In The
Supreme Court of the United States

Wisconsin Department of Revenuev.William WrigleyJr., Company

Decided June 19, 1992
Justice O’Connor, Concurrence

Summary

Wisconsin Department of Revenue v. William Wrigley Jr. Co., 505 U.S. 214 (1992), is a case decided by the United States Supreme Court regarding the application of state franchise taxes to out-of-state businesses.

CASE DETAILS

Topic: Economic Activity
Court vote: 6-3

Note: No other Justices joined this opinion.

Holding:Respondent’s activities in Wisconsin exceeded scope of federal exemption from state taxation.
Citation: 505 U.S. 214
Docket: 91-119
Audio: Listen to this case's oral arguments at Oyez

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Opinion

JUSTICE O'CONNOR, concurring in Parts I and II, and concurring in the judgment.

I join Parts I and II of the Court's opinion. I do not agree, however, that the replacement of stale gum served an independent business function. The replacement of stale gum by the sales representatives was part of ensuring the product was available to the public in a form that may be purchased. Making sure that one's product is available and properly displayed serves no independent business function apart from requesting purchases; one cannot offer a product for sale if it is not available. I agree, however, that the storage of gum in the State and the use of agency stock checks were not ancillary to solicitation and were not de minimis. On that basis, I would hold that Wrigley's income is subject to taxation by Wisconsin.