swaggart ministries cal bd equalization argued october decided january california law requires retailers pay sales tax sales tangible personal property collect state residents use tax property purchased outside state tax period question appellant religious organization incorporated louisiana sold variety religious materials evangelistic crusades within california made sales materials california residents appellee state board equalization board audited appellant advised register seller required state law report pay sales use taxes aforementioned sales appellant paid taxes board ruled petitions redetermination refund rejecting contention tax religious materials violated first amendment state trial entered judgment board appellant refund suit state appeal affirmed state denied discretionary review held california imposition sales use tax liability appellant sales religious materials contravene religion clauses first amendment pp collection payment tax imposes constitutionally significant burden appellant religious practices beliefs free exercise clause accordingly require state grant appellant tax exemption appellant misreads murdock pennsylvania follett mccormick although holding flat license taxes commercial sales unconstitutional regard evangelical distribution religious materials nevertheless specifically stated religious activity may constitutionally subjected generally applicable income property tax akin california tax issue cases apply flat license tax operates prior restraint free exercise religious belief invalidate california generally applicable sales use tax flat tax represents small fraction sale applies neutrally relevant sales regardless nature seller purchaser danger appellant religious activity singled special burdensome treatment moreover concern murdock follett flat license taxes operate precondition exercise evangelistic activity present statutory registration requirement tax act prior restraints fee charged registering tax due regardless preregistration tax imposed precondition disseminating message furthermore since appellant argues exercise beliefs unconstitutionally burdened reduction income resulting presumably lower demand wares caused marginally higher price generated tax costs associated administering tax free exercise claim significant tension hernandez commissioner made clear extent imposition generally applicable tax merely decreases amount money appellant spend religious activities burden constitutionally significant different imposed generally applicable laws regulations religious organizations must adhere onerous tax rate california even generally applicable might effectively choke adherent religious practices situation considered pp application california tax appellant sale religious materials violate establishment clause fostering excessive governmental entanglement religion evidence administrative entanglement thin since appeal expressly found light appellant sophisticated accounting staff computerized accounting methods record support assertion collection payment tax impose severe accounting burdens moreover although collection payment require contact appellant state generally applicable administrative recordkeeping burdens may imposed religious organizations without running afoul clause see hernandez supra fact appellant must bear cost collecting remitting tax even financial burden may vary religion religion enmesh government religious affairs since statutory scheme requires neither involvement state employees continuing inspection appellant operations significantly imposition tax without exemption appellant require state inquire religious content items sold religious motivation selling purchasing since subject tax regardless content motive pp merits appellant commerce clause due process clause claim properly reached since trial appeal ruled claim procedurally barred presented board required state law see michigan long appellant failed substantiate claim california courts general apply procedural bar rule pertinent exception irregular arbitrary inconsistent manner pp delivered opinion unanimous michael mcconnell argued cause appellant brief charles ajalat edward mcglynn gaffney jesse choper richard nielsen deputy attorney general california argued cause appellee brief john van de kamp attorney general neal gobar deputy attorney general briefs amici curiae urging reversal filed association public justice bradley jacob evangelical council financial accountability et al samuel ericsson michael woodruff forest montgomery international society krishna consciousness california david liberman robert moest barry fisher national council churches christ douglas laycock national taxpayers union gale norton steven shapiro filed brief american civil liberties union amicus curiae urging affirmance briefs amici curiae filed national conference state legislatures et al benna ruth solomon charles rothfeld watchtower bible tract society new york james mccabe donald ridley justice delivered opinion case presents question whether religion clauses first amendment prohibit state imposing generally applicable sales use tax distribution religious materials religious organization california sales use tax law requires retailers pay sales tax privilege selling tangible personal property retail cal rev tax code ann west sale includes transfer title possession tangible personal property consideration cal rev tax code ann west supp use tax complement sales tax reaches purchases residents state imposed storage use consumption state tangible personal property purchased retailer rate sales tax percent although use