Library / Laws / 114th / hr / H.R. 25 / Introduced in House
I
114th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 25
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
January 6, 2015
Mr. Woodall (for himself, Mr. Price of Georgia, Mr. King of Iowa, Mr. Bishop of Utah, Mr. Conaway, Mr. Kline, Mr. McCaul, Mr. Miller of Florida, Mr. Thornberry, Mr. Brady of Texas, Ms. Jenkins of Kansas, Mr. Marchant, Mr. Culberson, Mr. Bilirakis, Mr. Westmoreland, Mr. Graves of Georgia, Mr. Long, Mr. Massie, Mr. Posey, Mr. Yoder, Mr. DesJarlais, Mr. Meadows, Mr. Collins of Georgia, Mr. Huelskamp, Mr. Bridenstine, Ms. Foxx, Mr. Mica, Mr. McClintock, Mr. Salmon, Mr. Neugebauer, Mr. Stutzman, Mr. Roe of Tennessee, Mr. Graves of Missouri, Mr. Poe of Texas, Mr. Franks of Arizona, Mr. Crenshaw, Ms. Granger, Mr. Nugent, Mr. DeSantis, Mr. Pompeo, Mr. Flores, Mr. Duncan of Tennessee, Mr. Walberg, Mr. Farenthold, Mr. Olson, Mr. Harris, Mr. Yoho, Mr. Duncan of South Carolina, Mr. Rooney of Florida, Mr. Wittman, Mr. Lucas, Mr. Mullin, Mr. Chabot, Mr. Ribble, Mr. Brat, Mr. Loudermilk, Mr. Hice of Georgia, and Mr. Carter of Georgia) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means
A BILL
To promote freedom, fairness, and economic opportunity by repealing the income tax and other taxes,
abolishing the Internal Revenue Service, and enacting a national sales tax
to be administered primarily by the States.
1.
Short title; table of contents
(a)
Short Title
This Act may be cited as the FairTax Act of 2015.
(b)
Table of Contents
The table of contents for this Act is as follows:
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Congressional findings.
Title I—Repeal of the Income Tax, Payroll Taxes, and Estate and Gift Taxes
Sec. 101. Income taxes repealed.
Sec. 102. Payroll taxes repealed.
Sec. 103. Estate and gift taxes repealed.
Sec. 104. Conforming amendments; effective date.
Title II—Sales Tax Enacted
Sec. 201. Sales tax.
Sec. 202. Conforming and technical amendments.
Title III—Other Matters
Sec. 301. Phase-out of administration of repealed Federal taxes.
Sec. 302. Administration of other Federal taxes.
Sec. 303. Sales tax inclusive Social Security benefits indexation.
Title IV—Sunset of Sales Tax if Sixteenth Amendment not Repealed
Sec. 401. Elimination of sales tax if Sixteenth Amendment not repealed.
2.
Congressional findings
(a)
Findings Relating to Federal Income Tax
Congress finds the Federal income tax—
(1) retards economic growth and has reduced the standard of living of the American public;
(2) impedes the international competitiveness of United States industry;
(3) reduces savings and investment in the United States by taxing income multiple times;
(4) slows the capital formation necessary for real wages to steadily increase;
(5) lowers productivity;
(6) imposes unacceptable and unnecessary administrative and compliance costs on individual and business
taxpayers;
(7) is unfair and inequitable;
(8) unnecessarily intrudes upon the privacy and civil rights of United States citizens;
(9) hides the true cost of government by embedding taxes in the costs of everything Americans buy;
(10) is not being complied with at satisfactory levels and therefore raises the tax burden on law
abiding citizens; and
(11) impedes upward social mobility.
(b)
Findings Relating to Federal Payroll Taxes
Congress finds further that the Social Security and Medicare payroll taxes and self-employment
taxes—
(1) raise the cost of employment;
(2) destroy jobs and cause unemployment; and
(3) have a disproportionately adverse impact on lower income Americans.
(c)
Findings Relating to Federal Estate and Gift Taxes
Congress finds further that the Federal estate and gift taxes—
(1) force family businesses and farms to be sold by the family to pay such taxes;
(2) discourage capital formation and entrepreneurship;
(3) foster the continued dominance of large enterprises over small family-owned companies and farms;
and
(4) impose unacceptably high tax planning costs on small businesses and farms.
(d)
Findings Relating to National Sales Tax
Congress finds further that a broad-based national sales tax on goods and services purchased for
final consumption—
(1) is similar in many respects to the sales and use taxes in place in 45 of the 50 States;
(2) will promote savings and investment;
(3) will promote fairness;
(4) will promote economic growth;
(5) will raise the standard of living;
(6) will increase investment;
(7) will enhance productivity and international competitiveness;
(8) will reduce administrative burdens on the American taxpayer;
(9) will improve upward social mobility; and
(10) will respect the privacy interests and civil rights of taxpayers.
(e)
Findings Relating to Administration of National Sales Tax
Congress further finds that—
(1) most of the practical experience administering sales taxes is found at the State governmental
level;
(2) it is desirable to harmonize Federal and State collection and enforcement efforts to the maximum
extent possible;
(3) it is sound tax administration policy to foster administration and collection of the Federal sales
tax at the State level in return for a reasonable administration fee to
the States; and
(4) businesses that must collect and remit taxes should receive reasonable compensation for the cost of
doing so.
(f)
Findings Relating To Repeal of Present Federal Tax System
Congress further finds that the 16th Amendment to the United States Constitution should be
repealed.
I
Repeal of the Income Tax, Payroll Taxes, and Estate and Gift Taxes
101.
Income taxes repealed
Subtitle A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (relating to income taxes and self-employment
taxes) is repealed.
102.
Payroll taxes repealed
(a)
In General
Subtitle C of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (relating to payroll taxes and withholding of
income taxes) is repealed.
(b)
Funding of Social Security
For funding of the Social Security Trust Funds from general revenue, see section 201 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 401).
103.
Estate and gift taxes repealed
Subtitle B of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (relating to estate and gift taxes) is repealed.
104.
Conforming amendments; effective date
(a)
Conforming Amendments
The Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended—
(1) by striking subtitle H (relating to financing of Presidential election campaigns), and
(2) by redesignating—
(A) subtitle D (relating to miscellaneous excise taxes) as subtitle B,
(B) subtitle E (relating to alcohol, tobacco, and certain other excise taxes) as subtitle C,
(C) subtitle F (relating to procedure and administration) as subtitle D,
(D) subtitle G (relating to the Joint Committee on Taxation) as subtitle E,
(E) subtitle I (relating to the Trust Fund Code) as subtitle F,
(F) subtitle J (relating to coal industry health benefits) as subtitle G, and
(G) subtitle K (relating to group health plan portability, access, and renewability requirements) as
subtitle H.
(b)
Redesignation of 1986 Code
(1)
In general
The Internal Revenue Code of 1986 enacted on October 22, 1986, as heretofore, hereby, or hereafter
amended, may be cited as the Internal Revenue Code of 2015.
(2)
References in laws, etc
Except when inappropriate, any reference in any law, Executive order, or other document—
(A) to the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 shall include a reference to the Internal Revenue Code of 2015, and
(B) to the Internal Revenue Code of 2015 shall include a reference to the provisions of law formerly known as the Internal Revenue Code of
1986.
(c)
Additional Amendments
For additional conforming amendments, see section 202 of this Act.
(d)
Effective Date
Except as otherwise provided in this Act, the amendments made by this Act shall take effect on
January 1, 2017.
II
Sales Tax Enacted
201.
Sales tax
(a)
In General
The Internal Revenue Code of 2015 is amended by inserting before subtitle B (as redesignated by section 104(a)(2)(A)) the following
new subtitle:
A
Sales Tax
Sec. 1. Principles of interpretation.
Sec. 2. Definitions.
Chapter 1. Interpretation; Definitions; Imposition of Tax; etc.
Chapter 2. Credits; refunds
Chapter 3. Family consumption allowance
Chapter 4. Federal and state cooperative tax administration
Chapter 5. Other administrative provisions
Chapter 6. Collections; appeals; taxpayer rights
Chapter 7. Special rules
Chapter 8. Financial intermediation services
Chapter 9. Additional matters
1.
Principles of interpretation
(a)
In General
Any court, the Secretary, and any sales tax administering authority shall consider the purposes of
this subtitle (as set forth in subsection (b)) as the primary aid in
statutory construction.
(b)
Purposes
The purposes of this subtitle are as follows:
(1) To raise revenue needed by the Federal Government in a manner consistent with the other purposes of
this subtitle.
(2) To tax all consumption of goods and services in the United States once, without exception, but only
once.
(3) To prevent double, multiple, or cascading taxation.
(4) To simplify the tax law and reduce the administration costs of, and the costs of compliance with,
the tax law.
(5) To provide for the administration of the tax law in a manner that respects privacy, due process,
individual rights when interacting with the government, the presumption of
innocence in criminal proceedings, and the presumption of lawful behavior
in civil proceedings.
(6) To increase the role of State governments in Federal tax administration because of State government
expertise in sales tax administration.
(7) To enhance generally cooperation and coordination among State tax administrators; and to enhance
cooperation and coordination among Federal and State tax administrators,
consistent with the principle of intergovernmental tax immunity.
(c)
Secondary Aids to Statutory Construction
As a secondary aid in statutory construction, any court, the Secretary, and any sales tax
administering authority shall consider—
(1) the common law canons of statutory construction;
(2) the meaning and construction of concepts and terms used in the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 as in
effect before the effective date of this subtitle; and
(3) construe any ambiguities in this Act in favor of reserving powers to the States respectively, or to
the people.
2.
Definitions
(a)
In General
For purposes of this subtitle—
(1)
Affiliated firms
A firm is affiliated with another if 1 firm owns 50 percent or more of—
(A) the voting shares in a corporation, or
(B) the capital interests of a business firm that is not a corporation.
(2)
Conforming state sales tax
The term conforming State sales tax means a sales tax imposed by a State that adopts the same definition of taxable property and
services as adopted by this subtitle.
(3)
Designated commercial private courier service
The term designated commercial private courier service means a firm designated as such by the Secretary or any sales tax administering authority, upon
application of the firm, if the firm—
(A) provides its services to the general public,
(B) records electronically to its data base kept in the regular course of its business the date on
which an item was given to such firm for delivery, and
(C) has been operating for at least 1 year.
(4)
Education and training
The term education and training means tuition for primary, secondary, or postsecondary level education, and job-related training
courses. Such term does not include room, board, sports activities,
recreational activities, hobbies, games, arts or crafts or cultural
activities.
(5)
Gross payments
The term gross payments means payments for taxable property or services, including Federal taxes imposed by this title.
(6)
Intangible property
(A)
In general
The term intangible property includes copyrights, trademarks, patents, goodwill, financial instruments, securities, commercial
paper, debts, notes and bonds, and other property deemed intangible at
common law. The Secretary shall, by regulation resolve differences among
the provisions of common law of the several States.
(B)
Certain types of property
Such term does not include tangible personal property (or rents or leaseholds of any term thereon),
real property (or rents or leaseholds of any term thereon) and computer
software.
(7)
Person
The term person means any natural person, and unless the context clearly does not allow it, any corporation,
partnership, limited liability company, trust, estate, government, agency,
administration, organization, association, or other legal entity (foreign
or domestic.)
(8)
Produce, provide, render, or sell taxable property or services
(A)
In general
A taxable property or service is used to produce, provide, render, or sell a taxable property or
service if such property or service is purchased by a person engaged in a
trade or business for the purpose of employing or using such taxable
property or service in the production, provision, rendering, or sale of
other taxable property or services in the ordinary course of that trade or
business.
(B)
Research, experimentation, testing, and development
Taxable property or services used in a trade or business for the purpose of research,
experimentation, testing, and development shall be treated as used to
produce, provide, render, or sell taxable property or services.
(C)
Insurance payments
Taxable property or services purchased by an insurer on behalf of an insured shall be treated as
used to produce, provide, render, or sell taxable property or services if
the premium for the insurance contract giving rise to the insurer’s
obligation was subject to tax pursuant to section 801 (relating to
financial intermediation services).
(D)
Education and training
Education and training shall be treated as services used to produce, provide, render, or sell
taxable property or services.
(9)
Registered seller
The term registered seller means a person registered pursuant to section 502.
(10)
Sales tax administering authority
The term sales tax administering authority means—
(A) the State agency designated to collect and administer the sales tax imposed by this subtitle, in an
administering State, or
(B) the Secretary, in a State that is neither—
(i) an administering State, nor
(ii) a State that has elected to have its sales tax administered by an administering State.
(11)
Secretary
The term Secretary means the Secretary of the Treasury.
(12)
Taxable employer
(A)
In general
The term taxable employer includes—
(i) any household employing domestic servants, and
(ii) any government except for government enterprises (as defined in section 704).
(B)
Exceptions
The term taxable employer does not include any employer which is—
(i) engaged in a trade or business,
(ii) a not-for-profit organization (as defined in section 706), or
(iii) a government enterprise (as defined in section 704).
(C)
Cross reference
For rules relating to collection and remittance of tax on wages by taxable employers, see section
103(b)(2).
(13)
Tax inclusive fair market value
The term tax inclusive fair market value means the fair market value of taxable property or services plus the tax imposed by this subtitle.
(14)
Taxable property or service
(A)
General rule
The term taxable property or service means—
(i) any property (including leaseholds of any term or rents with respect to such property) but
excluding—
(I) intangible property, and
(II) used property, and
(ii) any service (including any financial intermediation services as determined by section 801).
(B)
Service
For purposes of subparagraph (A), the term service—
(i) shall include any service performed by an employee for which the employee is paid wages or a salary
by a taxable employer, and
(ii) shall not include any service performed by an employee for which the employee is paid wages or a
salary—
(I) by an employer in the regular course of the employer’s trade or business,
(II) by an employer that is a not-for-profit organization (as defined in section 706),
(III) by an employer that is a government enterprise (as defined in section 704), and
(IV) by taxable employers to employees directly providing education and training.
(15)
United states
The term United States, when used in the geographical sense, means each of the 50 States, the District of Columbia, and
any commonwealth, territory, or possession of the United States.
(16)
Used property
The term used property means—
(A) property on which the tax imposed by section 101 has been collected and for which no credit has
been allowed under section 202, 203, or 205, or
(B) property that was held other than for a business purpose (as defined in section 102(b)) on December
31, 2016.
