oklahoma tax jefferson lines argued november decided april respondent jefferson lines common carrier collect remit oklahoma state sales tax bus tickets sold oklahoma interstate travel originating although tickets sold intrastate travel jefferson filed bankruptcy petitioner oklahoma tax commission filed proof claims uncollected taxes bankruptcy found tax inconsistent commerce clause imposed undue burden interstate commerce presented danger multiple taxation district affirmed appeals also affirmed holding tax fairly apportioned rejecting commission position bus ticket sale wholly local transaction justifying state sales tax ticket full value reasoned tax indistinguishable new york unapportioned tax interstate busline gross receipts struck central greyhound lines mealey held oklahoma tax sale transportation services consistent commerce clause pp complete auto transit brady oklahoma tax valid applied activity substantial nexus state fairly apportioned discriminate interstate commerce fairly related services provided state activity clearly nexus oklahoma state ticket purchased service originates pp purpose second prong complete auto test ensure state taxes fair share interstate page ii transaction properly apportioned tax must internally externally consistent internal consistency looks whether tax identical application every state place interstate commerce disadvantage compared intrastate commerce failure consistency case every state impose tax identical oklahoma tax ticket sales within state travel originating sale subject one state tax external consistency hand looks economic justification state claim upon value taxed discover whether tax reaches beyond portion value fairly attributable economic activity within taxing state pp taxation income interstate business issue apportionment disputes often focused slicing taxable pie among several taxpayer activities contributed taxable income examining taxation sale goods however sale readily viewed discrete event facilitated laws amenities place sale transaction readily reveal extent interstate activity affects value buyer taxed thus taxation sales consistently approved without division tax base among different found properly measurable gross charge purchase regardless activity outside taxing jurisdiction might preceded sale might occur future therefore internally consistent conventional sales tax long held externally consistent well pp sale services ordinarily treated local state event readily sale tangible goods located solely within state delivery sales services performance wholly taxing state justify state taxation transaction entire gross receipts hands seller even interstate activity contributes value service performed sales performance taxing state justify state taxation seller entire gross receipts see western live stock bureau revenue case although service performed partially within taxing state buyer subject double taxation sale services buyer goods taxable event comprises agreement payment delivery services taxing state state claim site combination combined events commonly understood suffice sale central greyhound supra distinguished pp page iii jefferson offers convincing reasons reconsider whether internally consistent tax sales services fail external consistency test lack apportionment raised spectre successive taxation closely related transaction indicate potential unfairness oklahoma tax sale full amount fact oklahoma feasibly apportion tax basis mileage new york required central greyhound supra sufficient reason conclude tax exceeds oklahoma fair share pp tax also meets remaining two prongs complete auto test argument made oklahoma discriminates enterprises merit argument tax discriminates interstate activity american trucking associations scheiner distinguished tax also fairly related taxpayer presence activities state falls sale takes place wholly inside oklahoma measured value service purchased pp souter delivered opinion rehnquist stevens kennedy ginsburg joined scalia filed opinion concurring judgment thomas joined breyer filed dissenting opinion joined oklahoma tax jefferson lines justice souter delivered opinion case raises question whether oklahoma sales tax full price ticket bus travel oklahoma another state consistent commerce clause art cl hold oklahoma taxes sales state certain goods services including transportation hire okla tit supp buyers taxable goods services pay taxes must collected remitted state sellers respondent jefferson lines minnesota corporation provided bus services common oklahoma tax jefferson lines carrier oklahoma jefferson collect remit sales taxes tickets sold oklahoma bus travel oklahoma although collect remit taxes tickets sold oklahoma travel originated terminated within state jefferson filed bankruptcy protection october petitioner oklahoma tax commission filed proof claims bankruptcy uncollected taxes tickets interstate travel sold jefferson jefferson cited commerce clause objecting claims argued tax imposes undue burden interstate commerce permitting oklahoma collect percentage full purchase price tickets interstate bus travel even though value derives bus travel throu tax also presents danger multiple taxation jefferson claimed state bus travels providing services sold oklahoma able impose taxes upon jefferson passengers use roads bankruptcy agreed jefferson district affirmed appeals eighth circuit jefferson lines appeals held oklahoma tax fairly apportioned required established test constitutionality state tax interstate commerce see oklahoma tax jefferson lines complete auto transit brady appeals understood holding compelled decision central greyhound