tax imposed purchaser generally collected retailer time sale made neither state constitution state sales use tax law exempts religious organizations sales use tax apart limited exemption serving meals religious organizations tax period question appellant jimmy swaggart ministries religious organization incorporated louisiana nonprofit corporation recognized internal revenue service pursuant internal revenue code amended ed california state controller pursuant inheritance tax gift tax laws state california appellant constitution bylaws provide called purpose establishing maintaining evangelistic outreach worship almighty god app outreach performed available means home foreign lands shall specifically include evangelistic crusades missionary endeavors radio broadcasting owner broadcaster placement agency television broadcasting owner broadcaster audio production reproduction music audio production reproduction preaching audio production reproduction teaching writing printing publishing individual mass media methods presently exist may devised future proclaim good news jesus christ appellant also published monthly magazine evangelist sold nationwide subscription magazine contained articles religious nature well advertisements appellant religious books tapes records magazine included order form listing various items sale particular issue unit price spaces purchasers fill quantity desired total price appellant also offered items sale radio television cable television broadcasts including broadcasts local california stations appellee board equalization state california board informed appellant religious materials exempt sales tax requested appellant register seller facilitate reporting payment tax see cal rev tax code ann west supp tax registration requirements appellant responded exempt taxes first amendment board audited appellant advised appellant register seller report pay sales tax sales made california crusades board also opined appellant sufficient nexus state california require appellant collect report use tax sales california purchasers based board review appellant records parties stipulated appellant sold use california tangible personal property period april december measured payment appellant mail order sales baton rouge louisiana crusade merchandise sales california app figures represented sales use california merchandise specific religious content bibles bible study manuals printed sermons collections sermons audiocassette tapes sermons religious books pamphlets religious music form songbooks tapes records see app juris statement based sales figures appellant religious materials board notified appellant owed sales use taxes plus interest penalty total amount due app appellant contest board assessment tax liability sale use certain nonreligious merchandise including items jsm logo mugs bowls plates replicas crown thorns ark covenant roman coin candlesticks bible stand pen pencil sets prints religious scenes bud vase communion cups appellant filed petition redetermination board reiterating view tax religious materials violated first amendment following hearing appeal board board deleted penalty otherwise redetermined matter without adjustment amount taxes owing plus interest pursuant state procedural law appellant paid amount filed petition redetermination refund board see cal rev tax code ann west board denied appellant petition appellant brought suit state seeking refund tax paid trial entered judgment board ruling appellant entitled refund tax california appeal affirmed cal app cal rptr california denied discretionary review noted probable jurisdiction pursuant ed amended affirm ii appellant central contention state imposition sales use tax liability sale religious materials contravenes first amendment command made applicable fourteenth amendment make law respecting establishment religion prohibiting free exercise thereof appellant challenges sales use tax law free exercise establishment clauses free exercise clause noted withdraws legislative power state federal exertion restraint free exercise religion purpose secure religious liberty individual prohibiting invasions thereof civil authority abington school dist schempp indeed regulation neutral face may application nonetheless offend constitutional requirement governmental neutrality unduly burdens free exercise religion wisconsin yoder cases established free exercise inquiry asks whether government placed substantial burden observation central religious belief practice whether compelling governmental interest justifies burden hernandez commissioner citations omitted appellant relies almost exclusively decisions murdock pennsylvania follett mccormick proposition state may impose sales use tax evangelical distribution religious material religious organization appellant contends state imposition use sales tax liability burdens evangelical distribution religious materials manner identical manner evangelists murdock follett burdened reject appellant expansive reading murdock follett contrary decisions murdock considered constitutionality city ordinance requiring persons canvassing soliciting within city procure license paying flat fee reversing convictions jehovah witnesses convicted ordinance soliciting distributing religious literature without license explained hand distribution religious tracts form missionary evangelism potent force various religious movements years form evangelism utilized today large scale various religious sects whose colporteurs carry gospel thousands upon thousands homes seek personal visitations win adherents faith preaching distribution