(17)
Wages and salary
The terms wage and salary mean all compensation paid for employment service including cash compensation, employee benefits,
disability insurance, or wage replacement insurance payments, unemployment
compensation insurance, workers’ compensation insurance, and the fair
market value of any other consideration paid by an employer to an employee
in consideration for employment services rendered.
(b)
Cross References
(1) For the definition of business purposes, see section 102(b).
(2) For the definition of insurance contract, see section 206(e).
(3) For the definition of qualified family, see section 302.
(4) For the definition of monthly poverty level, see section 303.
(5) For the definition of large seller, see section 501(e)(3).
(6) For the definition of hobby activities, see section 701.
(7) For the definition of gaming sponsor, see section 701(a).
(8) For the definition of a chance, see section 701(b).
(9) For the definition of government enterprise, see section 704(b).
(10) For the definition of mixed use property, see section 705.
(11) For the definition of qualified not-for-profit organization, see section 706.
(12) For the definition of financial intermediation services, see section 801.
1
Interpretation; definitions; imposition of tax; etc.
Sec. 101. Imposition of sales tax.
Sec. 102. Intermediate and export sales.
Sec. 103. Rules relating to collection and remittance of tax.
101.
Imposition of sales tax
(a)
In General
There is hereby imposed a tax on the use or consumption in the United States of taxable property or
services.
(b)
Rate
(1)
For 2017
In the calendar year 2017, the rate of tax is 23 percent of the gross payments for the taxable
property or service.
(2)
For years after 2017
For years after the calendar year 2017, the rate of tax is the combined Federal tax rate percentage
(as defined in paragraph (3)) of the gross payments for the taxable
property or service.
(3)
Combined federal tax rate percentage
The combined Federal tax rate percentage is the sum of—
(A) the general revenue rate (as defined in paragraph (4)),
(B) the old-age, survivors and disability insurance rate, and
(C) the hospital insurance rate.
(4)
General revenue rate
The general revenue rate shall be 14.91 percent.
(c)
Coordination With Import Duties
The tax imposed by this section is in addition to any import duties imposed by chapter 4 of title
19, United States Code. The Secretary shall provide by regulation that, to
the maximum extent practicable, the tax imposed by this section on
imported taxable property and services is collected and administered in
conjunction with any applicable import duties imposed by the United
States.
(d)
Liability for Tax
(1)
In general
The person using or consuming taxable property or services in the United States is liable for the
tax imposed by this section, except as provided in paragraph (2) of this
subsection.
(2)
Exception where tax paid to seller
A person using or consuming a taxable property or service in the United States is not liable for
the tax imposed by this section if the person pays the tax to a person
selling the taxable property or service and receives from such person a
purchaser’s receipt within the meaning of section 509.
102.
Intermediate and export sales
(a)
In General
For purposes of this subtitle—
(1)
Business and export purposes
No tax shall be imposed under section 101 on any taxable property or service purchased for a
business purpose in a trade or business.
(2)
Investment purpose
No tax shall be imposed under section 101 on any taxable property or service purchased for an
investment purpose and held exclusively for an investment purpose.
(3)
State government functions
No tax shall be imposed under section 101 on State government functions that do not constitute the
final consumption of property or services.
(b)
Business Purposes
For purposes of this section, the term purchased for a business purpose in a trade or business means purchased by a person engaged in a trade or business and used in that trade or business—
(1) for resale,
(2) to produce, provide, render, or sell taxable property or services, or
(3) in furtherance of other bona fide business purposes.
(c)
Investment Purposes
For purposes of this section, the term purchased for an investment purpose means property purchased exclusively for purposes of appreciation or the production of income but
not entailing more than minor personal efforts.
103.
Rules relating to collection and remittance of tax
(a)
Liability for Collection and Remittance of the Tax
Except as provided otherwise by this section, any tax imposed by this subtitle shall be collected
and remitted by the seller of taxable property or services (including
financial intermediation services).
(b)
Tax To Be Remitted by Purchaser in Certain Circumstances
(1)
In general
In the case of taxable property or services purchased outside of the United States and imported
into the United States for use or consumption in the United States, the
purchaser shall remit the tax imposed by section 101.
(2)
Certain wages or salary
In the case of wages or salary paid by a taxable employer which are taxable services, the employer
shall remit the tax imposed by section 101.
(c)
Conversion of Business or Export Property or Services
Property or services purchased for a business purpose in a trade or business or for export (sold
untaxed pursuant to section 102(a)) that is subsequently converted to
personal use shall be deemed purchased at the time of conversion and shall
be subject to the tax imposed by section 101 at the fair market value of
the converted property as of the date of conversion. The tax shall be due
as if the property had been sold at the fair market value during the month
of conversion. The person using or consuming the converted property is
liable for and shall remit the tax.
(d)
Barter Transactions
If gross payment for taxable property or services is made in other than money, then the person
responsible for collecting and remitting the tax shall remit the tax to
the sales tax administering authority in money as if gross payment had
been made in money at the tax inclusive fair market value of the taxable
property or services purchased.
2
CREDITS; REFUNDS
Sec. 201. Credits and refunds.
Sec. 202. Business use conversion credit.
Sec. 203. Intermediate and export sales credit.
Sec. 204. Administration credit.
Sec. 205. Bad debt credit.
Sec. 206. Insurance proceeds credit.
Sec. 207. Refunds.
201.
Credits and refunds
(a)
In General
Each person shall be allowed a credit with respect to the taxes imposed by section 101 for each
month in an amount equal to the sum of—
(1) such person’s business use conversion credit pursuant to section 202 for such month,
(2) such person’s intermediate and export sales credit pursuant to section 203 for such month,
(3) the administration credit pursuant to section 204 for such month,
(4) the bad debt credit pursuant to section 205 for such month,
(5) the insurance proceeds credit pursuant to section 206 for such month,
(6) the transitional inventory credit pursuant to section 902, and
(7) any amount paid in excess of the amount due.
(b)
Credits Not Additive
Only one credit allowed by chapter 2 may be taken with respect to any particular gross payment.
202.
Business use conversion credit
(a)
In General
For purposes of section 201, a person’s business use conversion credit for any month is the
aggregate of the amounts determined under subsection (b) with respect to
taxable property and services—
(1) on which tax was imposed by section 101 (and actually paid), and
(2) which commenced to be 95 percent or more used during such month for business purposes (within the
meaning of section 102(b)).
(b)
Amount of Credit
The amount determined under this paragraph with respect to any taxable property or service is the
lesser of—
(1) the product of—
(A) the rate imposed by section 101, and
(B) the quotient that is—
(i) the fair market value of the property or service when its use is converted, divided by
(ii) the quantity that is one minus the tax rate imposed by section 101, or
(2) the amount of tax paid with respect to such taxable property or service, including the amount, if
any, determined in accordance with section 705 (relating to mixed use
property).
203.
Intermediate and export sales credit
For purposes of section 201, a person’s intermediate and export sales credit is the amount of sales
tax paid on the purchase of any taxable property or service purchased for—
(1) a business purpose in a trade or business (as defined in section 102(b)), or
(2) export from the United States for use or consumption outside the United States.
204.
Administration credit
(a)
In General
Every person filing a timely monthly report (with regard to extensions) in compliance with section
501 shall be entitled to a taxpayer administrative credit equal to the
greater of—
(1) $200, or
(2) one-quarter of 1 percent of the tax remitted.
(b)
Limitation
The credit allowed under this section shall not exceed 20 percent of the tax due to be remitted
prior to the application of any credit or credits permitted by section
201.
205.
Bad debt credit
(a)
Financial Intermediation Services
Any person who has experienced a bad debt (other than unpaid invoices within the meaning of
subsection (b)) shall be entitled to a credit equal to the product of—
(1) the rate imposed by section 101, and
(2) the quotient that is—
(A) the amount of the bad debt (as defined in section 802), divided by
(B) the quantity that is one minus the rate imposed by section 101.
(b)
Unpaid Invoices
Any person electing the accrual method pursuant to section 503 that has with respect to a
transaction—
(1) invoiced the tax imposed by section 101,
(2) remitted the invoiced tax,
(3) actually delivered the taxable property or performed the taxable services invoiced, and
(4) not been paid 180 days after date the invoice was due to be paid,
shall be entitled to a credit equal to the amount of tax remitted and unpaid by the purchaser.
(c)
Subsequent Payment
Any payment made with respect to a transaction subsequent to a section 205 credit being taken with
respect to that transaction shall be subject to tax in the month the
payment was received as if a tax inclusive sale of taxable property and
services in the amount of the payment had been made.
(d)
Partial Payments
Partial payments shall be treated as pro rata payments of the underlying obligation and shall be
allocated proportionately—
(1) for fully taxable payments, between payment for the taxable property and service and tax, and
(2) for partially taxable payments, among payment for the taxable property and service, tax and other
payment.
(e)
Related Parties
The credit provided by this section shall not be available with respect to sales made to related
parties. For purposes of this section, related party means affiliated
firms and family members (as defined in section 302(b)).
206.
Insurance proceeds credit
(a)
In General
A person receiving a payment from an insurer by virtue of an insurance contract shall be entitled
to a credit in an amount determined by subsection (b), less any amount
paid to the insured by the insurer pursuant to subsection (c), if the
entire premium (except that portion allocable to the investment account of
the underlying policy) for the insurance contract giving rise to the
insurer’s obligation to make a payment to the insured was subject to the
tax imposed by section 101 and said tax was paid.
(b)
Credit Amount
The amount of the credit shall be the product of—
(1) the rate imposed by section 101, and
(2) the quotient that is—
(A) the amount of the payment made by the insurer to the insured, divided by
(B) the quantity that is one minus the rate imposed by section 101.
(c)
Administrative Option
The credit determined in accordance with subsection (b) shall be paid by the insurer to the insured
and the insurer shall be entitled to the credit in lieu of the insured,
except that the insurer may elect, in a form prescribed by the Secretary,
to not pay the credit and require the insured to make application for the
credit. In the event of such election, the insurer shall provide to the
Secretary and the insured the name and tax identification number of the
insurer and of the insured and indicate the proper amount of the credit.
(d)
Coordination With Respect to Exemption
If taxable property or services purchased by an insurer on behalf of an insured are purchased free
of tax by virtue of section 2(a)(8)(C), then the credit provided by this
section shall not be available with respect to that purchase.
(e)
Insurance Contract
For purposes of subsection (a), the term insurance contract shall include a life insurance contract, a health insurance contract, a property and casualty loss
insurance contract, a general liability insurance contract, a marine
insurance contract, a fire insurance contract, an accident insurance
contract, a disability insurance contract, a long-term care insurance
contract, and an insurance contract that provides a combination of these
types of insurance.
207.
Refunds
(a)
Registered Sellers
If a registered seller files a monthly tax report with an overpayment, then, upon application by
the registered seller in a form prescribed by the sales tax administering
authority, the overpayment shown on the report shall be refunded to the
registered seller within 60 days of receipt of said application. In the
absence of such application, the overpayment may be carried forward,
without interest, by the person entitled to the credit.
(b)
Other Persons
If a person other than a registered seller has an overpayment for any month, then, upon application
by the person in a form prescribed by the sales tax administering
authority, the credit balance due shall be refunded to the person within
60 days of receipt of said application.
(c)
Interest
No interest shall be paid on any balance due from the sales tax administering authority under this
subsection for any month if such balance due is paid within 60 days after
the application for refund is received. Balances due not paid within 60
days after the application for refund is received shall bear interest from
the date of application. Interest shall be paid at the Federal short-term
rate (as defined in section 511).
(d)
Suspension of Period To Pay Refund Only if Federal or State Court Ruling
The 60-day periods under subsections (a) and (b) shall be suspended with respect to a purported
overpayment (or portion thereof) only during any period that there is in
effect a preliminary, temporary, or final ruling from a Federal or State
court that there is reasonable cause to believe that such overpayment may
not actually be due.
3
Family consumption allowance
Sec. 301. Family consumption allowance.
Sec. 302. Qualified family.
Sec. 303. Monthly poverty level.
Sec. 304. Rebate mechanism.
Sec. 305. Change in family circumstances.
301.
Family consumption allowance
Each qualified family shall be eligible to receive a sales tax rebate each month. The sales tax
rebate shall be in an amount equal to the product of—
(1) the rate of tax imposed by section 101, and
(2) the monthly poverty level.
302.
Qualified family
(a)
General Rule
For purposes of this chapter, the term qualified family shall mean one or more family members sharing a common residence. All family members sharing a
common residence shall be considered as part of 1 qualified family.
(b)
Family Size Determination
(1)
In general
To determine the size of a qualified family for purposes of this chapter, family members shall
mean—
(A) an individual,
(B) the individual’s spouse,
(C) all lineal ancestors and descendants of said individual (and such individual’s spouse),
(D) all legally adopted children of such individual (and such individual’s spouse), and
(E) all children under legal guardianship of such individual (or such individual’s spouse).
(2)
Identification requirements
In order for a person to be counted as a member of the family for purposes of determining the size
of the qualified family, such person must—
(A) have a bona fide Social Security number; and
(B) be a lawful resident of the United States.
(c)
Children Living Away From Home
(1)
Students living away from home
Any person who was a registered student during not fewer than 5 months in a calendar year while
living away from the common residence of a qualified family but who
receives over 50 percent of such person’s support during a calendar year
from members of the qualified family shall be included as part of the
family unit whose members provided said support for purposes of this
chapter.
(2)
Children of divorced or separated parents
If a child’s parents are divorced or legally separated, a child for purposes of this chapter shall
be treated as part of the qualified family of the custodial parent. In
cases of joint custody, the custodial parent for purposes of this chapter
shall be the parent that has custody of the child for more than one-half
of the time during a given calendar year. A parent entitled to be treated
as the custodial parent pursuant to this paragraph may release this claim
to the other parent if said release is in writing.
(d)
Annual Registration
In order to receive the family consumption allowance provided by section 301, a qualified family
must register with the sales tax administering authority in a form
prescribed by the Secretary. The annual registration form shall provide—
(1) the name of each family member who shared the qualified family’s residence on the family
determination date,
(2) the Social Security number of each family member on the family determination date who shared the
qualified family’s residence on the family determination date,
(3) the family member or family members to whom the family consumption allowance should be paid,
(4) a certification that all listed family members are lawful residents of the United States,
(5) a certification that all family members sharing the common residence are listed,
(6) a certification that no family members were incarcerated on the family determination date (within
the meaning of subsection (l)), and
(7) the address of the qualified family.