lines mealey held unconstitutional unapportioned state tax gross receipts company sold tickets interstate bus travel appeals rejected commission position sale bus ticket wholly local transaction justifying sales tax ticket full value state sold reasoning tax indistinguishable unapportioned tax gross receipts interstate travel struck central greyhound granted certiorari reverse ii despite express grant congress power regulate commerce among several art cl consistently held language contain negative command known dormant commerce clause prohibiting certain state taxation even congress failed legislate subject quill corp north dakota northwestern portland cement minnesota hood sons du mond cf gibbons ogden wheat marshall dictum understood construction serve commerce clause purpose preventing state retreating oklahoma tax jefferson lines economic isolation jeopardizing welfare nation whole free place burdens flow commerce across borders commerce wholly within borders bear provision thus reflect central concern framers immediate reason calling constitutional convention conviction order succeed new union avoid tendencies toward economic balkanization plagued relations among colonies later among articles confederation wardair canada florida dept revenue quoting hughes oklahoma see also federalist madison hamilton hamilton cooke ed command stated easily object attained however understanding dormant commerce clause taken turns early stages see hellerstein hellerstein state taxation ed hereinafter hellerstein hellerstein hartman supra held view interstate commerce wholly immune state taxation form leloup port mobile even though amount tax laid commerce robbins shelby county taxing see also cooley board wardens port philadelphia ex rel society relief distressed pilots brown maryland wheat position gave way time less uncompromising formal approach according example invalidate state tax levied gross receipts interstate commerce new jersey bell telephone state bd taxes assessments new jersey oklahoma tax jefferson lines meyer wells fargo upon freight carried interstate commerce case state freight tax wall allow tax merely measured gross receipts interstate commerce long tax formally imposed upon franchises maine grand trunk lieu taxes upon taxpayer property express minnesota see generally lockhart gross receipts taxes interstate transportation communication harv rev hereinafter lockhart dissenting formal approach justice stone remarked mechanical uncertain application remote actualities value di santo pennsylvania stone dissenting old formalism began give way justice stone opinion western live stock bureau revenue examined new mexico franchise tax measured gross receipts applied receipts advertisers journal produced taxpayer new mexico circulated inside outside state although assessment sustained solely prior precedent see lockhart justice stone added dash pragmatism brief interlude since become aspiration oklahoma tax jefferson lines quarter law trouble rejecting claim mere formation contract persons different insulated receipts taxation western live stock saw business preparing printing publishing magazine advertising peculiarly local therefore subject taxation state within business operated vexed question however one today call question apportionment whether interstate circulation journal barred taxation receipts advertisements enhanced value journal wide dissemination rebuffing challenge ground burden interstate commerce remote attenuated light analogous taxation railroad property justice stone provided added reason sustaining tax far value contributed appellants new mexico business circulation magazine interstate taxed taxed elsewhere value railroad property taxed locally tax one form substance repeated manner lay added burden interstate distribution magazine oklahoma tax jefferson lines vice statute applied receipts interstate sales tax includes measure without apportionment receipts derived activities interstate commerce exaction character lawful may substance laid fullest extent goods sold well manufactured adams mfg storen brief resurgence old absolutism proscribed taxation formally levied upon interstate commerce see freeman hewit spector motor service returned western live stock multiple taxation rule northwestern portland cement minnesota categorically abandoned formalism complete auto transit brady overruled spector freeman complete auto business engaged transporting cars manufactured outside taxing state dealers within challenged franchise tax assessed equally gross income derived transportation hire within state taxpayer challenge resting solely fact state taxed privilege engaging interstate commercial activity turned back sustaining tax explicitly returned prior decisions considered formal language tax statute rather practical effect sustained tax commerce clause challenge tax applied activity substantial nexus taxing state oklahoma tax jefferson lines fairly apportioned discriminate interstate commerce fairly related services provided state iii long settled sale tangible goods sufficient nexus state sale consummated treated local transaction taxable state mcgoldrick coal mining upholding tax sale coal shipped taxing state seller addressing interstate provision services recently held state interstate telephone call originates terminates requisite commerce clause nexus tax customer purchase call long call billed charged service address paid addressee within taxing state goldberg supra oklahoma tax falls comfortably within rules oklahoma ticket purchased service originates facts enough concluding nexus aplenty see holmes supra indeed taxpayer deny oklahoma