religious literature combination purpose evangelical revival meeting form religious activity occupies high estate first amendment worship churches preaching pulpits footnotes omitted extended murdock following term invalidating applied one earns livelihood evangelist preacher home town ordinance similar involved murdock required booksellers pay flat fee procure license sell books follett mccormick reaffirming observation murdock power tax exercise privilege power control suppress enjoyment quoting murdock supra reasoned protection first amendment restricted orthodox religious practices expression orthodox economic views makes profession evangelism less preferred position casual worker decisions cases however resulted particular nature challenged taxes flat license taxes operated prior restraint exercise religious liberty murdock instance emphasized tax issue license tax flat tax imposed exercise privilege granted bill rights cautioned mean say religious groups press free financial burdens government something quite different example tax income one engages religious activities tax property used employed connection activities citing grosjean american press see also tax charge enjoyment privilege benefit bestowed state follett reiterated preacher free financial burdens government including taxes income property like citizens may subject general taxation emphasis added significantly noted cases primary vice ordinances issue operated prior restraints constitutionally protected conduct cases license taxes invalidated issuance permit license dependent payment license tax license tax fixed amount unrelated scope activities petitioners realized revenues nominal fee imposed regulatory measure defray expenses policing activities question way apportioned flat license tax levied collected condition pursuit activities whose enjoyment guaranteed first amendment accordingly restrains advance constitutional liberties press religion inevitably tends suppress exercise almost uniformly recognized inherent vice evil flat license tax murdock supra emphasis added reading murdock follett confirmed decision minneapolis star tribune minnesota commissioner revenue considered newspaper first amendment challenge state use tax ink paper products used production periodic publications course striking tax rejected newspaper suggestion premised murdock follett generally applicable sales tax applied publications construing cases involving flat tax unrelated receipts income speaker expenses administering valid regulatory scheme condition right speak emphasis original noted imposing tax condition engaging protected activity defendants cases imposed form prior restraint speech rendering tax highly susceptible constitutional challenge regard cases cited star tribune resemble generally applicable sales tax indeed cases consistently recognized nondiscriminatory taxes receipts income newspapers permissible ibid citations omitted also note last term plurality rejected precise argument appellant makes texas monthly bullock justice brennan writing three justices held state sales tax exemption religious publications violated establishment clause plurality opinion concluding plurality held free exercise clause prevent state withdrawing exemption noting extent opinions murdock follett might read suggest federal government may never tax sale religious publications reject dicta justice white concurring judgment concluded exemption violated free press clause content publication determined status justice blackmun joined justice concurred plurality holding tax exemption issue case contravened establishment clause reserved question whether free exercise clause requires tax exemption sale religious literature religious organization words defining ultimate scope follett murdock may left another day case course california chosen create tax exemption religious materials therefore need revisit establishment clause question presented texas monthly however decide free exercise question left open justice blackmun concurrence texas monthly limiting murdock follett apply flat license tax operates prior restraint free exercise religious beliefs murdock follett plainly support appellant free exercise claim california generally applicable sales use tax flat tax represents small fraction retail sale applies neutrally retail sales tangible personal property made california california imposes sales use tax even seller purchaser charitable religious nonprofit state local governmental nature see union league club johnson cal people imperial county cal app bank america national trust savings assn state board equalization cal app cal rptr thus sales use tax tax right disseminate religious information ideas beliefs per se rather tax privilege making retail sales tangible personal property storage use consumption tangible personal property california example california treats sale bible religious organization treat sale bible bookstore long retail sales tangible personal property subject tax regardless motivation sale purchase danger appellant religious activity singled special burdensome treatment moreover concern murdock follett flat license taxes operate precondition exercise evangelistic activity present case registration requirement see cal rev tax code ann west supp tax act prior restraints fee charged registering tax due regardless preregistration tax imposed precondition disseminating message thus unlike license tax murdock way apportioned realized revenues itinerant preachers forced pay tax see also texas monthly supra tax issue case akin generally applicable income property tax