Ala. court rules in state's favor on tax refunds

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) - A state appeals court ruled in favor of the Alabama Department of Revenue in a sales tax refund case Friday that could have cost the state more than $30 million. In a 5-0 decision, the Court of Civil Appeals rejected arguments by six credit companies seeking tax refunds. Department spokeswoman Carla Snellgrove said the department was "very pleased" with the decision because this case and others like it in which similar credit companies were seeking refunds could have cost the state $30 million to $35 million. The case involved Wells Fargo Financial Acceptance Alabama, DaimlerChrysler Services North America, Greenpoint Credit, America Honda Finance Corp., Wells Fargo Financial Alabama and Conseco Finance Corp. They had financed the purchases of everything from jewelry to autos to mobile homes in... [read full story]