substantial nexus portion bus service rather argues nexus state insufficient oklahoma tax jefferson lines portion travel outside borders point however goes second prong complete auto turn difficult question case whether tax properly apportioned within meaning second prong complete auto test central purpose ensure state taxes fair share interstate transaction goldberg supra principle fair share lineal descendant western live stock prohibition multiple taxation threatened whenever one state act overreaching combines possibility another state claim fair share value taxed portion value one state exceeded fair share taxed state properly laying claim decade assessed threat malapportionment asking whether tax internally consistent whether externally consistent well see container supra internal consistency preserved imposition tax identical one question every state add burden interstate commerce intrastate commerce also bear test asks nothing degree economic reality reflected tax simply looks structure tax issue see whether identical application every state union place interstate commerce disadvantage compared commerce intrastate failure internal consistency shows matter law state attempting take fair share taxes interstate transaction since allowing tax one state place interstate commerce mercy remaining might impose identical tax oklahoma tax jefferson lines see gwin white prince failure case however every state impose tax identical oklahoma tax ticket sales within state travel originating sale subject one state tax external consistency hand looks logical consequences cloning economic justification state claim upon value taxed discover whether state tax reaches beyond portion value fairly attributable economic activity within taxing state see goldberg supra container supra threat real multiple taxation though literally identical statutes may indicate state impermissible overreaching less tidy world real taxation turn length oklahoma tax jefferson lines reviewing sales taxes fair share however set different course sale goods readily viewed discrete event facilitated laws amenities place sale transaction readily reveal extent completed anticipated interstate activity affects value buyer taxed therefore consistently approved taxation sales without division tax base among different instead held taxes properly measurable gross charge purchase regardless activity outside taxing jurisdiction might preceded sale might occur future see mcgoldrick coal mining rule even parties sales contract specifically contemplated interstate movement goods either immediately transfer ownership see wardair canada florida dept revenue upholding sales tax airplane fuel state tax utah pacific cast iron pipe per curiam upholding tax sale contemplated purchaser interstate shipment goods immediately sale sale held activity subject state taxing power long taxation discriminat obstruc interstate commerce berwindwhite found sufficient safeguard risk impermissible multiple taxation sale fact consummated oklahoma tax jefferson lines one state put necessary condition imposing tax occurrence local activity delivery goods within state upon purchase consumption ibid conceived sales tax coal example repeated coal imagined ever delivered two conversely held sales tax validly imposed purchaser already obtained title goods shipped outside taxing state taxing state common carrier mcleod dilworth seller case selling outside taxing state words conception common sales tax goods operating transfer ownership possession particular time place insulated buyer threat taxation transaction deriving rule covering taxation buyer sales goods course oblivious possibility successive taxation related events stream commerce cases implicit understanding commerce clause forbid actual assessment succession taxes different distinct events tangible object flows along thus truism sales tax buyer preclude tax seller upon income earned sale constitutional trouble inherent imposition sales tax state delivery customer even though state origin thing sold may assessed property severance tax see supra cf commonwealth edison montana upholding severance tax coal mined within taxing state light settled treatment taxes sales goods successive taxes related oklahoma tax jefferson lines stream commerce fair say taxable event consummated sale goods found properly treated unique internally consistent conventional sales tax long held externally consistent well sale services ordinarily treated local state event readily sale tangible goods located solely within state delivery cf goldberg sweet although decisional law sales services less developed sales goods one category cases dealing taxation gross sales receipts hands seller services supports view taxable event wholly local thus held entire gross receipts derived sales services performed wholly one state taxable state notwithstanding contract performance services entered across state lines customers reside outside taxing state western live stock bureau revenue already noted even interstate circulation contributes value magazine advertising purchased customer held commerce clause preclude tax full value state publication services performed upon tangible items retrieved delivered customers business performing services may taxed full gross receipts services performed wholly within taxing state department treasury ind mfg interstate activity may essential substantial portion value services first case essential performance services second sales oklahoma tax jefferson lines least partial performance taxing state justify state taxation transaction entire gross receipts hands seller analogy sometimes