Said registration shall be signed by all members of the qualified family that have attained the age
of 21 years as of the date of filing.
(e)
Registration Not Mandatory
Registration is not mandatory for any qualified family.
(f)
Effect of Failure To Provide Annual Registration
Any qualified family that fails to register in accordance with this section within 30 days of the
family determination date, shall cease receiving the monthly family
consumption allowance in the month beginning 90 days after the family
determination date.
(g)
Effect of Curing Failure To Provide Annual Registration
Any qualified family that failed to timely make its annual registration in accordance with this
section but subsequently cures its failure to register, shall be entitled
to up to 6 months of lapsed sales tax rebate payments. No interest on
lapsed payment amount shall be paid.
(h)
Effective Date of Annual Registrations
Annual registrations shall take effect for the month beginning 90 days after the family
registration date.
(i)
Effective Date of Revised Registrations
A revised registration made pursuant to section 305 shall take effect for the first month beginning
60 days after the revised registration was filed. The existing
registration shall remain in effect until the effective date of the
revised registration.
(j)
Determination of Registration Filing Date
An annual or revised registration shall be deemed filed when—
(1) deposited in the United States mail, postage prepaid, to the address of the sales tax administering
authority;
(2) delivered and accepted at the offices of the sales tax administering authority; or
(3) provided to a designated commercial private courier service for delivery within 2 days to the sales
tax administering authority at the address of the sales tax administering
authority.
(k)
Proposed Registration To Be Provided
Thirty or more days before the family registration date, the sales tax administering authority
shall mail to the address shown on the most recent rebate registration or
change of address notice filed pursuant to section 305(d) a proposed
registration that may be simply signed by the appropriate family members
if family circumstances have not changed.
(l)
Incarcerated Individuals
An individual shall not be eligible under this chapter to be included as a member of any qualified
family if that individual—
(1) is incarcerated in a local, State, or Federal jail, prison, mental hospital, or other institution
on the family determination date, and
(2) is scheduled to be incarcerated for 6 months or more in the 12-month period following the effective
date of the annual registration or the revised registration of said
qualified family.
(m)
Family Determination Date
The family determination date is a date assigned to each family by the Secretary for purposes of
determining qualified family size and other information necessary for the
administration of this chapter. The Secretary shall promulgate regulations
regarding the issuance of family determination dates. In the absence of
any regulations, the family determination date for all families shall be
October 1. The Secretary may assign family determination dates for
administrative convenience. Permissible means of assigning family
determination dates include a method based on the birthdates of family
members.
(n)
Cross Reference
For penalty for filing false rebate claim, see section 504(i).
303.
Monthly poverty level
(a)
In General
The monthly poverty level for any particular month shall be one-twelfth of the annual poverty level. For purposes of this section the annual poverty level shall be the sum of—
(1) the annual level determined by the Department of Health and Human Services poverty guidelines
required by sections 652 and 673(2) of the Omnibus Reconciliation Act of
1981 for a particular family size, and
(2) in case of families that include a married couple, the annual marriage penalty elimination amount.
(b)
Annual Marriage Penalty Elimination Amount
The annual marriage penalty elimination amount shall be the amount that is—
(1) the amount that is two times the annual level determined by the Department of Health and Human
Services poverty guidelines required by sections 652 and 673(2) of the
Omnibus Reconciliation Act of 1981 for a family of one, less
(2) the annual level determined by the Department of Health and Human Services poverty guidelines
required by sections 652 and 673(2) of the Omnibus Reconciliation Act of
1981 for a family of two.
304.
Rebate mechanism
(a)
General Rule
The Social Security Administration shall provide a monthly sales tax rebate to duly registered
qualified families in an amount determined in accordance with section 301.
(b)
Persons Receiving Rebate
The payments shall be made to the persons designated by the qualifying family in the annual or
revised registration for each qualified family in effect with respect to
the month for which payment is being made. Payments may only be made to
persons 18 years or older. If more than 1 person is designated in a
registration to receive the rebate, then the rebate payment shall be
divided evenly between or among those persons designated.
(c)
When Rebates Mailed
Rebates shall be mailed on or before the first business day of the month for which the rebate is
being provided.
(d)
Smartcards and Direct Electronic Deposit Permissible
The Social Security Administration may provide rebates in the form of smartcards that carry cash
balances in their memory for use in making purchases at retail
establishments or by direct electronic deposit.
305.
Change in family circumstances
(a)
General Rule
In the absence of the filing of a revised registration in accordance with this chapter, the common
residence of the qualified family, marital status and number of persons in
a qualified family on the family registration date shall govern
determinations required to be made under this chapter for purposes of the
following calendar year.
(b)
No Double Counting
In no event shall any person be considered part of more than 1 qualified family.
(c)
Revised Registration Permissible
A qualified family may file a revised registration for purposes of section 302(d) to reflect a
change in family circumstances. A revised registration form shall provide—
(1) the name of each family member who shared the qualified family’s residence on the filing date of
the revised registration,
(2) the Social Security number of each family member who shared the qualified family’s residence on the
filing date of the revised registration,
(3) the family member or family members to whom the family consumption allowance should be paid,
(4) a certification that all listed family members are lawful residents of the United States,
(5) a certification that all family members sharing the commoner residence are listed,
(6) a certification that no family members were incarcerated on the family determination date (within
the meaning of section 302(1)), and
(7) the address of the qualified family.
Said revised registration shall be signed by all members of the qualified family that have attained
the age of 21 years as of the filing date of the revised registration.
(d)
Change of Address
A change of address for a qualified family may be filed with the sales tax administering authority
at any time and shall not constitute a revised registration.
(e)
Revised Registration Not Mandatory
Revised registrations reflecting changes in family status are not mandatory.
4
Federal and State cooperative tax administration
Sec. 401. Authority for States to collect tax.
Sec. 402. Federal administrative support for States.
Sec. 403. Federal-State tax conferences.
Sec. 404. Federal administration in certain States.
Sec. 405. Interstate allocation and destination determination.
Sec. 406. General administrative matters.
Sec. 407. Jurisdiction.
401
Authority for States to collect tax
(a)
In General
The tax imposed by section 101 on gross payments for the use or consumption of taxable property or
services within a State shall be administered, collected, and remitted to
the United States Treasury by such State if the State is an administering
State.
(b)
Administering State
For purposes of this section, the term administering State means any State—
(1) which maintains a sales tax, and
(2) which enters into a cooperative agreement with the Secretary containing reasonable provisions
governing the administration by such State of the taxes imposed by the
subtitle and the remittance to the United States in a timely manner of
taxes collected under this chapter.
(c)
Cooperative Agreements
The agreement under subsection (b)(2) shall include provisions for the expeditious transfer of
funds, contact officers, dispute resolution, information exchange,
confidentiality, taxpayer rights, and other matters of importance. The
agreement shall not contain extraneous matters.
(d)
Timely Remittance of Tax
(1)
In general
Administering States shall remit and pay over taxes collected under this subtitle on behalf of the
United States (less the administration fee allowable under paragraph (2))
not later than 5 days after receipt. Interest at 150 percent of the
Federal short-term rate shall be paid with respect to amounts remitted
after the due date.
(2)
Administration fee
An administering State may retain an administration fee equal to one-quarter of 1 percent of the
amounts otherwise required to be remitted to the United States under this
chapter by the administering State.
(e)
Limitation on Administration of Tax by United States
The Secretary may administer the tax imposed by this subtitle in an administering State only if—
(1)
(A) such State has failed on a regular basis to timely remit to the United States taxes collected under
this chapter on behalf of the United States; or
(B) such State has on a regular basis otherwise materially breached the agreement referred to in
subsection (b)(2);
(2) the State has failed to cure such alleged failures and breaches within a reasonable time;
(3) the Secretary provides such State with written notice of such alleged failures and breaches; and
(4) a District Court of the United States within such State, upon application of the Secretary, has
rendered a decision—
(A) making findings of fact that—
(i) such State has failed on a regular basis to timely remit to the United States taxes collected under
this chapter on behalf of the United States, or such State has on a
regular basis otherwise materially breached the agreement referred to in
subsection (b)(2);
(ii) the Secretary has provided such State with written notice of such alleged failures and breaches;
and
(iii) the State has failed to cure such alleged failures and breaches within a reasonable time; and
(B) making a determination that it is in the best interest of the citizens of the United States that
the administering State’s authority to administer the tax imposed by this
subtitle be revoked and said tax be administered directly by the
Secretary.
The order of the District Court revoking the authority of an Administering State shall contain
provisions governing the orderly transfer of authority to the Secretary.
(f)
Reinstitution
A State that has had its authority revoked pursuant to subsection (e) shall not be an administering
State for a period of not less than 5 years after the date of the order of
revocation. For the first calendar year commencing 8 years after the date
of the order of revocation, the State shall be regarded without prejudice
as eligible to become an administering State.
(g)
Third State Administration Permissible
It shall be permissible for a State to contract with an administering State to administer the
State’s sales tax for an agreed fee. In this case, the agreement
contemplated by subsection (c) shall have both the State and the Federal
Government as parties.
(h)
Investigations and Audits
Administering States shall not conduct investigations or audits at facilities in other
administering States in connection with the tax imposed by section 101 or
conforming State sales tax but shall instead cooperate with other
administering States using the mechanisms established by section 402, by
compact or by other agreement.
402.
Federal administrative support for States
(a)
In General
The Secretary shall administer a program to facilitate information sharing among States.
(b)
State Compacts
The Secretary shall facilitate, and may be a party to a compact among States for purposes of
facilitating the taxation of interstate purchases and for other purposes
that may facilitate implementation of this subtitle.
(c)
Agreement With Conforming States
The Secretary is authorized to enter into and shall enter into an agreement among conforming States
enabling conforming States to collect conforming State sales tax on sales
made by sellers without a particular conforming State to a destination
within that particular conforming State.
(d)
Secretary’s Authority
The Secretary shall have the authority to promulgate regulations, to provide guidelines, to assist
States in administering the national sales tax, to provide for uniformity
in the administration of the tax and to provide guidance to the public.
403.
Federal-State tax conferences
Not less than once annually, the Secretary shall host a conference with the sales tax
administrators from the various administering States to evaluate the state
of the national sales tax system, to address issues of mutual concern and
to develop and consider legislative, regulatory, and administrative
proposals to improve the tax system.
404.
Federal administration in certain States
The Secretary shall administer the tax imposed by this subtitle in any State or other United States
jurisdiction that—
(1) is not an administering State, or
(2) elected to have another State administer its tax in accordance with section 401(g).
405.
Interstate allocation and destination determination
(a)
Destination Generally
The tax imposed by this subtitle is a destination principle tax. This section shall govern for
purposes of determining—
(1) whether the destination of taxable property and services is within or without the United States,
and
(2) which State or territory within the United States is the destination of taxable property and
services.
(b)
Tangible Personal Property
Except as provided in subsection (g) (relating to certain leases), the destination of tangible
personal property shall be the State or territory in which the property
was first delivered to the purchaser (including agents and authorized
representatives).
(c)
Real Property
The destination of real property, or rents or leaseholds on real property, shall be the State or
territory in which the real property is located.
(d)
Other Property
The destination of any other taxable property shall be the residence of the purchaser.
(e)
Services
(1)
General rule
The destination of services shall be the State or territory in which the use or consumption of the
services occurred. Allocation of service invoices relating to more than 1
jurisdiction shall be on the basis of time or another method determined by
regulation.
(2)
Telecommunications services
The destination of telecommunications services shall be the residence of the purchaser.
Telecommunications services include telephone, telegraph, beeper, radio,
cable television, satellite, and computer on-line or network services.
(3)
Domestic transportation services
For transportation services where all of the final destinations are within the United States, the
destination of transportation services shall be the final destination of
the trip (in the case of round or multiple trip fares, the services amount
shall be equally allocated among each final destination).
(4)
International transportation services
For transportation services where the final destination or origin of the trip is without the United
States, the service amount shall be deemed 50 percent attributable to the
United States destination or origin.
(5)
Electrical service
The destination of electrical services shall be the residence of the purchaser.
(f)
Financial Intermediation Services
The destination of financial intermediation services shall be the residence of the purchaser.
(g)
Rents Paid for the Lease of Tangible Property
(1)
General rule
Except as provided in paragraph (2), the destination of rents paid for the lease of tangible
property and leaseholds on such property shall be where the property is
located while in use.
(2)
Land vehicles; aircraft, water craft
The destination of rental and lease payments on land vehicles, aircraft and water craft shall be—
(A) in the case of rentals and leases of a term of 1 month or less, the location where the land
vehicle, aircraft, or water craft was originally delivered to the renter
or lessee; and
(B) in the case of rentals and leases of a term greater than 1 month, the residence of the renter or
lessee.
(h)
Allocation Rules
For purposes of allocating revenue—
(1) between or among administering States from taxes imposed by this subtitle or from State sales taxes
administered by third-party administering States, or
(2) between or among States imposing conforming State sales taxes,
the revenue shall be allocated to those States that are the destination of the taxable property or
service.
(i)
Federal Office of Revenue Allocation
The Secretary shall establish an Office of Revenue Allocation to arbitrate any claims or disputes
among administering States as to the destination of taxable property and
services for purposes of allocating revenue between or among the States
from taxes imposed by this subtitle. The determination of the
Administrator of the Office of Revenue Allocation shall be subject to
judicial review in any Federal court with competent jurisdiction. The
standard of review shall be abuse of discretion.
406.
General administrative matters
(a)
In General
The Secretary and each sales tax administering authority may employ such persons as may be
necessary for the administration of this subtitle and may delegate to
employees the authority to conduct interviews, hearings, prescribe rules,
promulgate regulations, and perform such other duties as are required by
this subtitle.
(b)
Resolution of Any Inconsistent Rules and Regulations
In the event that the Secretary and any sales tax administering authority have issued inconsistent
rules or regulations, any lawful rule or regulation issued by the
Secretary shall govern.
(c)
Adequate Notice To Be Provided
Except in the case of an emergency declared by the Secretary (and not his designee), no rule or
regulation issued by the Secretary with respect to any internal revenue
law shall take effect before 90 days have elapsed after its publication in
the Federal Register. Upon issuance, the Secretary shall provide copies of
all rules or regulations issued under this title to each sales tax
administering authority.
(d)
No Rules, Rulings, or Regulations With Retroactive Effect
No rule, ruling, or regulation issued or promulgated by the Secretary relating to any internal
revenue law or by a sales tax administering authority shall apply to a
period prior to its publication in the Federal Register (or State
equivalent) except that a regulation may take retroactive effect to
prevent abuse.