murdock follett specifically state may constitutionally imposed religious activity addition appellant misplaced reliance murdock follett appellant free exercise claim also significant tension decision last term hernandez commissioner holding government disallowance tax deduction religious auditing training services violate free exercise clause reasoned ny burden imposed auditing training derives solely fact result deduction denial adherents less money gain access sessions burden different imposed public tax fee indeed burden imposed denial contribution gift deduction seem pale comparison overall federal income tax burden adherent appellant contends availability deduction issue hernandez imposition tax issue distinguishable cases adherents base claim exemption argument incrementally larger tax burden interferes religious activities precisely argument rather one applicable deductions rejected hernandez bottom though doubt economic cost appellant complying generally applicable sales use tax tax different generally applicable laws regulations health safety regulations appellant must adhere finally appellant religious beliefs forbid payment sales use tax appellant reliance sherbert verner progeny misplaced sense state condition ed receipt important benefit upon conduct proscribed religious faith denie benefit conduct mandated religious belief thereby putting substantial pressure adherent modify behavior violate beliefs hobbie unemployment appeals florida quoting thomas review bd indiana employment security appellant never alleged mere act paying tax violates sincere religious beliefs therefore conclude collection payment generally applicable tax case imposes constitutionally significant burden appellant religious practices beliefs free exercise clause accordingly require state grant appellant exemption generally applicable sales use tax although course possible imagine onerous tax rate even generally applicable might effectively choke adherent religious practices cf murdock supra burden flat tax render itinerant evangelism crushed closed sheer weight toll tribute exacted town town face situation case accordingly intimate views whether generally applicable tax might violate free exercise clause appellant also contends application sales use tax sale religious materials violates establishment clause fosters excessive government entanglement religion lemon kurtzman quoting walz tax new york city appellant alleges example present controversy featured inspections appellant evangelistic crusades lengthy audits examinations appellant books records threats criminal prosecution layers administrative judicial proceedings establishment clause prohibits sponsorship financial support active involvement sovereign religious activity walz supra excessive entanglement prong tripartite lemon test see lemon requires examination character purposes institutions benefited nature aid state provides resulting relationship government religious authority see also walz separate opinion harlan warning programs whose nature apt entangle state details administration indeed walz held tax exemption religious organizations religious properties used solely religious worship part general exemption nonprofit institutions violate establishment clause upholding tax exemption specifically noted taxation religious properties cause least much administrative entanglement government religious authorities exemption either course taxation churches exemption occasions degree involvement religion elimination exemption tend expand involvement government giving rise tax valuation church property tax liens tax foreclosures direct confrontations conflicts follow train legal processes granting tax exemptions churches necessarily operates afford indirect economic benefit also gives rise yet lesser involvement taxing analyzing either alternative questions whether involvement excessive whether continuing one calling official continuing surveillance leading impermissible degree entanglement outset undeniable generally applicable tax secular purpose neither advances inhibits religion essence tax neutral nondiscriminatory questions religious belief thus whatever precise contours establishment clause see county allegheny american civil liberties union pittsburgh tracing evolution establishment clause doctrine cf bowen kendrick applying noting criticism entanglement prong lemon test undisputed core values even remotely called question generally applicable tax case even applying excessive entanglement prong lemon test however hold california imposition sales use tax liability appellant threatens excessive entanglement church state first note evidence administrative entanglement case thin appellant alleges collection payment sales use tax impose severe accounting burdens appeal however expressly found record support appellant factual assertions noting appellant sophisticated accounting staff recently computerized accounting appellant books purposes obtaining federal income tax exemption segregated retail sales donations cal app cal second even assuming tax imposes substantial administrative burdens appellant administrative recordkeeping burdens rise constitutionally significant level collection payment tax course require contact appellant state held generally applicable administrative recordkeeping regulations may imposed religious organization without running afoul establishment clause see hernandez outine regulatory interaction application neutral tax laws involves inquiries religious doctrine delegation state power religious body detailed monitoring close administrative contact