drawn sales gross receipts taxes see international harvester department treasury see norton department revenue reason suppose different apportionment feasible required tax falls seller buyer cases gross receipts sales services include one falling quite different category however decision taxpayer relies analogy said control resolution case us decided central greyhound lines mealey striking new york gross receipts tax transportation services imposed without apportionment total receipts new york sales bus services almost half actually provided carriage neighboring new jersey pennsylvania held statute fatally flawed failure apportion taxable receipts proportions miles traveled various bore total similarity central greyhound case course striking assumption economic significance gross receipts tax indistinguishable tax sales appeals held similar mileage apportionment required see taxpayer argues however think central greyhound provides wrong analogy answering sales tax apportionment question sure two cases involve identical services apportionment mileage per state equally feasible two diverge crucially identity taxpayers consequent opportunities understood exist oklahoma tax jefferson lines multiple taxation taxpayer central greyhound rest simply mathematical administrative feasibility mileage apportionment express understanding exposed taxation new jersey pennsylvania portions receipts new york taxing entirety thus understood gross receipts tax simply variety tax income required apportioned reflect location various interstate activities earned understanding presumably reason central greyhound said nothing arguably local character levy sales transaction instead heeded warning rivilege taxes requiring percentage gross receipts interstate transportation sustained imposed wherever interstate activity occurs contrast tax falls buyer services subject double taxation sale services buyer goods taxable event comprises agreement payment delivery services taxing state state claim site combination economic activity represented receipt ticket consumption form commencement partial provision transportation thus closely resembles delivery goods within state upon purchase consumption especially given full consumption use purchased goods within taxing state never condition taxing sale oklahoma tax jefferson lines goods although taxpayer seeks discount resemblances arguing sale occur delivery made nothing caselaw supports view delivery made services provided time space separate sale occurs moment delivery state segment transportation complete analysis lose touch common understanding sale see goldberg combined events payment ticket delivery present commencement trip commonly understood suffice sale sum sales taxation open double taxation analysis central greyhound turned decision control classify oklahoma tax standard taxes sales goods taxes less complicated sales services however two questions may helpfully considered although sale partial delivery duplicated taxable event state multiple taxation identical tax thus precluded possibility successive taxation closely related transaction indicate potential unfairness oklahoma tax full amount sale answer question possibility apportioning mileage sufficient reason conclude tax exceeds fair share state sale oklahoma tax jefferson lines example face oklahoma sales tax texas levy sustainable apportioned gross receipts tax texas portion travel oklahoma city dallas interstate travel exposed multiple taxation sense different coal producer may taxed first point severance montana customer may later taxed upon purchase new york multiple taxation placed upon interstate commerce confluence taxes structural evil flows either tax individually rather accidental incident interstate commerce subject two different taxing jurisdictions lockhart see moorman mfg oklahoma tax jefferson lines taxpayer made case oklahoma tax jefferson lines oklahoma sales tax exposes buyer ticket oklahoma travel another state multiple taxation taxes imposed upon passengers passage since use tax equivalent consumption services generally levied compensate taxing state incapacity reach corresponding sale commonly paired sales tax see holmes boston stock exchange state tax henneford silas mason applicable sales tax paid subject credit tax paid since use tax comply commerce clause requirements tax scheme apply differently goods services purchased purchased domestically presumably apply another state sales tax previously paid apply subject credit payment either event oklahoma ticket purchaser free multiple taxation true oklahoma offered provide credit related taxes paid elsewhere taxing sales oklahoma may rely upon merely practical consequence structure use taxes generally based upon primacy taxes sales use goods taxed extent prior sale escaped taxation indeed district columbia impose sales use taxes permit credit exemption similar taxes paid see hellerstein hellerstein tax guide one state summarized provisions force credit provisions create national system first state purchase use imposes tax thereafter state taxes transaction unless prior tax oklahoma tax jefferson lines imposed tax rate prior taxing state less case subsequent taxing state imposes tax measured differential rate kss transportation baldwin tax oklahoma tax jefferson lines oklahoma tax jefferson lines turn remaining two portions complete auto test require tax must discriminate interstate commerce must fairly related services provided state oklahoma tax meets demands oklahoma tax jefferson lines state may impose tax discriminates interstate commerce providing direct commercial advantage local business