(e)
Review of Impact of Regulations, Rules, and Rulings on Small Business
(1)
Submission to small business administration
After publication of any proposed or temporary regulation by the Secretary relating to internal
revenue laws, the Secretary shall submit such regulation to the Chief
Counsel for Advocacy of the Small Business Administration for comment on
the impact of such regulation on small businesses. Not later than the date
30 days after the date of such submission, the Chief Counsel for Advocacy
of the Small Business Administration shall submit comments on such
regulation to the Secretary.
(2)
Consideration of comments
In prescribing any final regulation which supersedes a proposed or temporary regulation which had
been submitted under this subsection to the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of
the Small Business Administration, the Secretary shall—
(A) consider the comments of the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the Small Business Administration on
such proposed or temporary regulation, and
(B) in promulgating such final regulation, include a narrative that describes the response to such
comments.
(3)
Submission of certain final regulation
In the case of promulgation by the Secretary of any final regulations (other than a temporary
regulation) which do not supersede a proposed regulation, the requirements
of paragraphs (1) and (2) shall apply, except that the submission under
paragraph (1) shall be made at least 30 days before the date of such
promulgation, and the consideration and discussion required under
paragraph (2) shall be made in connection with the promulgation of such
final regulation.
(f)
Small Business Regulatory Safeguards
The Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act (Public Law 104–121; 110 Stat. 857 (SBREFA)) and the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601–612 (RFA)) shall apply to regulations promulgated under this subtitle.
407.
Jurisdiction
(a)
State Jurisdiction
A sales tax administering authority shall have jurisdiction over any gross payments made which have
a destination (as determined in accordance with section 405) within the
State of said sales tax administering authority. This grant of
jurisdiction is not exclusive of any other jurisdiction that such sales
tax administering authority may have.
(b)
Federal Jurisdiction
The grant of jurisdiction in subsection (a) shall not be in derogation of Federal jurisdiction over
the same matter. The Federal Government shall have the right to exercise
preemptive jurisdiction over matters relating to the taxes imposed by this
subtitle.
5
OTHER ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS
Sec. 501. Monthly reports and payments.
Sec. 502. Registration.
Sec. 503. Accounting.
Sec. 504. Penalties.
Sec. 505. Burden of persuasion and burden of production.
Sec. 506. Attorneys’ and accountancy fees.
Sec. 507. Summons, examinations, audits, etc.
Sec. 508. Records.
Sec. 509. Tax to be separately stated and charged.
Sec. 510. Coordination with title 11.
Sec. 511. Applicable interest rate.
501.
Monthly reports and payments
(a)
Tax Reports and Filing Dates
(1)
In general
On or before the 15th day of each month, each person who is—
(A) liable to collect and remit the tax imposed by this subtitle by reason of section 103(a), or
(B) liable to pay tax imposed by this subtitle which is not collected pursuant to section 103(a),
shall submit to the appropriate sales tax administering authority (in a form prescribed by the
Secretary) a report relating to the previous calendar month.
(2)
Contents of report
The report required under paragraph (1) shall set forth—
(A) the gross payments referred to in section 101,
(B) the tax collected under chapter 4 in connection with such payments,
(C) the amount and type of any credit claimed, and
(D) other information reasonably required by the Secretary or the sales tax administering authority for
the administration, collection, and remittance of the tax imposed by this
subtitle.
(b)
Tax Payments Date
(1)
General rule
The tax imposed by this subtitle during any calendar month is due and shall be paid to the
appropriate sales tax administering authority on or before the 15th day of
the succeeding month. Both Federal tax imposed by this subtitle and
conforming State sales tax (if any) shall be paid in 1 aggregate payment.
(2)
Cross reference
See subsection (e) relating to remitting of separate segregated funds for sellers that are not
small sellers.
(c)
Extensions for Filing Reports
(1)
Automatic extensions for not more than 30 days
On application, an extension of not more than 30 days to file reports under subsection (a) shall be
automatically granted.
(2)
Other extensions
On application, extensions of 30 to 60 days to file such reports shall be liberally granted by the
sales tax administering authority for reasonable cause. Extensions greater
than 60 days may be granted by the sales tax administering authority to
avoid hardship.
(3)
No extension for payment of taxes
Notwithstanding paragraphs (1) and (2), no extension shall be granted with respect to the time for
paying or remitting the taxes under this subtitle.
(d)
Telephone Reporting of Violations
The Secretary shall establish a system under which a violation of this subtitle can be brought to
the attention of the sales tax administering authority for investigation
through the use of a toll-free telephone number and otherwise.
(e)
Separate Segregated Accounts
(1)
In general
Any registered seller that is not a small seller shall deposit all sales taxes collected pursuant
to section 103 in a particular week in a separate segregated account
maintained at a bank or other financial institution within 3 business days
of the end of such week. Said registered seller shall also maintain in
that account sufficient funds to meet the bank or financial institution
minimum balance requirements, if any, and to pay account fees and costs.
(2)
Small seller
For purposes of this subsection, a small seller is any person that has not collected $20,000 or
more of the taxes imposed by this subtitle in any of the previous 12
months.
(3)
Large sellers
Any seller that has collected $100,000 or more of the taxes imposed by this subtitle in any of the
previous 12 months is a large seller. A large seller shall remit to the
sales tax administering authority the entire balance of deposited taxes in
its separate segregated account on the first business day following the
end of the calendar week. The Secretary may by regulation require the
electronic transfer of funds due from large sellers.
(4)
Week
For purposes of this subsection, the term week shall mean the 7-day period ending on a Friday.
(f)
Determination of Report Filing Date
A report filed pursuant to subsection (a) shall be deemed filed when—
(1) deposited in the United States mail, postage prepaid, addressed to the sales tax administering
authority,
(2) delivered and accepted at the offices of the sales tax administering authority,
(3) provided to a designated commercial private courier service for delivery within 2 days to the sales
tax administering authority at the address of the sales tax administering
authority, or
(4) by other means permitted by the Secretary.
(g)
Security Requirements
A large seller (within the meaning of subsection (e)(3)) shall be required to provide security in
an amount equal to the greater of $100,000 or one and one-half times the
seller’s average monthly tax liability during the previous 6 calendar
months. Security may be a cash bond, a bond from a surety company approved
by the Secretary, a certificate of deposit, or a State or United States
Treasury bond. A bond qualifying under this subsection must be a
continuing instrument for each calendar year (or portion thereof) that the
bond is in effect. The bond must remain in effect until the surety or
sureties are released and discharged. Failure to provide security in
accordance with this section shall result in revocation of the seller’s
section 502 registration. If a person who has provided security pursuant
to this subsection—
(1) fails to pay an amount indicated in a final notice of amount due under this subtitle (within the
meaning of section 605(d)),
(2) no Taxpayer Assistance Order is in effect relating to the amount due,
(3) either the time for filing an appeal pursuant to section 604 has passed or the appeal was denied,
and
(4) the amount due is not being litigated in any judicial forum,
then the security or part of the security, as the case may be, may be forfeited in favor of the
Secretary to the extent of such tax due (plus interest if any).
(h)
Rewards Program
The Secretary is authorized to maintain a program of awards wherein individuals that assist the
Secretary or sales tax administering authorities in discovering or
prosecuting tax fraud may be remunerated.
(i)
Cross Reference
For interest due on taxes remitted late, see section 6601.
502.
Registration
(a)
In General
Any person liable to collect and remit taxes pursuant to section 103(a) who is engaged in a trade
or business shall register as a seller with the sales tax administering
authority administering the taxes imposed by this subtitle.
(b)
Affiliated Firms
Affiliated firms shall be treated as 1 person for purposes of this section. Affiliated firms may
elect, upon giving notice to the Secretary in a form prescribed by the
Secretary, to treat separate firms as separate persons for purposes of
this subtitle.
(c)
Designation of Tax Matters Person
Every person registered pursuant to subsection (a) shall designate a tax matters person who shall
be an individual whom the sales tax administering authority may contact
regarding tax matters. Each person registered must provide notice of a
change in the identity of the tax matters person within 30 days of said
change.
(d)
Effect of Failure To Register
Any person that is required to register and who fails to do so is prohibited from selling taxable
property or services. The Secretary or a sales tax administering authority
may bring an action seeking a temporary restraining order, an injunction,
or such other order as may be appropriate to enforce this section.
503.
Accounting
(a)
Cash Method To Be Used Generally
Registered sellers and other persons shall report transactions using the cash method of accounting
unless an election to use the accrual method of accounting is made
pursuant to subsection (b).
(b)
Election To Use Accrual Method
A person may elect with respect to a calender year to remit taxes and report transactions with
respect to the month where a sale was invoiced and accrued.
(c)
Cross Reference
See section 205 for rules relating to bad debts for sellers electing the accrual method.
504.
Penalties
(a)
Failure To Register
Each person who is required to register pursuant to section 502 but fails to do so prior to
notification by the sales tax administering authority shall be liable for
a penalty of $500.
(b)
Reckless or Willful Failure To Collect Tax
(1)
Civil penalty; fraud
Each person who is required to and recklessly or willfully fails to collect taxes imposed by this
subtitle shall be liable for a penalty equal to the greater of $500 or 20
percent of tax not collected.
(2)
Criminal penalty
Each person who is required to and willfully fails as part of a trade or business to collect taxes
imposed by this subtitle may be fined an amount up to the amount
determined in accordance with paragraph (1) or imprisoned for a period of
not more than 1 year or both.
(c)
Reckless or Willful Assertion of Invalid Exemption
(1)
Civil penalty; fraud
Each person who recklessly or willfully asserts an invalid intermediate or export sales exemption
from the taxes imposed by this subtitle shall be liable for a penalty
equal to the greater of $500 or 20 percent of the tax not collected or
remitted.
(2)
Criminal penalty
Each person who willfully asserts an invalid intermediate or export sales exemption from the taxes
imposed by this subtitle may be fined an amount up to the amount
determined in accordance with paragraph (1) or imprisoned for a period of
not more than 1 year or both.
(d)
Reckless or Willful Failure To Remit Tax Collected
(1)
Civil penalty; fraud
Each person who is required to and recklessly or willfully fails to remit taxes imposed by this
subtitle and collected from purchasers shall be liable for a penalty equal
to the greater of $1,000 or 50 percent of the tax not remitted.
(2)
Criminal penalty
Each person who willfully fails to remit taxes imposed by this subtitle and collected from
purchasers may be fined an amount up to the amount determined in
accordance with paragraph (1) or imprisoned for a period of not more than
2 years or both.
(e)
Reckless or Willful Failure To Pay Tax
Each person who is required to and recklessly or willfully fails to pay taxes imposed by this
subtitle shall be liable for a penalty equal to the greater of $500 or 20
percent of the tax not paid.
(f)
Penalty for Late Filing
(1)
In general
In the case of a failure by any person who is required to and fails to file a report required by
section 501 on or before the due date (determined with regard to any
extension) for such report, such person shall pay a penalty for each month
or fraction thereof that said report is late equal to the greater of—
(A) $50, or
(B) 0.5 percent of the gross payments required to be shown on the report.
(2)
Increased penalty on returns filed after written inquiry
The amount of the penalty under paragraph (1) shall be doubled with respect to any report filed
after a written inquiry with respect to such report is received by the
taxpayer from the sales tax administering authority.
(3)
Limitation
The penalty imposed under this subsection shall not exceed 12 percent.
(4)
Exceptions
(A)
Reasonable cause
No penalty shall be imposed under this subsection with respect to any failure if it is shown that
such failure is due to reasonable cause.
(B)
Other waiver authority
In addition to penalties not imposed by reason of subparagraph (A), the sales tax administering
authority, on application, shall waive the penalty imposed by paragraph
(1) once per registered person per 24-month period. The preceding sentence
shall not apply to a penalty determined under paragraph (2).
(g)
Penalty for Willfully or Recklessly Accepting a False Intermediate or Export Sales Certificate
A person who willingly or recklessly accepts a false intermediate or export sales certificate shall
pay a penalty equal to 20 percent of the tax not collected by reason of
said acceptance.
(h)
Penalty for Late Remittance of Taxes
(1)
In general
A person who is required to timely remit taxes imposed by this subtitle and remits taxes more than
1 month after such taxes are due shall pay a penalty equal to 1 percent
per month (or fraction thereof) from the due date.
(2)
Limitation
The penalty imposed under this subsection shall not exceed 24 percent.
(3)
Exceptions for reasonable cause
No penalty shall be imposed under paragraph (1) with respect to any late remittance if it is shown
that such late remittance is due to reasonable cause.
(i)
Penalty for Filing False Rebate Claim
(1)
Civil penalty; fraud
A person who willingly or recklessly files a false claim for a family consumption allowance rebate
(within the meaning of chapter 3) shall—
(A) pay a penalty equal to the greater of $500 or 50 percent of the claimed annual rebate amount not
actually due, and
(B) repay any rebates received as a result of the false rebate claim (together with interest).
(2)
Criminal penalty
A person who willingly files a false claim for a family consumption allowance rebate (within the
meaning of chapter 3) may be fined an amount up to the amount determined
in accordance with paragraph (1) or imprisoned for a period not more than
1 year or both.
(j)
Penalty for Bad Check
If any check or money order in payment of any amount receivable under this subtitle is not duly
paid, in addition to other penalties provided by law, the person who
tendered such check shall pay a penalty equal to the greater of—
(1) $25, or
(2) two percent of the amount of such check.
(k)
Penalty for Failure To Maintain a Separate Segregated Account
Any person required to maintain a separate segregated account pursuant to section 501(e) that fails
to maintain such a separate segregated account shall pay a penalty of
$1,000.
(l)
Penalty for Failure To Deposit Collected Taxes in a Separate Segregated Account
Any person required to deposit collected taxes into a separate segregated account maintained
pursuant to section 501(e) that fails to timely deposit said taxes into
the separate segregated account shall pay a penalty equal to 1 percent of
the amount required to be deposited. The penalty imposed by the previous
sentence shall be tripled unless said taxes have been deposited in the
separate segregated account or remitted to the sales tax administering
authority within 16 days of the date said deposit was due.
(m)
Joint and Several Liability for Tax Matters Person and Responsible Officers
The tax matters person (designated pursuant to section 502(c)) and responsible officers or partners
of a firm shall be jointly and severally liable for the tax imposed by
this subtitle and penalties imposed by this subtitle.
