Today's Law As Amended


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AB-2692 Sales and use taxes: deficiency determinations: qualifying retailers: income and corporation taxes: disclosure agreements.(2015-2016)



As Amends the Law Today


SECTION 1.

 Section 6487.05 of the Revenue and Taxation Code is amended to read:

6487.05.
 (a) Notwithstanding Section 6487, the period during which a deficiency determination may be mailed to a qualifying retailer is limited to three years after the last day of the calendar month following the quarterly period for which the amount is proposed to be determined. For purposes of this section, a “qualifying retailer” is a retailer that meets all of the following conditions: 
(1) (b)  The retailer is located outside this state, and has not previously registered with the board. For purposes of this section, a “qualifying retailer” is a retailer that either: 
(2) The retailer is engaged in business in this state, as defined in Section 6203.
(3) The retailer voluntarily registers with the board.
(4) (1)  The retailer has not  Is located outside this state, has not previously registered with the board, is engaged in business in this state, as defined in Section 6203, voluntarily registers with the board, and has not  been previously contacted by the board or its agents regarding the provisions of Section 6203.
(2) Has gross receipts of less than one million dollars ($1,000,000) in the previous four calendar quarters.
(5)  (c)  As determined by the board,  In addition to the criteria of subdivision (a), in order to qualify as a “qualifying retailer,”  the retailer’s failure to file a return or failure to report or pay the tax or amount due required by law was due to reasonable cause and was not a result of negligence or intentional disregard of the law, or because of fraud or an intent to evade the provisions of this part. part, as determined by the board. 
(b) (d)  If the board or its designee finds that the retailer’s failure to make a timely return or payment is due to reasonable cause and circumstances beyond the retailer’s control, and occurred notwithstanding the exercise of ordinary care and the absence of willful neglect, the retailer shall be relieved of the penalties imposed pursuant to this part. Any retailer seeking relief of penalty shall file a statement under penalty of perjury setting forth the facts upon which he or she bases his or her claim for relief.

SEC. 2.

 Section 19191 of the Revenue and Taxation Code is amended to read:

19191.
 (a) The Franchise Tax Board may enter into a voluntary disclosure agreement with any qualified small business, qualified  entity, qualified shareholder, qualified member, qualified beneficiary,  or qualified partner, beneficiary  as defined in Section 19192, that is binding on both the Franchise Tax Board and the qualified small business, qualified  entity, qualified shareholder, qualified member, qualified beneficiary,  or qualified partner. beneficiary. 
(b) The Franchise Tax Board shall do all of the following:
(1) Provide guidelines and establish procedures for qualified small businesses, qualified  entities and their qualified shareholders, qualified members, qualified beneficiaries,  or qualified partners beneficiaries  to apply for voluntary disclosure agreements.
(2) Accept applications on an anonymous basis from qualified small businesses, qualified  entities and their qualified shareholders, qualified members, qualified beneficiaries,  or qualified partners beneficiaries  for voluntary disclosure agreements.
(3) Implement procedures for accepting applications for voluntary disclosure agreements through the National Nexus Program administered by the Multistate Tax Commission.
(4) For purposes of considering offers from qualified small businesses, qualified  entities and their qualified shareholders, qualified members, qualified beneficiaries,  or qualified partners beneficiaries  to enter into voluntary disclosure agreements, take into account the following criteria:
(A) The nature and magnitude of the qualified entity’s previous presence and activity in this state and the facts and circumstances by which the nexus of the qualified entity or qualified shareholder, qualified member, qualified beneficiary,  or qualified partner beneficiary  was established.
(B) The extent to which the weight of the factual circumstances demonstrates that a prudent business person exercising reasonable care would conclude that the previous activities and presence in this state were or were not immune from taxation by this state by reason of Public Law 86-272 or otherwise.
(C) Reasonable reliance on the advice of a person in a fiduciary position or other competent advice that the qualified entity or qualified shareholder, qualified member, qualified beneficiary,  or qualified partner beneficiary  activities were immune from taxation by this state.
(D) Lack of evidence of willful disregard or neglect of the tax laws of this state on the part of the qualified entity, qualified  small business, qualified entity or qualified  shareholder, qualified member, qualified beneficiary,  or qualified partner. beneficiary. 
(E) Demonstrations of good faith on the part of the qualified small business, qualified  entity, qualified shareholder, qualified member, qualified beneficiary,  or qualified partner. beneficiary. 
(F) Benefits that will accrue to the state by entering into a voluntary disclosure agreement.
(5) Act on any application of a voluntary disclosure agreement within 120 days of receipt.
(6) Enter into voluntary disclosure agreements with qualified small businesses, qualified  entities, qualified shareholders, qualified members, qualified beneficiaries,  or qualified partners, beneficiaries,  as authorized in subdivision (a) and based on the criteria set forth in paragraph (4).
(c) Before any voluntary disclosure agreement becomes binding, the Franchise Tax Board, itself, shall approve the agreement in the following manner:
(1) The Executive Officer and Chief Counsel of the Franchise Tax Board shall recommend and submit the voluntary disclosure agreement to the Franchise Tax Board for approval.
(2) Each voluntary disclosure agreement recommendation shall be submitted in a manner as to maintain the anonymity of the taxpayer applying for the voluntary disclosure agreement.
(3) A recommendation for approval of a voluntary disclosure agreement shall be approved or disapproved by the Franchise Tax Board, itself, within 45 days of the submission of that recommendation to the board.
(4) A recommendation of a voluntary disclosure agreement that is not either approved or disapproved by the board within 45 days of the submission of that recommendation shall be deemed approved.
(5) Disapproval of a recommendation of a voluntary disclosure agreement shall be made only by a majority vote of the Franchise Tax Board.
(6) The members of the Franchise Tax Board shall not participate in any voluntary disclosure agreement except as provided in this subdivision.
(d) The voluntary disclosure agreement entered into by the Franchise Tax Board and the qualified small business, qualified  entity, qualified shareholder, qualified member, qualified beneficiary,  or qualified partner beneficiary  as provided for in subdivision (a) shall to the extent applicable specify that:
(1) The Franchise Tax Board shall with respect to a qualified small business, qualified  entity, qualified shareholder, qualified member, qualified beneficiary,  or qualified partner, beneficiary,  except as provided in paragraph (4), (6), (9),  or (11) (9)  of subdivision (a) of Section 19192:
(A) (i)  Waive its authority under this part, Part 10 (commencing with Section 17001), or Part 11 (commencing with Section 23001) to assess or propose to assess taxes, additions to tax, fees, or penalties with respect to each taxable year ending prior to six years from the signing date of the voluntary disclosure agreement.
(ii) The waiver of authority to assess or propose to assess taxes, additions to tax, fees, or penalties under clause (i) with respect to the income of a trust for a taxable year ending prior to six years from the signing date of the voluntary disclosure agreement shall not prevent the taxation of income of a beneficiary of a trust pursuant to Section 17745.
(B) With respect to each of the six taxable years ending immediately preceding the signing date of the voluntary disclosure agreement, based on its discretion, agree to waive any or all of the following:
(i) A penalty related to a failure to make and file a return, as provided in Section 19131.
(ii) A penalty related to a failure to pay any amount due by the date prescribed for payment, as provided in Section 19132.
(iii) An addition to tax related to an underpayment of estimated tax, as provided in Section 19136.
(iv) A penalty related to Section 6810 or subdivision (a) of Section 8810 of the Corporations Code, as provided in Section 19141 of this code.
(v) A penalty related to a failure to furnish information or maintain records, as provided in Section 19141.5.
(vi) An addition to tax related to an underpayment of tax imposed under Part 11 (commencing with Section 23001), as provided in Section 19142.
(vii) A penalty related to a partnership required to file a return under Section 18633 or 18633.5,  18633,  as provided in Section 19172.
(viii) A penalty related to an “S” corporation required to file a return under Section 18601, as provided in Section 19172.5.
(ix) (viii)  A penalty related to a failure to file information returns, as provided in Section 19183.
(x) (ix)  A penalty related to relief from contract voidability, as provided in Section 23305.1.
(2) The qualified entity, qualified shareholder, qualified member, qualified beneficiary,  or qualified partner beneficiary  shall:
(A) With respect to each of the six taxable years ending immediately preceding the signing date of the written agreement:
(i) Voluntarily and fully disclose on the qualified small business’ or qualified  entity’s application all material facts pertinent to the qualified small business’, qualified  entity’s, shareholder’s, member’s, beneficiary’s,  or partner’s beneficiary’s  liability for any taxes imposed under Part 10 (commencing with Section 17001) or Part 11 (commencing with Section 23001).
(ii) Except as provided in paragraph (3), within 30 days from the signing date of the voluntary disclosure agreement:
(I) File all returns required under this part, Part 10 (commencing with Section 17001), or Part 11 (commencing with Section 23001).
(II) Pay in full any tax, interest, fee, and penalties, other than those penalties specifically waived by the Franchise Tax Board under the terms of the voluntary disclosure agreement, imposed under this part, Part 10 (commencing with Section 17001), or Part 11 (commencing with Section 23001) in a manner as may be prescribed by the Franchise Tax Board. Paragraph (1) of subdivision (f) of Section 23153 shall not apply to qualified entities admitted into the voluntary disclosure program.
(B) Agree to comply with all franchise and income tax laws of this state in subsequent taxable years by filing all returns required and paying all amounts due under this part, Part 10 (commencing with Section 17001), or Part 11 (commencing with Section 23001).
(3) The Franchise Tax Board may extend the time for filing returns and paying amounts due to 120 days from the signing date of the voluntary disclosure agreement or to the latest extended due date of the return for a taxable year for which relief is granted, whichever is later.
(e) An addition to tax under Section 19136 or 19142 shall not be made for any underpayment of estimated tax attributable to the underpayment of an installment of estimated tax due before the signing date of the voluntary disclosure agreement.
(f) The amendments to this section made by Chapter 954 of the Statutes of 1996 shall apply to taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 1997.
(g) The amendments to this section made by Chapter 543 of the Statutes of 2001 shall apply to voluntary disclosure agreements entered into on or after January 1, 2002.
(h) The amendments to this section made by Chapter 354 543  of the Statutes of 2004 2001  shall apply to voluntary disclosure agreements entered into on or after January 1, 2005.
(i) The amendments to this section made by Chapter 296 of the Statutes of 2011 shall apply to voluntary disclosure agreements entered into on or after January 1, 2011.
(j) The amendments to this section made by the act adding this subdivision shall apply to voluntary disclosure agreements entered into on or after January 1, 2018.