northwestern portland cement minnesota see also american trucking scheiner thus barred discriminating foreign enterprises competing local businesses see scheiner supra discriminating commercial activity occurring outside taxing state see boston stock exchange state tax argument made oklahoma discriminates enterprises merit argument tax discriminates interstate activity argument proffered jefferson amicus greyhound lines largely rewriting apportionment challenge rejected response needs reiteration see brief respondent brief greyhound lines amicus curiae jefferson takes additional position however oklahoma discriminates travel taxing ticket full rate regardless whether ticket relates route entirely within oklahoma travel percent within oklahoma brief respondent making point amicus greyhound invokes decision scheiner struck pennsylvania flat tax trucks traveling state plainly discriminatory case point scheiner held flat tax trucks privilege using pennsylvania roads discriminated interstate travel imposing cost per mile upon trucks far exceeding cost per mile borne local trucks generally traveled miles pennsylvania roads ibid tax differs oklahoma tax jefferson lines one scheiner however imposed upon use state roads upon freedom purchase mcleod dilworth however complementary goals sales use taxes may taxable event one sale service buyer enjoyment privilege using oklahoma roads since oklahoma facilitates purchases services equally intrastate interstate travelers buyers pay tax rate value purchases see holmes cf scheiner supra amount pennsylvania taxes owed trucker vary directly proxy value obtained state thus even dividing oklahoma sales taxes miles traveled produces average higher figure interstate trips sold sale wholly domestic journey discrimination interstate travel miles traveled within state simply relevant proxy benefit conferred upon parties sales transaction tax sale tangible goods potential interstate movement sale bearing reason sales tax see wardair canada supra upholding sales tax airplane fuel cf commonwealth edison montana severance tax oklahoma tax sale transportation begin state imposes duty equally valued purchases regardless whether purchase prompts interstate intrastate movement discrimination interstate commerce finally commerce clause demands fair relation tax benefits conferred upon taxpayer state see goldberg oklahoma tax jefferson lines holmes supra commonwealth edison supra taxpayer argues tax fails final prong buyer benefits taxing state occur portion journey takes place oklahoma taxpayer misunderstands import last requirement fair relation prong complete auto requires detailed accounting services provided taxpayer account activity taxed indeed state limited offsetting public costs created taxed activity event taxable proceeds tax may ordinarily used purposes unrelated taxable event interstate commerce may thus made pay fair share state expenses contribute cost providing governmental services including services arguably receives direct benefit goldberg supra quoting commonwealth edison supra emphasis original bus terminal may catch fire sale robbery may foiled buyer getting ticket police fire protection along usual usually forgotten advantages conferred state maintenance civilized society justifications enough imposition tax see ibid complete auto fourth criterion asks measure tax reasonably related taxpayer presence activities state see commonwealth edison supra already said shows demand satisfied tax falls sale takes place wholly inside oklahoma measured value service purchased oklahoma tax jefferson lines iv oklahoma tax sale transportation services contravene commerce clause judgment appeals reversed accordingly case remanded proceedings consistent opinion ordered footnotes parties stipulated dispute concerns taxes jefferson sales tickets travel starting oklahoma ending another state app tr oral arg commission seek recover taxes tickets sold oklahoma travel wholly outside state travel routes originating terminating oklahoma accordingly validity taxes us follow standard usage gross receipts taxes gross receipts sales payable seller contrast sales taxes also levied gross receipts sales payable buyer although collected seller remitted taxing entity hartman federal limitations state local taxation indeed temporarily adhered additional distinction taxes upon interstate commerce struck case state freight tax taxes upon gross receipts commerce upheld term state tax railway gross receipts wall nice distinction abandoned prior new jersey bell case philadelphia southern pennsylvania although new york tax reached gross receipts ticket sales within new york state murphy dissenting majority makes mention fact additional gross receipts tax imposed upon interstate bus line course respect constitutional strictures thus example texas tax bus company full value bus service oklahoma city dallas ticket sold oklahoma tax among things internally inconsistent texas impose tax upon bus company measured portion gross receipts reflecting instate travel impose taxes interstate journeys alike event texas chose limit burden successive taxes attributable transaction combining apportioned gross receipts tax credit sales taxes paid texas example give equal treatment service texas purchased subject sales tax another state granting credit sales taxes paid state see henneford silas mason upholding use tax provided credit sales taxes paid state halliburton oil well cementing reily qual treatment oklahoma tax jefferson lines taxpayers similarly situated condition precedent valid use tax goods imported maryland louisiana striking louisiana first use tax imported gas