(n)
Right of Contribution
If more than 1 person is liable with respect to any tax or penalty imposed by this subtitle, each
person who paid such tax or penalty shall be entitled to recover from
other persons who are liable for such tax or penalty an amount equal to
the excess of the amount paid by such person over such person’s
proportionate share of the tax or penalty.
(o)
Civil Penalties and Criminal Fines Not Exclusive
(1)
Civil penalty
The fact that a civil penalty has been imposed shall not prevent the imposition of a criminal fine.
(2)
Criminal fine
The fact that a criminal fine has been imposed shall not prevent the imposition of a civil penalty.
(p)
Confidentiality
Any person who violates the requirements relating to confidentiality of tax information (as
provided in section 605(e)) may be fined up to $10,000 or imprisoned for a
period of not more than 1 year, or both.
(q)
Cross Reference
For interest due on late payments, see section 6601.
505.
Burden of persuasion and burden of production
In all disputes concerning taxes imposed by this subtitle, the person engaged in a dispute with the
sales tax administering authority or the Secretary, as the case may be,
shall have the burden of production of documents and records but the sales
tax administering authority or the Secretary shall have the burden of
persuasion. In all disputes concerning an exemption claimed by a
purchaser, if the seller has on file an intermediate sale or export sale
certificate from the purchaser and did not have reasonable cause to
believe that the certificate was improperly provided by the purchaser with
respect to such purchase (within the meaning of section 103), then the
burden of production of documents and records relating to that exemption
shall rest with the purchaser and not with the seller.
506.
Attorneys’ and accountancy fees
In all disputes concerning taxes imposed by this subtitle, the person engaged in a dispute with the
sales tax administering authority or the Secretary, as the case may be,
shall be entitled to reasonable attorneys’ fees, accountancy fees, and
other reasonable professional fees incurred in direct relation to the
dispute unless the sales tax administering authority or the Secretary
establishes that its position was substantially justified.
507.
Summons, examinations, audits, etc
(a)
Summons
Persons are subject to administrative summons by the sales tax administering authority for records,
documents, and testimony required by the sales tax administering authority
to accurately determine liability for tax under this subtitle. A summons
shall be served by the sales tax administering authority by an attested
copy delivered in hand to the person to whom it is directed or left at his
last known address. The summons shall describe with reasonable certainty
what is sought.
(b)
Examinations and Audits
The sales tax administering authority has the authority to conduct at a reasonable time and place
examinations and audits of persons who are or may be liable to collect and
remit tax imposed by this subtitle and to examine the books, papers,
records, or other data of such persons which may be relevant or material
to the determination of tax due.
(c)
Limitation on Authority in Case of Referral
No administrative summons may be issued by the sales tax administering authority and no action be
commenced to enforce an administrative summons with respect to any person
if a Justice Department referral or referral to a State Attorney General’s
Office is in effect with respect to such person relating to a tax imposed
by this subtitle. Such referral is in effect with respect to any person if
the sales tax administering authority or the Secretary has recommended to
the Justice Department or a State Attorney General’s Office a grand jury
investigation of such person or a criminal prosecution of such person that
contemplates criminal sanctions under this title. A referral shall be
terminated when—
(1) the Justice Department or a State Attorney General’s Office notifies the sales tax administering
authority or the Secretary that he will not—
(A) prosecute such person for any offense connected with the internal revenue laws,
(B) authorize a grand jury investigation of such person with respect to such offense, or
(C) continue such a grand jury investigation, or
(2) a final disposition has been made of any criminal proceeding connected with the internal revenue
laws, or conforming State sales tax, against such person.
508.
Records
Any person liable to remit taxes pursuant to this subtitle shall keep records (including a record
of all section 509 receipts provided, complete records of intermediate and
export sales, including purchaser’s intermediate and export sales
certificates and tax number and the net of tax amount of purchase)
sufficient to determine the amounts reported, collected, and remitted for
a period of 6 years after the latter of the filing of the report for which
the records formed the basis or when the report was due to be filed. Any
purchaser who purchased taxable property or services but did not pay tax
by reason of asserting an intermediate and export sales exemption shall
keep records sufficient to determine whether said exemption was valid for
a period of 7 years after the purchase of taxable property or services.
509.
Tax to be separately stated and charged
(a)
In General
For each purchase of taxable property or services for which a tax is imposed by section 101, the
seller shall charge the tax imposed by section 101 separately from the
purchase. For purchase of taxable property or services for which a tax is
imposed by section 101, the seller shall provide to the purchaser a
receipt for each transaction that includes—
(1) the property or services price exclusive of tax;
(2) the amount of tax paid;
(3) the property or service price inclusive of tax;
(4) the tax rate (the amount of tax paid (per paragraph (2)) divided by the property or service price
inclusive of tax (per paragraph (3));
(5) the date that the good or service was sold;
(6) the name of the vendor; and
(7) the vendor registration number.
(b)
Vending Machine Exception
The requirements of subsection (a) shall be inapplicable in the case of sales by vending machines.
Vending machines for purposes of this subsection are machines—
(1) that dispense taxable property in exchange for coins or currency; and
(2) that sell no single item exceeding $10 per unit in price.
(c)
Financial Intermediation Services Exception
The requirements of subsection (a) shall be inapplicable in the case of sales financial
intermediation service. Receipts shall be issued when the tax is imposed
(in accordance with section 803 (relating to timing of tax on financial
intermediation services)).
510.
Coordination with title 11
No addition to tax shall be made under section 504 with respect to a period during which a case is
pending under title 11, United States Code—
(1) if such tax was incurred by the estate and the failure occurred pursuant to an order of the court
finding probable insufficiency of funds of the estate to pay
administrative expenses; or
(2) if—
(A) such tax was incurred by the debtor before the earlier of the order for relief or (in the
involuntary case) the appointment of a trustee; and
(B) the petition was filed before the due date prescribed by law (including extensions) for filing a
return of such tax, or the date for making the addition to tax occurs on
or after the date the petition was filed.
511.
Applicable interest rate
(a)
In General
(1)
Federal short-term rate
In the case of a debt instrument, investment, financing lease, or account with a term of not over 3
years, the applicable interest rate is the Federal short-term rate.
(2)
Federal mid-term rate
In the case of a debt instrument, investment, financing lease, or account with a term of over 3
years but not over 9 years, the applicable interest rate is the Federal
mid-term rate.
(3)
Federal long-term rate
In the case of a debt instrument, investment, financing lease, or account with a term of over 9
years, the applicable interest rate is the Federal long-term rate.
(b)
Federal Short-Term Rate
The Federal short-term rate shall be the rate determined by the Secretary based on the average
market yield (selected by the Secretary and ending in the calendar month
in which the determination is made during any one month) on outstanding
marketable obligations of the United States with remaining periods to
maturity of 3 years or fewer.
(c)
Federal Mid-Term Rate
The Federal mid-term rate shall be the rate determined by the Secretary based on the average market
yield (selected by the Secretary and ending in the calendar month in which
the determination is made during any 1 month) on outstanding marketable
obligations of the United States with remaining periods to maturity of
more than 3 years and not over 9 years.
(d)
Federal Long-Term Rate
The Federal long-term rate shall be the rate determined by the Secretary based on the average
market yield (selected by the Secretary and ending in the calendar month
in which the determination is made during any 1 month) on outstanding
marketable obligations of the United States with remaining periods to
maturity of over 9 years.
(e)
Determination of Rates
During each calendar month, the Secretary shall determine the Federal short-term rate, the Federal
mid-term rate and the Federal long-term rate which shall apply during the
following calendar month.
6
COLLECTIONS; APPEALS; TAXPAYER RIGHTS
Sec. 601. Collections.
Sec. 602. Power to levy, etc.
Sec. 603. Problem resolution offices.
Sec. 604. Appeals.
Sec. 605. Taxpayer rights.
Sec. 606. Installment agreements compromises.
601.
Collections
The sales tax administering authority shall collect the taxes imposed by this subtitle, except as
provided in section 404 (relating to Federal administration in certain
States).
602.
Power to levy, etc
(a)
In General
The sales tax administering authority may levy and seize property, garnish wages or salary and file
liens to collect amounts due under this subtitle, pursuant to enforcement
of—
(1) a judgment duly rendered by a court of law;
(2) an amount due if the taxpayer has failed to exercise his appeals rights under section 604; or
(3) an amount due if the appeals process determined that an amount remained due and the taxpayer has
failed to timely petition the Tax Court for relief.
(b)
Exemption From Levy, Seizure, and Garnishments
There shall be exempt from levy, seizure, and garnishment or penalty in connection with any tax
imposed by this subtitle—
(1) wearing apparel, school books, fuel, provisions, furniture, personal effects, tools of a trade or
profession, livestock in a household up to an aggregate value of $15,000;
and
(2) monthly money income equal to 150 percent of the monthly poverty level (as defined in section 303).
(c)
Liens To Be Timely Released
Subject to such reasonable regulations as the Secretary may provide, any lien imposed with respect
to a tax imposed by this title shall be released not later than 30 days
after—
(1) the liability was satisfied or became unenforceable; or
(2) a bond was accepted as security.
603.
Problem Resolution Offices
(a)
Problem Resolution Office To Be Established
Each sales tax administering authority shall establish an independent Problem Resolution Office and
appoint an adequate number of problem resolution officers. The head of the
problem resolution office must be appointed by, and serve at the pleasure
of either the State Governor (in the case of an administering State) or
the President of the United States.
(b)
Authority of Problem Resolution Officers
Problem resolution officers shall have the authority to investigate complaints and issue a Taxpayer
Assistance Order to administratively enjoin any collection activity if, in
the opinion of the problem resolution officer, said collection activity is
reasonably likely to not be in compliance with law or to prevent hardship
(other than by reason of having to pay taxes lawfully due). Problem
resolution officers shall also have the authority to issue Taxpayer
Assistance Orders releasing or returning property that has been levied
upon or seized, ordering that a lien be released and that garnished wages
be returned. A Taxpayer Assistance Order may only be rescinded or modified
by the problem resolution officer that issued it, by the highest official
in the relevant sales tax administering authority or by its general
counsel upon a finding that the collection activity is justified by clear
and convincing evidence. The authority to reverse this Taxpayer Assistance
Order may not be delegated.
(c)
Form of Request for Taxpayer Assistance Order
The Secretary shall establish a form and procedure to aid persons requesting the assistance of the
Problem Resolution Office and to aid the Problem Resolution Office in
understanding the needs of the person seeking assistance. The use of this
form, however, shall not be a prerequisite to a problem resolution officer
taking action, including issuing a Taxpayer Assistance Order.
(d)
Content of Taxpayer Assistance Order
A Taxpayer Assistance Order shall contain the name of the problem resolution officer, any provision
relating to the running of any applicable period of limitation, the name
of the person that the Taxpayer Assistance Order assists, the government
office (or employee or officer of said government office) to whom it is
directed and the action or cessation of action that the Taxpayer
Assistance Order requires of said government officer (or employee or
officer of said government office). The Taxpayer Assistance Order need not
contain findings of fact or its legal basis; however, the problem
resolution officer must provide findings of fact and the legal basis for
the issuance of the Taxpayer Assistance Order to the sales tax
administering authority upon the request of an officer of said authority
within 2 weeks of the receipt of such request.
(e)
Independence Protected
Problem resolution officers shall not be disciplined or adversely affected for the issuance of
administrative injunctions unless a pattern of issuing injunctions that
are manifestly unreasonable is proven in an administrative hearing by a
preponderance of the evidence.
(f)
Other Rights Not Limited
Nothing in this section shall limit the authority of the sales tax administering authority, the
registered person or other person from pursuing any legal remedy in any
court with jurisdiction over the dispute at issue.
(g)
Limitations
The running of any applicable period of limitation shall be suspended for a period of 8 weeks
following the issuance of a Taxpayer Assistance Order or, if specified,
for a longer period set forth in the Taxpayer Assistance Order provided
the suspension does not exceed 6 months.
604.
Appeals
(a)
Administrative Appeals
The sales tax administering authority shall establish an administrative appeals process wherein the
registered person or other person in disagreement with a decision of the
sales tax administering authority asserting liability for tax is provided
a full and fair hearing in connection with any disputes said person has
with the sales tax administering authority.
(b)
Timing of Administrative Appeals
Said administrative appeal must be made within 60 days of receiving a final notice of amount due
pursuant to section 605(d) unless leave for an extension is granted by the
appeals officer in a form prescribed by the Secretary. Leave shall be
granted to avoid hardship.
605.
Taxpayer rights
(a)
Rights To Be Disclosed
The sales tax administering authority shall provide to any person against whom it has—
(1) commenced an audit or investigation;
(2) issued a final notice of amount due;
(3) filed an administrative lien, levy, or garnishment;
(4) commenced other collection action;
(5) commenced an action for civil penalties; or
(6) any other legal action,
a document setting forth in plain English the rights of the person. The document shall explain the
administrative appeals process, the authority of the Problem Resolution
Office (established pursuant to section 603) and how to contact that
Office, the burden of production and persuasion that the person and the
sales tax administering authority bear (pursuant to section 505), the
right of the person to professional fees (pursuant to section 506), the
right to record interviews and such other rights as the person may possess
under this subtitle. Said document will also set forth the procedures for
entering into an installment agreement.
(b)
Right to Professional Assistance
In all dealings with the sales tax administering authority, a person shall have the right to
assistance, at their own expense, of one or more professional advisors.
(c)
Right To Record Interviews
Any person who is interviewed by an agent of the sales tax administering authority shall have the
right to video or audio tape the interview at the person’s own expense.
(d)
Right to Final Notice of Amount Due
No collection or enforcement action will be commenced against a person until 30 days after they
have been provided with a final notice of amount due under this subtitle
by the sales tax administering authority. The final notice of amount due
shall set forth the amount of tax due (along with any interest and
penalties due) and the factual and legal basis for such amounts being due
with sufficient specificity that such basis can be understood by a
reasonable person who is not a tax professional reading the notice. The
final notice shall be sent by certified mail, return receipt requested,
to—
(1) the address last provided by a registered seller; or
(2) the best available address to a person who is not a registered seller.
(e)
Confidentiality of Tax Information
(1)
In general
All reports and report information (related to any internal revenue law) shall be confidential and
except as authorized by this title—
(A) no officer or employee (including former officers and employees) of the United States;
(B) no officer or employee (including former officers and employees) of any State or local agency who
has had access to returns or return information; and
(C) no other person who has had access to returns or return information;
shall disclose any report or report information obtained by him in any manner in connection with
his service as such officer or employee or otherwise.
