. Non-impairment of obligations and contracts, sec 10, Art III . the obligation of a contract is impaired when its terms and conditions are changed by law or by a party without the consent of the other, thereby weakening the position or the rights of the latter. IF a tax exemption granted by law and of the nature of a contract between the taxpayer and the government is revoked by a later taxing law, the said law shall not be valid, because it will impair the obligation of contract.
5. Prohibition against infringement of religious freedom Sec 5, Art III, it has been said that the constitutional guarantee of the free exercise and enjoyment of religious profession and worship, which carries the right to disseminate religious belief and information, is violated by the imposition of a license fee on the distribution and sale of bibles and other religious literatures not for profit by a non-stock, non-profit religious corporation.
6. Prohibition against appropriations for religious purposes, sec 29, (2) Art. VI, Congress cannot appropriate funds for a private purpose, or for the benefit of any priest, preacher or minister or for the support of any sect, church except when such priest, preacher, is assigned to the armed forces or to any penal institutions, orphanage or leprosarium.
7. exemption of all revenues and assets of non-stock, non-profit educational institutions used actually, directly, and exclusively for educational purposes from income, property and donor's taxes and custom duties (sec. 4 (3 and 4) art. XIV.
8. Concurrence by a majority of all members of Congress in the passage of a law granting tax exemptions. Sec. 28 (4) Art. VI.
9. Congress may not deprive the Supreme Court of its jurisdiction to review, revise, reverse, modify or affirm on appeal or certiorari, final judgments and orders of lower courts in all cases involving the legality of any tax, impost, assessment or any penalty imposed in the relation thereto.