pattern credits exemptions allowed statute undeniably violates principle equality tyler pipe industries washington state dept revenue striking washington gross receipts wholesaling tax exempting manufacturers see also boston stock exchange state tax although held state imposing apportioned gross receipts tax grants credit sales taxes paid must also extend credit sales taxes paid see associated industries mo lohman nn slip nn halliburton supra brennan concurring silas mason supra see also williams vermont noted equality treatment interstate intrastate activity common theme among paired compensating tax schemes passed constitutional muster see boston stock exchange supra indeed never upheld tax face substantiated charge provided credits taxpayer payment taxes failed extend credit payment equivalent taxes contrary upholding tax schemes providing credits taxes paid occasioned transaction often pointed concomitant credit provisions taxes paid supporting conclusion particular tax passed muster treated taxpayers alike see itel containers huddleston slip holmes mcnamara taxing scheme fairly apportioned provides credit use tax sales taxes paid general trading state tax iowa silas mason supra general requirement equal treatment thus amply clear precedent express opinion need equal treatment credit allowed payment taxes third party see darnell indiana justice breyer reject review tax general sales tax principles favor analogy sales gross receipts taxes dissent view without practical difference post although dissenting opinion rightly counsels adoption purely formal distinctions economic equivalence alone similarly touchstone commerce clause jurisprudence decisions reconciled view two taxes must inevitably equated purposes constitutional analysis virtue fact ultimately pass ed along customer calculated similar fashion ibid indeed case example dismiss successive taxation extraction sale income sale coal consistent commerce clause prohibition multiple taxation justice breyer opinion illuminates difference view suggestion post disagreement turns differing assessments force competing analogies analogy central greyhound derives strength characterizing tax falling interstate travel post transportation post analogy prior cases taxing sales goods services derives force identifying taxpayer categorizing tax value uniform rule governing taxation occasion generally understood sales transaction significance taxpayer identity indeed central longstanding recognition structural differences permit successive taxation incident multiple taxing jurisdictions decision today latest example recognition brings us close simplicity conceptual distinction sales income taxation likely allow oklahoma tax jefferson lines justice scalia justice thomas joins concurring judgment agree conclusion oklahoma sales tax facially discriminate interstate commerce see ante seems demand certify compliance negative commerce clause negative negates state regulation commerce also appear constitution see amerada hess director division taxation new jersey department treasury scalia concurring judgment tyler pipe industries washington state dept revenue scalia concurring part dissenting part apply remainder eminently unhelpful test complete auto transit brady real commerce clause congress shall power regulate commerce among several art congress make judgment interstate commerce must immunized certain sorts nondiscriminatory state action judgment may embrace oklahoma tax jefferson lines imponderables much value fairly attributable economic activity within taxing state constitutes fair relation tax benefits conferred upon taxpayer state ante emphases added see tyler pipe supra look forward day complete auto take rightful place part ii opinion among useless discarded tools jurisprudence oklahoma tax jefferson lines justice breyer justice joins dissenting despite lucid thorough discussion relevant law unable join conclusion one simple reason like judges appeals believe tax issue tax held unconstitutional central greyhound lines mealey relevant purposes identical cases involve taxes imposed upon interstate bus transportation neither case state apportion tax avoid taxing portion interstate activity performed find distinguishing features hence hold tax us violates constitution reasons set forth central greyhound central greyhound considered tax imposed state new york utilities business new york tax called mergency tax furnishing utility services murphy dissenting quoting new york tax law tax equal two per centum gross income defined include receipts received reason sale made new york new york taxing authorities applied tax gross receipts oklahoma tax jefferson lines sales new york bus transportation new york city cities upstate new york routes cut across new jersey pennsylvania portion trips accounted percent total mileage justice frankfurter wrote central greyhound interstate commerce state seeking reach real question whether state exacting constitutionally fair demand aspect interstate commerce state bears special relation ibid nature unapportioned gross receipts tax makes interstate transportation bear fair share cost local government whose protection enjoys quoting freeman hewit noted new jersey pennsylvania claim right make appropriately apportioned claims substantial part business appellant afford protection see principle precedent claim denied allow new york impose tax gross receipts entire mileage within new york well without subject interstate commerce unfair burden taxed portions revenue give protection portions well state oklahoma tax jefferson lines tax us bears uncanny resemblance new york tax oklahoma statute