secular religious bodies violate nonentanglement command tony susan alamo foundation secretary labor establishment clause exempt religious organizations secular governmental activity fire inspections building zoning regulations lemon supra recordkeeping requirements fair labor standards act perhaps burdensome terms paperwork significantly intrusive religious affairs sure noted tony susan alamo foundation recordkeeping requirements issue case appl ied commercial activities undertaken business purpose therefore impact petitioners evangelical activities recognition bear whether generally applicable regulation nevertheless kind government surveillance previously held pose intolerable risk government entanglement religion ibid fact appellant must bear cost collecting remitting generally applicable sales use tax even financial burden costs may vary religion religion enmesh government religious affairs contrary appellant contentions statutory scheme requires neither involvement state employees continuing inspection appellant operations official continuing surveillance walz supra government auditors sorts government entanglement found violate establishment clause far invasive level contact created administration neutral tax laws cf aguilar felton larkin grendel den significantly imposition sales use tax without exemption appellant require state inquire religious content items sold religious motivation selling purchasing items materials subject tax regardless content motive state point view critical question whether materials religious whether sale use question involves secular determination thus case stands firmer ground hernandez appellant offers items stated price thereby relieving state need place monetary value appellant religious items compare hernandez comparable good service sold marketplace internal revenue service looks cost providing good service dissenting becomes impossible compute contribution portion payment charity received return merely intangible intangible matter tangible bought sold except donative contexts although appellant asserts donations often accompany payments made religious items items sometimes given away without payment nominal payment plain first case appellant use order forms price lists renders illusory difficulty separating two portions second case question whether particular transfer constitutes sale ironically appellant theory government may tax religious core activities may tax nonreligious activities require government precisely appellant asserts religion clauses prohibit determine expenditures religious secular lemon accordingly find excessive entanglement government religion case hold imposition sales use tax liability appellant violate establishment clause iii appellant also contends state imposition use tax liability violates commerce due process clauses distributor insufficient nexus state see national geographic society california bd equalization national bellas hess department revenue decline reach merits claim however courts ruled claim procedurally barred california law provides administrative claim tax refund shall state specific grounds upon claim founded cal rev tax code ann west supp refund suits entertained claim refund credit duly filed board suit may thereafter brought grounds set forth claim thus state law claim refund delineates restricts issues considered taxpayer refund action trial appellate without jurisdiction consider grounds set forth claim atari state board equalization cal app cal rptr citations omitted rule serves legitimate state interest requiring parties exhaust administrative remedies proceeding uch rule prevents overworked consider issues remedies available administrative channels cal record case makes clear appellant refund claim board failed even cite commerce clause due process clause much less articulate legal arguments contesting nexus issue see app incorporating petition redetermination turn raised first amendment arguments see board hearing officer specifically noted forwarding decision board appellant ounsel argue nexus indeed parties stipulated trial appellant request refund based first amendment claim accordingly trial appeal declined rule nexus issue ground appellant failed raise refund claim board cal app cal app unambiguous application state procedural law makes unnecessary us review asserted claim see michigan long michigan tyler appellant nevertheless urges state procedural ground relied upon courts inadequate procedural rule strictly regularly followed hathorn lovorn quoting barr city columbia appellant asserts state courts california retain authority hear claims involving important questions public policy notwithstanding parties failure raise claims administrative agency see lindeleaf agricultural labor relations cal hale morgan cal appellant observes example although appeal case found appellant nexus claim procedurally barred ignored procedural bar ruled merits appellant ninth tenth amendment arguments see cal app cal even though arguments likewise raised appellant refund claim see cal appeal however specifically rejected appellant claim nexus issue raised important questions public policy noting issue instead raise factual questions determination matter public policy matter evidence cal rptr even appeal erred matter state law declining rule appellant nexus claim appellant failed substantiate claim california courts general apply exception irregular arbitrary inconsistent manner accordingly conclude appellant commerce clause due process clause argument properly us thus express opinion merits claim judgment california appeal affirmed ordered