BILL NUMBER: AB 1203	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Gorell
   (Principal coauthor: Senator Lieu)

                        FEBRUARY 22, 2013

   An act to add Sections 6595 and 19396 to the Revenue and Taxation
Code, relating to taxation.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 1203, as introduced, Gorell. Taxation: interest: penalties.
   (1) The Sales and Use Tax Law imposes a tax on retailers measured
by the gross receipts from the sale of tangible personal property
sold at retail in this state, or on the storage, use, or other
consumption in this state of tangible personal property purchased
from a retailer for storage, use, or other consumption in this state.
That law requires the payment of penalties and interest on a failure
to timely pay taxes, from the date on which those amounts became due
and payable to the state until the date of payment. That law
authorizes the State Board of Equalization, in its discretion, to
relieve all or any part of those amounts imposed under specified
circumstances.
   This bill would provide that interest and penalties shall not be
assessed against any person for failure to make payments of any taxes
imposed under the Sales and Use Tax Law if the tax is required to be
collected because of a court decision invalidating a statute, upon
which the taxpayer relied, as unconstitutional, as provided.
   (2) Under existing law, the Franchise Tax Board administers the
Personal Income Tax Law and the Corporation Tax Law. Those laws
impose penalties and interest upon taxpayers, as specified in those
laws.
   This bill would provide, for taxable years beginning on or after
January 1, 2014, that penalties and interest shall not be assessed
against any taxpayer with regard to any additional tax, as defined,
if the additional tax is required to be collected pursuant to a court
holding, made on or after January 1, 2014, that invalidates a
provision, upon which the taxpayer relied, as unconstitutional, as
provided.
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program: no.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  SECTION 1.  Section 6595 is added to the Revenue and Taxation Code,
to read:
   6595.  Notwithstanding any other law, on or after January 1, 2014,
interest and penalties shall not be assessed against any person for
failure to make payments of any taxes imposed under this part if all
of the following apply:
   (a) The tax is required to be collected from the taxpayer due to a
court holding that a statute is unconstitutional.
   (b) The taxpayer relied on that statute when calculating the
amount of tax due.
   (c) The tax is paid by the taxpayer within 60 days after the board
sends a notice of determination to the taxpayer relating to the tax
now required to be collected.
  SEC. 2.  Section 19396 is added to the Revenue and Taxation Code,
to read:
   19396.  (a) Notwithstanding any other law, on or after January 1,
2014, penalties shall not be assessed against any taxpayer with
respect to the additional tax of that taxpayer and interest shall not
accrue against any taxpayer with respect to the additional tax of
that taxpayer for periods prior to the date the taxpayer is notified
of the additional tax due for the taxable year if all of the
following apply:
   (1) The additional tax is an increase in tax for a taxable year
beginning on or after January 1, 2014, to the extent the increase is
attributable to a court holding that a statute is unconstitutional,
and the additional tax is required to be collected from the taxpayer
due to that holding, as announced by the Franchise Tax Board.
   (2) The taxpayer relied on that statute when calculating the
amount of tax due.
   (3) The additional tax is paid by the taxpayer within 60 days of
the receipt of a notice of proposed assessment by the board or within
the time allowed by an installment payment agreement entered into
pursuant to Section 19008.