(2)
Designees
The sales tax administering authority may, subject to such requirements as the Secretary may
impose, disclose the report and report information of a person to that
person or persons as that person may designate to receive said information
or return.
(3)
Other sales tax administering authorities
A sales tax administering authority may impose, disclose the report and report information to
another sales tax administering authority.
(4)
Incompetency
A sales tax administering authority may, subject to such requirements as the Secretary may impose,
disclose the report and report information to the committee, trustee, or
guardian of a person who is incompetent.
(5)
Deceased persons
A sales tax administering authority may, subject to such requirements as the Secretary may impose,
disclose the report and report information to the decedent’s—
(A) administrator, executor, estate trustee, or
(B) heir at law, next of kin, or beneficiary under a will who has a material interest that will be
affected by the information.
(6)
Bankruptcy
A sales tax administering authority may, subject to such requirements as the Secretary may impose,
disclose the report and report information to a person’s trustee in
bankruptcy.
(7)
Congress
Upon written request from the Chairman of the Committee on Ways and Means, the Chairman of the
Committee on Finance of the Senate, or the Chairman or Chief of Staff of
the Joint Committee on Taxation, a sales tax administering authority shall
disclose the report and report information, except that any report or
report information that can be associated with or otherwise identify a
particular person shall be furnished to such committee only when sitting
in closed executive session unless such person otherwise consents in
writing to such disclosure.
(8)
Waiver of privacy rights
A person may waive confidentiality rights provided by this section. Such waiver must be in writing.
(9)
Internal use
Disclosure of the report or report information by officers or employees of a sales tax
administering authority to other officers or employees of a sales tax
administering authority in the ordinary course of tax administration
activities shall not constitute unlawful disclosure of the report or
report information.
(10)
Statistical use
Upon request in writing by the Secretary of Commerce, the Secretary shall furnish such reports and
report information to officers and employees of the Department of Commerce
as the Secretary may prescribe by regulation for the purposes of, and only
to the extent necessary in, the structuring of censuses and national
economic accounts and conducting related statistical activities authorized
by law.
(11)
Department of the treasury
Returns and return information shall be open for inspection by officers and employees of the
Department of the Treasury whose official duties require such inspection
or disclosure for the purpose of, and only to the extent necessary for,
preparing economic or financial forecasts, projections, analyses, or
estimates. Such inspection or disclosure shall be permitted only upon
written request that sets forth the reasons why such inspection or
disclosure is necessary and is signed by the head of the bureau or office
of the Department of the Treasury requesting the inspection or disclosure.
606.
Installment agreements; compromises
The sales tax administering authority is authorized to enter into written agreements with any
person under which the person is allowed to satisfy liability for payment
of any tax under this subtitle (and penalties and interest relating
thereto) in installment payments if the sales tax administering authority
determines that such agreement will facilitate the collection of such
liability. The agreement shall remain in effect for the term of the
agreement unless the information that the person provided to the sales tax
administering authority was materially inaccurate or incomplete. The sales
tax administering authority may compromise any amounts alleged to be due.
7
Special rules
Sec. 701. Hobby activities.
Sec. 702. Gaming activities.
Sec. 703. Government purchases.
Sec. 704. Government enterprises.
Sec. 705. Mixed use property.
Sec. 706. Not-for-profit organizations.
701.
Hobby activities
(a)
Hobby Activities
Neither the exemption afforded by section 102 for intermediate sales nor the credits available
pursuant to section 202 or 203 shall be available for any taxable property
or service purchased for use in an activity if that activity is not
engaged in for-profit.
(b)
Status Deemed
If the activity has received gross payments for the sale of taxable property or services that
exceed the sum of—
(1) taxable property and services purchased;
(2) wages and salary paid; and
(3) taxes (of any type) paid,
in two or more of the most recent 3 calendar years during which it operated then the business
activity shall be conclusively deemed to be engaged in for profit.
702.
Gaming activities
(a)
Registration
Any person selling one or more chances is a gaming sponsor and shall register, in a form prescribed
by the Secretary, with the sales tax administering authority as a gaming
sponsor.
(b)
Chance Defined
For purposes of this section, the term chance means a lottery ticket, a raffle ticket, chips, other tokens, a bet or bets placed, a wager or
wagers placed, or any similar device where the purchase of the right gives
rise to an obligation by the gaming sponsor to pay upon the occurrence of—
(1) a random or unpredictable event; or
(2) an event over which neither the gaming sponsor nor the person purchasing the chance has control
over the outcome.
(c)
Chances Not Taxable Property or Service
Notwithstanding any other provision in this subtitle, a chance is not taxable property or services
for purposes of section 101.
(d)
Tax on Gaming Services Imposed
A 23-percent tax is hereby imposed on the taxable gaming services of a gaming sponsor. This tax
shall be paid and remitted by the gaming sponsor. The tax shall be
remitted by the 15th day of each month with respect to taxable gaming
services during the previous calendar month.
(e)
Taxable Gaming Services Defined
For purposes of this section, the term taxable gaming services means—
(1) gross receipts of the gaming sponsor from the sale of chances, minus
(2) the sum of—
(A) total gaming payoffs to chance purchasers (or their designees); and
(B) gaming specific taxes (other than the tax imposed by this section) imposed by the Federal, State,
or local government.
703.
Government purchases
(a)
Government Purchases
(1)
Purchases by the federal government
Purchases by the Federal Government of taxable property and services shall be subject to the tax
imposed by section 101.
(2)
Purchase by state governments and their political subdivisions
Purchases by State governments and their political subdivisions of taxable property and services
shall be subject to the tax imposed by section 101.
(b)
Cross References
For purchases by government enterprises see section 704.
704.
Government enterprises
(a)
Government Enterprises To Collect and Remit Taxes on Sales
Nothing in this subtitle shall be construed to exempt any Federal, State, or local governmental
unit or political subdivision (whether or not the State is an
administering State) operating a government enterprise from collecting and
remitting tax imposed by this subtitle on any sale of taxable property or
services. Government enterprises shall comply with all duties imposed by
this subtitle and shall be liable for penalties and subject to enforcement
action in the same manner as private persons that are not government
enterprises.
(b)
Government Enterprise
Any entity owned or operated by a Federal, State, or local governmental unit or political
subdivision that receives gross payments from private persons is a
government enterprise, except that a government-owned entity shall not
become a government enterprise for purposes of this section unless in any
quarter it has revenues from selling taxable property or services that
exceed $2,500.
(c)
Government Enterprises Intermediate Sales
(1)
In general
Government enterprises shall not be subject to tax on purchases that would not be subject to tax
pursuant to section 102(b) if the government enterprise were a private
enterprise.
(2)
Exception
Government enterprises may not use the exemption afforded by section 102(b) to serve as a conduit
for tax-free purchases by government units that would otherwise be subject
to taxation on purchases pursuant to section 703. Transfers of taxable
property or services purchased exempt from tax from a government
enterprise to such government unit shall be taxable.
(d)
Separate Books of Account
Any government enterprise must maintain books of account, separate from the nonenterprise
government accounts, maintained in accordance with generally accepted
accounting principles.
(e)
Trade or Business
A government enterprise shall be treated as a trade or business for purposes of this subtitle.
(f)
Enterprise Subsidies Constitute Taxable Purchase
A transfer of funds to a government enterprise by a government entity without full consideration
shall constitute a taxable government purchase with the meaning of section
703 to the extent that the transfer of funds exceeds the fair market value
of the consideration.
705.
Mixed use property
(a)
Mixed Use Property or Service
(1)
Mixed use property or service defined
For purposes of this section, the term mixed use property or service is a taxable property or taxable service used for both taxable use or consumption and for a
purpose that would not be subject to tax pursuant to section 102(a)(1).
(2)
Taxable threshold
Mixed use property or service shall be subject to tax notwithstanding section 102(a)(1) unless such
property or service is used more than 95 percent for purposes that would
give rise to an exemption pursuant to section 102(a)(1) during each
calendar year (or portions thereof) it is owned.
(3)
Mixed use property or services credit
A person registered pursuant to section 502 is entitled to a business use conversion credit
(pursuant to section 202) equal to the product of—
(A) the mixed use property amount;
(B) the business use ratio; and
(C) the rate of tax imposed by section 101.
(4)
Mixed use property amount
The mixed use property amount for each month (or fraction thereof) in which the property was owned
shall be—
(A) one-three-hundred-sixtieth of the gross payments for real property for 360 months or until the
property is sold;
(B) one-eighty-fourth of the gross payments for tangible personal property for 84 months or until the
property is sold;
(C) one-sixtieth of the gross payments for vehicles for 60 months or until the property is sold; or
(D) for other types of taxable property or services, a reasonable amount or in accordance with
regulations prescribed by the Secretary.
(5)
Business use ratio
For purposes of this section, the term business use ratio means the ratio of business use to total use for a particular calendar month (or portion thereof
if the property was owned for only part of said calendar month). For
vehicles, the business use ratio will be the ratio of business purpose
miles to total miles in a particular calendar month. For real property,
the business use ratio is the ratio of floor space used primarily for
business purposes to total floor space in a particular calendar month. For
tangible personal property (except for vehicles), the business use ratio
is the ratio of total time used for business purposes to total time used
in a particular calendar year. For other property or services, the
business ratio shall be calculated using a reasonable method. Reasonable
records must be maintained to support a person’s business use of the mixed
use property or service.
(b)
Timing of Business Use Conversion Credit Arising Out of Ownership of Mixed Use Property
A person entitled to a credit pursuant to subsection (a)(3) arising out of the ownership of mixed
use property must account for the mixed use on a calendar year basis, and
may file for the credit with respect to mixed use property in any month
following the calendar year giving rise to the credit.
(c)
Cross Reference
For business use conversion credit, see section 202.
706.
Not-for-Profit organizations
(a)
Not-for-Profit Organizations
Dues, contributions, and similar payments to qualified not-for-profit organizations shall not be
considered gross payments for taxable property or services for purposes of
this subtitle.
(b)
Definition
For purposes of this section, the term qualified not-for-profit organization means a not-for-profit organization organized and operated exclusively—
(1) for religious, charitable, scientific, testing for public safety, literary, or educational
purposes;
(2) as civic leagues or social welfare organizations;
(3) as labor, agricultural, or horticultural organizations;
(4) as chambers of commerce, business leagues, or trade associations; or
(5) as fraternal beneficiary societies, orders, or associations;
no part of the net earnings of which inures to the benefit of any private shareholder or
individual.
(c)
Qualification Certificates
Upon application in a form prescribed by the Secretary, the sales tax administering authority shall
provide qualification certificates to qualified not-for-profit
organizations.
(d)
Taxable Transactions
If a qualified not-for-profit organization provides taxable property or services in connection with
contributions, dues, or similar payments to the organization, then it
shall be required to treat the provision of said taxable property or
services as a purchase taxable pursuant to this subtitle at the fair
market value of said taxable property or services.
(e)
Exemptions
Taxable property and services purchased by a qualified not-for-profit organization shall be
eligible for the exemptions provided in section 102.
8
Financial Intermediation Services
Sec. 801. Determination of financial intermediation services amount.
Sec. 802. Bad debts.
Sec. 803. Timing of tax on financial intermediation services.
Sec. 804. Financing leases.
Sec. 805. Basic interest rate.
Sec. 806. Foreign financial intermediation services.
801.
Determination of financial intermediation services amount
(a)
Financial Intermediation Services
For purposes of this subtitle—
(1)
In general
The term financial intermediation services means the sum of—
(A) explicitly charged fees for financial intermediation services, and
(B) implicitly charged fees for financial intermediation services.
(2)
Explicitly charged fees for financial intermediation services
The term explicitly charged fees for financial intermediation services includes—
(A) brokerage fees;
(B) explicitly stated banking, loan origination, processing, documentation, credit check fees, or other
similar fees;
(C) safe-deposit box fees;
(D) insurance premiums, to the extent such premiums are not allocable to the investment account of the
underlying insurance policy;
(E) trustees’ fees; and
(F) other financial services fees (including mutual fund management, sales, and exit fees).
(3)
Implicitly charged fees for financial intermediation services
(A)
In general
The term implicitly charged fees for financial intermediation services includes the gross imputed amount in relation to any underlying interest-bearing investment,
account, or debt.
(B)
Gross imputed amount
For purposes of subparagraph (A), the term gross imputed amount means—
(i) with respect to any underlying interest-bearing investment or account, the product of—
(I) the excess (if any) of the basic interest rate (as defined in section 805) over the rate paid on
such investment; and
(II) the amount of the investment or account; and
(ii) with respect to any underlying interest-bearing debt, the product of—
(I) the excess (if any) of the rate paid on such debt over the basic interest rate (as defined in
section 805); and
(II) the amount of the debt.
(b)
Seller of Financial Intermediation Services
For purposes of section 103(a), the seller of financial intermediation services shall be—
(1) in the case of explicitly charged fees for financial intermediation services, the seller shall be
the person who receives the gross payments for the charged financial
intermediation services;
(2) in the case of implicitly charged fees for financial intermediation services with respect to any
underlying interest-bearing investment or account, the person making the
interest payments on the interest-bearing investment or account; and
(3) in the case of implicitly charged fees for financial intermediation services with respect to any
interest-bearing debt, the person receiving the interest payments on the
interest-bearing debt.
802.
Bad debts
(a)
In General
For purposes of section 205(a), a bad debt shall be a business debt that becomes wholly or
partially worthless to the payee.
(b)
Business Loan
For purposes of subsection (a), a business loan or debt is a bona fide loan or debt made for a
business purpose that both parties intended be repaid.
(c)
Determination of Worthlessness
(1)
In general
No loan or debt shall be considered wholly or partially worthless unless it has been in arrears for
180 days or more, except that if a debt is discharged wholly or partially
in bankruptcy before 180 days has elapsed, then it shall be deemed wholly
or partially worthless on the date of discharge.
(2)
Determination by holder
A loan or debt that has been in arrears for 180 days or more may be deemed wholly or partially
worthless by the holder unless a payment schedule has been entered into
between the debtor and the lender.
(d)
Cross Reference
See section 205(c) for tax on subsequent payments.
803.
Timing of tax on financial intermediation services
The tax on financial intermediation services provided by section 801 with respect to an underlying
investment account or debt shall be imposed and collected with the same
frequency that statements are rendered by the financial institution in
connection with the investment account or debt but not less frequently
than quarterly.