applied ransportation common carriers imposes excise tax gross receipts gross proceeds sale made oklahoma okla tit supp emphasis added new york statute imposed tax receipts received reason sale made new york see supra emphasis added oklahoma imposes tax total value trips large portion may take place new york imposed tax total value trips large portion took place new york made effort apportion tax reflect comparative cost value portions trips neither oklahoma one find critical difference language two statutes differs slightly oklahoma calls statute excise tax levie tax upon sales transportation new york called tax mergency tax services levied tax gross income defined include receipts sale linguistic difference however significant majority properly recognizes purely formal differences terminology make constitutional difference ante instances state imposes tax gross receipts measured sales taxes seem practical effect inherently interstate bus transportation activity central greyhound willing look new york formal labels mergency tax services gross income tax substance tax oklahoma tax jefferson lines gross receipts sales majority sees number reasons result different central greyhound think persuasive first majority points new york law required seller bus company pay tax whereas oklahoma law says tax shall paid consumer user vendor okla tit supp difference leads majority characterize former gross receipts tax latter constitutionally distinguishable sales tax difference however seems formal practical difference oklahoma law makes bus company vendor principal officer personally liable tax whether collect customer ibid oklahoma far tell never tried collect tax directly customer event statute tells customer pay tax state vendor ibid upshot practical matter respect taxes state calculate tax bill multiplying rate times gross receipts sales bus company pay tax bill company pass tax along customer second majority believes case presents significantly smaller likelihood central greyhound portions bus trip taxed give protection portions well state central greyhound least hint opinion taxable event oklahoma tax attaches interstate transportation passengers sale bus ticket combined perhaps transportation state line see ante taxable event comprises agreement payment delivery oklahoma tax jefferson lines services taxing state thus majority suggests tax transportation opposed sale bus ticket different state might successive ante double taxation constitutionally relevant way ibid see ante state claim site combination concede oklahoma tax kind envisioned namely one tax bus company privilege selling tickets whether tax pass constitutional muster depend upon practical effects suggest tax constitutional simply lends recharacterizing taxable event sale ignore economic reality sales tax framed percentage ticket price seems clear activity oklahoma intends tax transportation passengers kind conduct like selling tickets event majority seem believe oklahoma taxing something bus transportation seems acknowledge risk multiple taxation creates ingenious set taxing rules designed show state imposes say gross receipts tax share bus ticket sales likely grant credit oklahoma sales tax unless forced citizens pay sales tax gross receipts tax one might said central greyhound instead enforcing apportionment requirement simply said one state like new york imposes gross receipts tax receipts received reason sale made state state trying tax gross receipts share bus ticket sales might give kind credit difficulties approach lie complexity inability foresee ways oklahoma tax jefferson lines might effectively tax portion journey also taxed oklahoma rules traveler buys ticket oklahoma still threatened duplicative tax state impose sales tax transportation thus offer credit sales tax paid oklahoma even constitutional problem remain namely oklahoma imposing unapportioned tax portion travel outside state new york finally majority finds support goldberg sweet case permitted illinois tax interstate telephone calls originated terminated state however goldberg careful distinguish cases dealing movement large physical objects identifiable routes practicable keep track distance actually traveled within taxing state listed central greyhound one cases telephone service goldberg said differed movement kind issue central greyhound least arguably service consumed wholly within one state possibly two call charged service address paid addressee regardless whether telephones buses alike different goldberg purport modify central greyhound majority event goldberg said tax issue credited taxpayers similar taxes assessed ultimately may differ majority simply assess differently comparative force two competing analogies majority finds determinative case law concerning sales taxes applied sale goods cases example permit one oklahoma tax jefferson lines state impose severance tax another sales tax physical item say coal view however analogy sales taxes strong analogy tax issue central greyhound tax us tax imposed upon product made different state consumed different state made ingredients come different state moved interstate commerce rather tax imposed upon interstate travel essence interstate commerce fairly obvious effort tax portion interstate activity revenue reasonably reflects component goldberg sweet supra reaffirm central greyhound principle even requires different treatment inherently interstate service interstate transportation denies possibility single formal constitutional rule sales taxes appeals wrote classic instance unapportioned tax upon interstate commerce jefferson lines view right respectfully dissent page