SEC. 3.

 Section 19192 of the Revenue and Taxation Code is amended to read:

19192.
 For purposes of this article, the following terms have the following meanings:
(a) (1) “Qualified entity” means an entity that is all of the following:
(A) A corporation, as defined in Section 23038, a limited liability company, as defined in subdivision (d) of Section 17941, a qualified trust,  limited partnership,  as defined in paragraph (7), Section 17935,  or a qualified partnership, trust,  as defined in paragraph (12). (7). 
(B) An entity, including any predecessors to the entity, that previously has never filed a return with the Franchise Tax Board pursuant to this part, Part 10 (commencing with Section 17001), or Part 11 (commencing with Section 23011).
(C) An entity, including any predecessors to the entity, that previously has not been the subject of an inquiry by the Franchise Tax Board with respect to liability for any of the taxes imposed under Part 10 (commencing with Section 17001) or Part 11 (commencing with Section 23001).
(D) An entity that voluntarily comes forward prior to any unilateral contact from the Franchise Tax Board, makes application for a voluntary disclosure agreement in a form and manner prescribed by the Franchise Tax Board, and makes a full and accurate statement of its activities in this state for the six immediately preceding taxable years.
(2) (A) Notwithstanding paragraph (1), a qualified entity does not include any of the following:
(i) An entity that is organized and existing under the laws of this state.
(ii) An entity that is qualified or registered with the office of the Secretary of State.
(iii) An entity that maintains and staffs a permanent facility in this state.
(B) For purposes of this paragraph, the storing of materials, goods, or products in a public warehouse pursuant to a public warehouse contract does not constitute maintaining a permanent facility in this state.
(3) “Qualified shareholder” means an individual that is all of the following:
(A) A nonresident on the signing date of the voluntary disclosure agreement.
(B) A shareholder of an “S” corporation (defined in Section 23800) that has applied for a voluntary disclosure agreement under this article under which all material facts pertinent to the shareholder’s liability would be disclosed on that “S” corporation’s voluntary disclosure agreement as required under clause (i) of subparagraph (A) of paragraph (2) of subdivision (d) of Section 19191.
(4) Notwithstanding paragraph (3), subparagraph (B) of paragraph (1) of subdivision (d) of Section 19191 shall not apply to any of the six taxable years immediately preceding the signing date that the qualified shareholder was a California resident required to file a California tax return, nor to any penalties or additions to tax attributable to income other than the California source income from the “S” corporation that filed an application under this article.
(5) “Qualified member” means an individual, corporation, or limited liability company that is all of the following:
(A) (i) In the case of an individual, is a nonresident on the signing date of the voluntary disclosure agreement.
(ii) In the case of a corporation or limited liability company, is not either of the following:
(I) Organized under the laws of this state.
(II) Qualified or registered with the office of the Secretary of State.
(B) A member of a limited liability company that has applied for a voluntary disclosure agreement under this article under which all material facts pertinent to the member’s liability would be disclosed on that limited liability company’s voluntary disclosure agreement as required under clause (i) of subparagraph (A) of paragraph (2) of subdivision (d) of Section 19191.
(6) Notwithstanding paragraph (5), in the case of a qualified member who is an individual, subparagraph (B) of paragraph (1) of subdivision (d) of Section 19191 shall not apply to any of the six taxable years immediately preceding the signing date that the qualified member was a California resident required to file a California tax return, nor to any penalties or additions to tax attributable to income other than the California source income from the limited liability company that filed an application under this article.
(7) “Qualified trust” means a trust,  trust in which  the administration of which  the trust  has never been performed in California. For purposes of this paragraph, administrative activities performed in California would be deemed to be performed outside of California if those activities were inconsequential to the overall administration of the trust.
(8) “Qualified beneficiary” means an individual who is all of the following:
(A) A nonresident on the signing date of the voluntary disclosure agreement and a nonresident during each of the six taxable years ending immediately preceding the signing date of the voluntary disclosure agreement.
(B) A beneficiary with a contingent or noncontingent interest in the qualified trust. A beneficiary’s trust interest for a taxable year is not contingent if the trust has made any distribution to that beneficiary.
(C) (B)  A beneficiary of a qualified trust that has applied for a voluntary disclosure agreement under this article under which all material facts pertinent to the beneficiary’s liability would be disclosed on that trust’s voluntary disclosure agreement as required under clause (i) of subparagraph (A) of paragraph (2) of subdivision (d) of Section 19191.
(9) Notwithstanding paragraph (8), subparagraph (B) of paragraph (1) of subdivision (d) of Section 19191 shall not apply to any penalties or additions to tax attributable to income other than income from the trust that filed an application under this article.
(10) “Qualified partner”  small business”  means an individual that is both of the following: entity with a total income of less than one million dollars ($1,000,000) in the previous taxable year. 
(A) A nonresident of this state as of the signing date of the voluntary disclosure agreement.
(B) A partner of a qualified partnership that has applied for a voluntary disclosure agreement under this article under which all material facts pertinent to the partner’s liability would be disclosed on the partnership’s voluntary disclosure agreement as required under clause (i) of subparagraph (A) of paragraph (2) of subdivision (d) of Section 19191.
(11) Notwithstanding paragraph (10), in the case of a qualified partner, subparagraph (B) of paragraph (1) of subdivision (d) of Section 19191 shall not apply to any of the six taxable years immediately preceding the signing date that the qualified partner was a California resident required to file a California tax return, nor to any penalties or additions to tax attributable to income other than the California source income from the partnership that filed an application under this article.
(12) “Qualified partnership” means a partnership, as defined in Section 17008, a limited partnership, as defined in subdivision (d) of Section 17935, or a limited liability partnership, within the meaning of Section 17948.
(b) “Signing date” of the voluntary disclosure agreement means the date on which a person duly authorized by the Franchise Tax Board signs the agreement.
(c) The amendments to this section made by Chapter 954 of the Statutes of 1996 shall apply to taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 1997.
(d) The amendments to this section made by Chapter 543 of the Statutes of 2001 shall apply to voluntary disclosure agreements entered into on or after January 1, 2002.
(e) The amendments to this section made by the act adding this subdivision shall apply to voluntary disclosure agreements entered into on or after January 1, 2005.
(f) The amendments to this section made by the act adding this subdivision shall apply to voluntary disclosure agreements entered into on or after January 1, 2018.
SEC. 4.
 No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California Constitution because the only costs that may be incurred by a local agency or school district will be incurred because this act creates a new crime or infraction, eliminates a crime or infraction, or changes the penalty for a crime or infraction, within the meaning of Section 17556 of the Government Code, or changes the definition of a crime within the meaning of Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California Constitution.