804.
Financing leases
(a)
Definition
For purposes of this section, the term financing lease means any lease under which the lessee has the right to acquire the property for 50 percent or
less of its fair market value at the end of the lease term.
(b)
General Rule
Financing leases shall be taxed in the method set forth in this section.
(c)
Determination of Principal and Interest Components of Financing Lease
The Secretary shall promulgate rules for disaggregating the principal and interest components of a
financing lease. The principal amount shall be determined to the extent
possible by examination of the contemporaneous sales price or prices of
property the same or similar as the leased property.
(d)
Alternative Method
In the event that contemporaneous sales prices or property the same or similar as the leased
property are not available, the principal and interest components of a
financing lease shall be disaggregated using the applicable interest rate
(as defined in section 511) plus 4 percent.
(e)
Principal Component
The principal component of the financing lease shall be subject to tax as if a purchase in the
amount of the principal component had been made on the day on which said
lease was executed.
(f)
Interest Component
The financial intermediation services amount with respect to the interest component of the
financing lease shall be subject to tax under this subtitle.
(g)
Coordination
If the principal component and financial intermediation services amount with respect to the
interest component of a lease have been taxed pursuant to this section,
then the gross lease or rental payments shall not be subject to additional
tax.
805.
Basic interest rate
For purposes of this chapter, the basic interest rate with respect to a debt instrument,
investment, financing lease, or account shall be the applicable interest
rate (as determined in section 511). For debt instruments, investments, or
accounts of contractually fixed interest, the applicable interest rate of
the month of issuance shall apply. For debt instruments, investments, or
accounts of variable interest rates and which have no reference interest
rate, the applicable interest shall be the Federal short-term interest
rate for each month. For debt instruments, investments, or accounts of
variable interest rates and which have a reference interest rate, the
applicable interest shall be the applicable interest rate for the
reference interest rate for each month.
806.
Foreign financial intermediation services
(a)
Special Rules Relating to International Financial Intermediation Services
Financial intermediation services shall be deemed as used or consumed within the United States if
the person (or any related party as defined in section 205(e)) purchasing
the services is a resident of the United States.
(b)
Designation of Tax Representative
Any person that provides financial intermediation services to United States residents must, as a
condition of lawfully providing such services, designate, in a form
prescribed by the Secretary, a tax representative for purposes of this
subtitle. The tax representative shall be responsible for ensuring that
the taxes imposed by this subtitle are collected and remitted and shall be
jointly and severally liable for collecting and remitting these taxes. The
Secretary may require reasonable bond of the tax representative. The
Secretary or a sales tax administering authority may bring an action
seeking a temporary restraining order, an injunction, or such other order
as may be appropriate to enforce this section.
(c)
Cross References
For definition of person, see section 901.
9
Additional matters
Sec. 901. Additional matters.
Sec. 902. Transition matters.
Sec. 903. Wages to be reported to Social Security Administration.
Sec. 904. Trust Fund revenue.
Sec. 905. Withholding of tax on nonresident aliens and foreign corporations.
901.
Additional matters
(a)
Intangible Property Antiavoidance Rule
Notwithstanding section 2(a)(14)(a)(i), the sale of a copyright or trademark shall be treated as
the sale of taxable services (within the meaning of section 101(a)) if the
substance of the sales of copyright or trademark constituted the sale of
the services that produced the copyrighted material or the trademark.
(b)
De Minimis Payments
Up to $400 of gross payments per calendar year shall be exempt from the tax imposed by section 101
if—
(1) made by a person not in connection with a trade or business at any time during such calendar year
prior to making said gross payments, and
(2) made to purchase any taxable property or service which is imported into the United States by such
person for use or consumption by such person in the United States.
(c)
De Minimis Sales
Up to $1,200 per calendar year of gross payments shall be exempt from the tax imposed by section
101 if received—
(1) by a person not in connection with a trade or business during such calendar year prior to the
receipt of said gross payments; and
(2) in connection with a casual or isolated sale.
(d)
De Minimis Sale of Financial Intermediation Services
Up to $10,000 per calendar year of gross payments received by a person from the sale of financial
intermediation services (as determined in accordance with section 801)
shall be exempt from the tax imposed by section 101. The exemption
provided by this subsection is in addition to other exemptions afforded by
this chapter. The exemption provided by this subsection shall not be
available to large sellers (as defined in section 501(e)(3)).
(e)
Proxy Buying Taxable
If a registered person provides taxable property or services to a person either as a gift, prize,
reward, or as remuneration for employment, and such taxable property or
services were not previously subject to tax pursuant to section 101, then
the provision of such taxable property or services by the registered
person shall be deemed the conversion of such taxable property or services
to personal use subject to tax pursuant to section 103(c) at the tax
inclusive fair market value of such taxable property or services.
(f)
Substance Over Form
The substance of a transaction will prevail over its form if the transaction has no bona fide
economic purpose and is designed to evade tax imposed by this subtitle.
(g)
Certain Employee Discounts Taxable
(1)
Employee discount
For purposes of this subsection, the term employee discount means an employer’s offer of taxable property or services for sale to its employees or their
families (within the meaning of section 302(b)) for less than the offer of
such taxable property or services to the general public.
(2)
Employee discount amount
For purposes of this subsection, the employee discount amount is the amount by which taxable
property or services are sold pursuant to an employee discount below the
amount for which such taxable property or services would have been sold to
the general public.
(3)
Taxable amount
If the employee discount amount exceeds 20 percent of the price that the taxable property or
services would have been sold to the general public, then the sale of such
taxable property or services by the employer shall be deemed the
conversion of such taxable property or services to personal use and tax
shall be imposed on the taxable employee discount amount. The taxable
employee discount amount shall be—
(A) the employee discount amount, minus
(B) 20 percent of the amount for which said taxable property or services would have been sold to the
general public.
(h)
Saturday, Sunday, or Legal Holiday
When the last day prescribed for performing any act required by this subtitle falls on a Saturday,
Sunday, or legal holiday (in the jurisdiction where the return is to be
filed), the performance of such act shall be considered timely if it is
performed on the next day which is not a Saturday, Sunday, or legal
holiday (in the jurisdiction where the return is to be filed).
902.
Transition matters
(a)
Inventory
(1)
Qualified inventory
Inventory held by a trade or business on the close of business on December 31, 2016, shall be
qualified inventory if it is sold—
(A) before December 31, 2017;
(B) by a registered person; and
(C) subject to the tax imposed by section 101.
(2)
Costs
For purposes of this section, qualified inventory shall have the cost that it had for Federal
income tax purposes for the trade or business as of December 31, 2016
(including any amounts capitalized by reason of section 263A of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986 as in effect on December 31, 2016).
(3)
Transitional inventory credit
The trade or business which held the qualified inventory on the close of business on December 31,
2016, shall be entitled to a transitional inventory credit equal to the
cost of the qualified inventory (determined in accordance with paragraph
(2)) times the rate of tax imposed by section 101.
(4)
Timing of credit
The credit provided under paragraph (3) shall be allowed with respect to the month when the
inventory is sold subject to the tax imposed by this subtitle. Said credit
shall be reported as an intermediate and export sales credit and the
person claiming said credit shall attach supporting schedules in the form
that the Secretary may prescribe.
(b)
Work-in-Process
For purposes of this section, inventory shall include work-in-process.
(c)
Qualified Inventory Held by Businesses Not Selling Said Qualified Inventory at Retail
(1)
In general
Qualified inventory held by businesses that sells said qualified inventory not subject to tax
pursuant to section 102(a) shall be eligible for the transitional
inventory credit only if that business (or a business that has successor
rights pursuant to paragraph (2)) receives certification in a form
satisfactory to the Secretary that the qualified inventory was
subsequently sold subject to the tax imposed by this subtitle.
(2)
Transitional inventory credit right may be sold
The business entitled to the transitional inventory credit may sell the right to receive said
transitional inventory credit to the purchaser of the qualified inventory
that gave rise to the credit entitlement. Any purchaser of such qualified
inventory (or property or services into which the qualified inventory has
been incorporated) may sell the right to said transitional inventory
credit to a subsequent purchaser of said qualified inventory (or property
or services into which the qualified inventory has been incorporated).
903.
Wages to be reported to Social Security Administration
(a)
In General
Employers shall submit such information to the Social Security Administration as is required by the
Social Security Administration to calculate Social Security benefits under
title II of the Social Security Act, including wages paid, in a form prescribed by the Secretary. A copy of the employer submission to
the Social Security Administration relating to each employee shall be
provided to each employee by the employer.
(b)
Wages
For purposes of this section, the term wages means all cash remuneration for employment (including tips to an employee by third parties
provided that the employer or employee maintains records documenting such
tips) including self-employment income; except that such term shall not
include—
(1) any insurance benefits received (including death benefits);
(2) pension or annuity benefits received;
(3) tips received by an employee over $5,000 per year; and
(4) benefits received under a government entitlement program (including Social Security benefits and
unemployment compensation benefits).
(c)
Self-Employment Income
For purposes of subsection (b), the term self-employment income means gross payments received for taxable property or services minus the sum of—
(1) gross payments made for taxable property or services (without regard to whether tax was paid
pursuant to section 101 on such taxable property or services), and
(2) wages paid by the self-employed person to employees of the self-employed person.
904.
Trust Fund revenue
(a)
Secretary To Make Allocation of Sales Tax Revenue
The Secretary shall allocate the revenue received by virtue of the tax imposed by section 101 in
accordance with this section. The revenue shall be allocated among—
(1) the general revenue,
(2) the old-age and survivors insurance trust fund,
(3) the disability insurance trust fund,
(4) the hospital insurance trust fund, and
(5) the Federal supplementary medical insurance trust fund.
(b)
General Rule
(1)
General revenue
The proportion of total revenue allocated to the general revenue shall be the same proportion as
the rate in section 101(b)(4) bears to the combined Federal tax rate
percentage (as defined in section 101(b)(3)).
(2) The amount of revenue allocated to the old-age and survivors insurance and disability insurance
trust funds shall be the same proportion as the old-age, survivors and
disability insurance rate (as defined in subsection (d)) bears to the
combined Federal tax rate percentage (as defined in section 101(b)(3)).
(3) The amount of revenue allocated to the hospital insurance and Federal supplementary medical
insurance trust funds shall be the same proportion as the hospital
insurance rate (as defined in subsection (e)) bears to the combined
Federal tax rate percentage (as defined in section 101(b)(3)).
(c)
Calendar Year 2017
Notwithstanding subsection (b), the revenue allocation pursuant to subsection (a) for calendar year
2017 shall be as follows:
(1) 64.83 percent of total revenue to general revenue,
(2) 27.43 percent of total revenue to the old-age and survivors insurance and disability insurance
trust funds, and
(3) 7.74 percent of total revenue to the hospital insurance and Federal supplementary medical insurance
trust funds.
(d)
Old-Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance Rate
The old-age, survivors and disability insurance rate shall be determined by the Social Security
Administration. The old-age, survivors and disability insurance rate shall
be that sales tax rate which is necessary to raise the same amount of
revenue that would have been raised by imposing a 12.4 percent tax on the
Social Security wage base (including self-employment income) as determined
in accordance with chapter 21 of the Internal Revenue Code most recently
in effect prior to the enactment of this Act. The rate shall be determined
using actuarially sound methodology and announced at least 6 months prior
to the beginning of the calendar year for which it applies.
(e)
Hospital Insurance Rate
The hospital insurance rate shall be determined by the Social Security Administration. The hospital
insurance rate shall be that sales tax rate which is necessary to raise
the same amount of revenue that would have been raised by imposing a 2.9
percent tax on the Medicare wage base (including self-employment income)
as determined in accordance with chapter 21 of the Internal Revenue Code
most recently in effect prior to the enactment of this Act. The rate shall
be determined using actuarially sound methodology and announced at least 6
months prior to the beginning of the calendar year for which it applies.
(f)
Assistance
The Secretary shall provide such technical assistance as the Social Security Administration shall
require to determine the old-age, survivors and disability insurance rate
and the hospital insurance rate.
(g)
Further Allocations
(1)
Old-age, survivors and disability insurance
The Secretary shall allocate revenue received because of the old-age, survivors and disability
insurance rate to the old-age and survivors insurance trust fund and the
disability insurance trust fund in accordance with law or, in the absence
of other statutory provision, in the same proportion that the old-age and
survivors insurance trust fund receipts bore to the sum of the old-age and
survivors insurance trust fund receipts and the disability insurance trust
fund receipts in calendar year 2016 (taking into account only receipts
pursuant to chapter 21 of the Internal Revenue Code).
(2)
Hospital insurance
The Secretary shall allocate revenue received because of the hospital insurance rate to the
hospital insurance trust fund and the Federal supplementary medical
insurance trust fund in accordance with law or, in the absence of other
statutory provision, in the same proportion that hospital insurance trust
fund receipts bore to the sum of the hospital insurance trust fund
receipts and Federal supplementary medical insurance trust fund receipts
in calendar year 2016 (taking into account only receipts pursuant to
chapter 21 of the Internal Revenue Code).
905.
Withholding of tax on nonresident aliens and foreign corporations
(a)
In General
All persons, in whatever capacity acting (including lessees or mortgagors or real or personal
property, fiduciaries, employers, and all officers and employees of the
United States) having control, receipt, custody, disposal, or payment of
any income to the extent such income constitutes gross income from sources
within the United States of any nonresident alien individual, foreign
partnership, or foreign corporation shall deduct and withhold from that
income a tax equal to 23 percent thereof.
(b)
Exception
No tax shall be required to be deducted from interest on portfolio debt investments.
(c)
Treaty Countries
In the case of payments to nonresident alien individuals, foreign partnerships, or foreign
corporations that have a residence in (or the nationality of a country)
that has entered into a tax treaty with the United States, then the rate
of withholding tax prescribed by the treaty shall govern.
.
202.
Conforming and technical amendments
(a)
Repeals
The following provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 are repealed:
(1) Subchapter A of chapter 61 of subtitle D (as redesignated by section 104) (relating to information
and returns).
(2) Sections 6103 through 6116 of subchapter B of chapter 61 of subtitle D (as so redesignated).
(3) Section 6157 (relating to unemployment taxes).
(4) Section 6163 (relating to estate taxes).
(5) Section 6164 (relating to corporate taxes).
(6) Section 6166 (relating to estate taxes).
(7) Section 6167 (relating to foreign expropriation losses).
