SEA-LAND SERV. v. DIR., DIV. OF TAX., 17 N.J. Tax 591 (1998)

SEA-LAND SERVICE, INC., PLAINTIFF-APPELLANT, v. DIRECTOR, DIVISION OF TAXATION, DEFENDANT-RESPONDENT.

Superior Court of New Jersey, Appellate Division.Argued January 26, 1998
Decided February 6, 1998

Before Judges SKILLMAN, EICHEN and STEINBERG.

Michael A. Guariglia, argued the cause for appellant (McCarter English, attorneys; Mr. Guariglia, of counsel and on the brief; John K. Bradley also on the brief).

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Marlene G. Brown, Deputy Attorney General, argued the cause for respondent (Peter Verniero, Attorney General, attorney Joseph L. Yannotti, Assistant Attorney General, of counsel Ms. Brown, on the brief).

PER CURIAM.

Plaintiff Sea-Land Service, Inc. appeals from a final judgment entered in the Tax Court granting summary judgment to defendant Director, Division of Taxation. Plaintiff had argued that it was entitled to offset its overpayment of corporate business taxes (CBT) against tax liabilities it incurred as the result of its merger with its parent company and a subsidiary company. In a comprehensive published opinion, the Tax Court judge rejected plaintiff’s argument, concluding that the Director had “satisfie N.J.S.A. 54:49-16[(b)] fully in allowing only an offset of plaintiff’s own pre-merger deficiencies with plaintiff’s overpayments . . . [and that the CBT] deficiencies of the other two entities cannot be offset with these funds.” Sea-Land Service, Inc. v. Director, Division of Taxation, 16 N.J.Tax 132, 137 (Tax 1996).

We affirm substantially for the reasons expressed by Judge Kahn in his opinion.

Affirmed