(8) Sections 6201, 6205, and 6207 (relating to assessments).
(9) Subchapter C of chapter 63 of subtitle D (as so redesignated) (relating to tax treatment of
partnership items).
(10) Section 6305 (relating to collections of certain liabilities).
(11) Sections 6314, 6315, 6316, and 6317 (relating to payments of repealed taxes).
(12) Sections 6324, 6324A, and 6324B (relating to liens for estate and gift taxes).
(13) Section 6344 (relating to cross references).
(14) Section 6411 (relating to carrybacks).
(15) Section 6413 (relating to employment taxes).
(16) Section 6414 (relating to withheld income taxes).
(17) Section 6422 (relating to cross references).
(18) Section 6425 (relating to overpayment of corporate estimated taxes).
(19) Section 6504 (relating to cross references).
(20) Section 6652 (relating to failure to file certain information returns).
(21) Sections 6654 and 6655 (relating to failure to payment estimated income tax).
(22) Section 6662 (relating to penalties).
(23) Sections 6677 through 6711 (relating to income tax related penalties).
(24) Part II of subchapter B of chapter 68 (relating to certain information returns).
(25) Part I of subchapter A of chapter 70 (relating to termination of taxable year).
(26) Section 6864 (relating to certain carrybacks).
(27) Section 7103 (relating to cross references).
(28) Section 7204 (relating to withholding statements).
(29) Section 7211 (relating certain statements).
(30) Section 7231 (relating to failure to obtain certain licenses).
(31) Section 7270 (relating to insurance policies).
(32) Section 7404 (relating to estate taxes).
(33) Section 7404 (relating to income tax preparers).
(34) Section 7408 (relating to income tax shelters).
(35) Section 7409 (relating to 501(c)(3) organizations).
(36) Section 7427 (relating to income tax preparers).
(37) Section 7428 (relating to 501(c)(3) organizations).
(38) Section 7476 (relating to declaratory judgments relating to retirement plans).
(39) Section 7478 (relating to declaratory judgments relating to certain tax-exempt obligations).
(40) Section 7508 (relating to postponing time for certain actions required by the income, estate, and
gift tax).
(41) Section 7509 (relating to Postal Service payroll taxes).
(42) Section 7512 (relating to payroll taxes).
(43) Section 7517 (relating to estate and gift tax evaluation).
(44) Section 7518 (relating to Merchant Marine tax incentives).
(45) Section 7519 (relating to taxable years).
(46) Section 7520 (relating to insurance and annuity valuation tables).
(47) Section 7523 (relating to reporting Federal income and outlays on Form 1040s).
(48) Section 7611 (relating to church income tax exemptions and church unrelated business income tax
inquiries).
(49) Section 7654 (relating to possessions’ income taxes).
(50) Section 7655 (relating to cross references).
(51) Section 7701(a)(16).
(52) Section 7701(a)(19).
(53) Section 7701(a)(20).
(54) Paragraphs (32) through (38) of section 7701(a).
(55) Paragraphs (41) through (46) of section 7701(a).
(56) Section 7701(b).
(57) Subsections (e) through (m) of section 7701.
(58) Section 7702 (relating to life insurance contracts).
(59) Section 7702A (relating to modified endowment contracts).
(60) Section 7702B (relating to long-term care insurance).
(61) Section 7703 (relating to the determination of marital status).
(62) Section 7704 (relating to publicly traded partnerships).
(63) Section 7805.
(64) Section 7851.
(65) Section 7872.
(66) Section 7873.
(b)
Other Conforming and Technical Amendments
(1) Section 6151 is amended by striking subsection (b) and by redesignating subsection (c) as
subsection (b).
(2) Section 6161 is amended to read as follows:
6161.
Extension of time for paying tax
The Secretary, except as otherwise provided in this title, may extend the time for payment of the
amount of the tax shown or required to be shown on any return, report, or
declaration required under authority of this title for a reasonable period
not to exceed 6 months (12 months in the case of a taxpayer who is
abroad).
.
(3) Section 6211(a) is amended—
(A) by striking income, estate and gift taxes imposed by subtitles A and B and,
(B) by striking subtitle A or B, or, and
(C) by striking , as defined in subsection (b)(2), in paragraph (2).
(4) Section 6211(b) is amended to read as follows:
(b)
Rebate Defined
For purposes of subsection (a)(2), the term rebate means so much of an abatement, credit, refund, or other payment, as was made on the ground that
the tax imposed by chapter 41, 42, 43, or 44 was less than the excess of
the amount specified in subsection (a)(1) over the rebates previously
made.
.
(5) Section 6212(b) is amended to read as follows:
(b)
Address for Notice of Deficiency
In the absence of notice to the Secretary under section 6903 of the existence of a fiduciary
relationship, notice of a deficiency in respect of a tax imposed by
chapter 42, 43, or 44 if mailed to the taxpayer at his last known address,
shall be sufficient for purposes of such chapter and this chapter even if
such taxpayer is deceased, or is under a legal disability, or, in the case
of a corporation has terminated its existence.
.
(6) Section 6302(b) is amended by striking 21,.
(7) Section 6302 is amended by striking subsections (g) and (i) and by redesignating subsection (h) as
subsection (g).
(8) Section 6325 is amended by striking subsection (c) and by redesignating subsections (d) through (h)
as subsections (c) through (g), respectively.
(9) Section 6402(d) is amended by striking paragraph (3).
(10) Section 6402 is amended by striking subsection (j) and by redesignating subsection (k) as
subsection (j).
(11) Section 6501(b) is amended—
(A) by striking except tax imposed by chapter 3, 21, or 24, in paragraph (1), and
(B) by striking paragraph (2) and by redesignating paragraphs (3) and (4) as paragraphs (2) and (3),
respectively.
(12) Section 6501(c) is amended by striking paragraphs (5) through (9).
(13) Section 6501(e) is amended by striking subsection (c)— and all that follows through subtitle D in paragraph (3) and inserting subsection (c), in the case of a return of a tax imposed under a provision of subtitle B.
(14) Section 6501 is amended by striking subsections (f) through (k) and subsections (m) and (n) and by
redesignating subsection (1) as subsection (f).
(15) Section 6503(a) is amended—
(A) by striking paragraph (2),
(B) by striking Deficiency.— and all that follows through The running and inserting Deficiency.—The running, and
(C) by striking income, estate, gift and.
(16) Section 6503 is amended by striking subsections (e), (f), (i), and (k) and by redesignating
subsections (g), (h), and (j) as subsections (e), (f), and (g),
respectively.
(17) Section 6511 is amended by striking subsections (d) and (g) and by redesignating subsections (f)
and (h) as subsections (d) and (e), respectively.
(18) Section 6512(b)(1) is amended by striking of income tax for the same taxable year, of gift tax for the same calendar year or calendar
quarter, of estate tax in respect of the taxable estate of the same
decedent or.
(19) Section 6513 is amended—
(A) by striking (a) Early Return or Advance Payment of Tax.—, and
(B) by striking subsections (b) and (e).
(20) Chapter 67 is amended by striking subchapters A through D and inserting the following:
6601.
Interest on overpayments and underpayment
(a)
Underpayments
If any amount of tax imposed by this title is not paid on or before the last date prescribed for
payment, interest on such amount at the Federal short-term rate (as
defined in section 511(b)) shall be paid from such last date to the date
paid.
(b)
Overpayments
Interest shall be allowed and paid upon any overpayment in respect of any internal revenue tax at
the Federal short-term rate (as defined in section 511(b)) from 60 days
after the date of the overpayment until the date the overpayment is
refunded.
.
(21) Section 6651(a)(1) is amended by striking subchapter A of chapter 61 (other than part III thereof,.
(22) Section 6656 is amended by striking subsection (c) and by redesignating subsection (d) as
subsection (c).
(23) Section 6663 is amended by striking subsection (c).
(24) Section 6664(c) is amended—
(A) by striking Exception.— and all that follows through No penalty and inserting Exception.—No penalty, and
(B) by striking paragraphs (2) and (3).
(25) Chapter 72 is amended by striking all matter preceding section 7011.
(26) Section 7422 is amended by striking subsections (h) and (i) and by redesignating subsections (j)
and (k) as subsections (h) and (i), respectively.
(27) Section 7451 is amended to read as follows:
7451.
Fee for filing petition
The Tax Court is authorized to impose a fee in an amount not in excess of $60 to be fixed by the
Tax Court for the filing of any petition for the redetermination of a
deficiency.
.
(28) Section 7454 is amended by striking subsection (b) and by redesignating subsection (c) as
subsection (b).
(29) Section 7463(a) is amended—
(A) by striking paragraphs (2) and (3),
(B) by redesignating paragraph (4) as paragraph (2), and
(C) by striking D in paragraph (2) (as so redesignated) and inserting B.
(30) Section 7463(c) is amended by striking sections 6214(a) and and inserting section.
(31) Section 7463(c) is amended by striking , to the extent that the procedures described in subchapter B of chapter 63 apply.
(32) Section 7481 is amended by striking subsection (d).
(33) Section 7608 is amended by striking subtitle E each place it appears and inserting subtitle C.
(34) Section 7651 is amended by striking paragraph (5).
(35) Section 7701(a)(29) is amended by striking 1986 and inserting 2013.
(36) Section 7809(c) is amended by striking paragraphs (1) and (4) and by redesignating paragraphs (2)
and (3) as paragraphs (1) and (2), respectively.
(37) Section 7871(a) is amended by striking paragraphs (1) and (3) through (6) and by redesignating
paragraphs (2) and (7) as paragraphs (1) and (2), respectively.
(38) Section 7871 is amended by striking subsection (c) and by redesignating subsections (d) and (e) as
subsections (c) and (d), respectively.
(39) Section 8021 is amended by striking subsection (a) and by redesignating subsections (b) through (f)
as subsections (a) through (e), respectively.
(40) Section 8022(a)(2)(A) is amended by striking , particularly the income tax.
(41) Section 8023 is amended by striking Internal Revenue Service each place it appears and inserting Department of the Treasury.
(42) Section 9501(b)(2) is amended by striking subparagraph (C).
(43) Section 9702(a) is amended by striking paragraph (4).
(44) Section 9705(a) is amended by striking paragraph (4) and by redesignating paragraph (5) as
paragraph (4).
(45) Section 9706(d)(2)(A) is amended by striking 6103 and inserting 605(e).
(46) Section 9707 is amended by striking subsection (f).
(47) Section 9712(d) is amended by striking paragraph (5) and by redesignating paragraph (6) as
paragraph (5).
(48) Section 9803(a) is amended by striking (as defined in section 414(f)).
III
Other Matters
301.
Phase-out of administration of repealed Federal taxes
(a)
Appropriations
Appropriations for any expenses of the Internal Revenue Service including processing tax returns
for years prior to the repeal of the taxes repealed by title I of this
Act, revenue accounting, management, transfer of payroll and wage data to
the Social Security Administration for years after fiscal year 2019 shall
not be authorized.
(b)
Records
Federal records related to the administration of taxes repealed by title I of this Act shall be
destroyed by the end of fiscal year 2019, except that any records
necessary to calculate Social Security benefits shall be retained by the
Social Security Administration and any records necessary to support
ongoing litigation with respect to taxes owed or refunds due shall be
retained until final disposition of such litigation.
(c)
Conforming Amendments
Section 7802 is amended—
(1) by striking subsections (a) and (b) and by redesignating subsections (c) and (d) as subsections (a)
and (b),
(2) by striking Internal Revenue Service each place it appears and inserting Department of the Treasury, and
(3) by striking Commissioner or Commissioner of Internal Revenue each place they appear and inserting Secretary.
(d)
Effective Date
The amendments made by subsection (c) shall take effect on January 1, 2019.
302.
Administration of other Federal taxes
(a)
In General
Section 7801 (relating to the authority of the Department of the Treasury) is amended by adding at
the end the following:
(d)
Excise Tax Bureau
There shall be in the Department of the Treasury an Excise Tax Bureau to administer those excise
taxes not administered by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms.
(e)
Sales Tax Bureau
There shall be in the Department of the Treasury a Sales Tax Bureau to administer the national
sales tax in those States where it is required pursuant to section 404,
and to discharge other Federal duties and powers relating to the national
sales tax (including those required by sections 402, 403, and 405). The
Office of Revenue Allocation shall be within the Sales Tax Bureau.
.
(b)
Assistant General Counsels
Section 7801(b)(2) is amended to read as follows:
(2)
Assistant general counsels
The Secretary of the Treasury may appoint, without regard to the provisions of the civil service
laws, and fix the duties of not more than 5 assistant general counsels.
.
303.
Sales tax inclusive Social Security benefits indexation
Subparagraph (D) of section 215(i)(1) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 415(i)(1)) (relating to cost-of-living increases in Social Security benefits) is
amended to read as follows:
(D)
(i) the term CPI increase percentage, with respect to a base quarter or cost-of-living quarter in any calendar year, means the
percentage (rounded to the nearest one-tenth of 1 percent) by which the
Consumer Price Index for that quarter (as prepared by the Department of
Labor) exceeds such index for the most recent prior calendar quarter which
was a base quarter under subparagraph (A)(ii) or, if later, the most
recent cost-of-living computation quarter under subparagraph (B);
(ii) if the Consumer Price Index (as so prepared) does not include the national sales tax paid, then the
term CPI increase percentage, with respect to a base quarter or cost-of-living quarter in any calendar year, means the
percentage (rounded to the nearest one-tenth of 1 percent) by which the
product of—
(I) the Consumer Price Index for that quarter (as so prepared), and
(II) the national sales tax factor,
exceeds such index for the most recent prior calendar quarter which was a base quarter under
subparagraph (A)(ii) or, if later, the most recent cost of living
computation quarter under subparagraph (B); and
(iii) the national sales tax factor is equal to one plus the quotient that is—
(I) the sales tax rate imposed by section 101 of the Internal Revenue Code of 2015, divided by
(II) the quantity that is one minus such sales tax rate.
.
IV
Sunset of Sales Tax if Sixteenth Amendment not Repealed
401.
Elimination of sales tax if Sixteenth Amendment not repealed
If the Sixteenth Amendment to the Constitution of the United States is not repealed before the end
of the 7-year period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act,
then all provisions of, and amendments made by, this Act shall not apply
to any use or consumption in any year beginning after December 31 of the
calendar year in which or with which such period ends, except that the
Sales Tax Bureau of the Department of the Treasury shall not be terminated
until 6 months after such December 31.