Senate Bill 0888e1

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  1                      A bill to be entitled

  2         An act relating to tax administration;

  3         repealing s. 198.12, F.S., and amending ss.

  4         198.13, 198.23, 198.26, 198.32, 198.33, 198.39,

  5         F.S.; discontinuing the use of unnecessary

  6         estate tax returns for small estates that owe

  7         no tax; amending s. 199.106, F.S.; granting a

  8         credit against the intangibles tax to natural

  9         persons for an identical tax paid in another

10         state; creating s. 201.165, F.S.; granting a

11         credit against the documentary stamp tax for an

12         identical tax paid in another state; amending

13         s. 212.02, F.S.; amending the definition of the

14         term "retail sale" with respect to materials

15         that are incorporated into repaired motor

16         vehicles, airplanes, or boats; amending ss.

17         212.04, 212.12, F.S., and creating s. 213.757,

18         F.S.; increasing the criminal penalties for

19         willful violations of certain tax provisions;

20         amending s. 212.0602, F.S.; providing

21         additional exemption to facilitate investment

22         in education and job training; clarifying

23         qualification requirements for exemption;

24         amending s. 212.08, F.S.; amending the

25         exemption for electricity and steam used for

26         manufacturing; revising provisions which

27         specify application of tax to the sale of a

28         motor vehicle in this state to a resident of

29         another state; revising the time within which

30         the purchaser must license the vehicle in his

31         or her home state; providing construction


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  1         regarding removal of the vehicle from this

  2         state; amending s. 212.11, F.S.; conforming a

  3         cross-reference; amending s. 213.27, F.S.;

  4         authorizing the Department of Revenue to enter

  5         into contracts with private vendors to develop

  6         an automated case-tracking system; amending s.

  7         213.67, F.S.; authorizing the Department of

  8         Revenue to reduce the amount of an

  9         administrative garnishment which is subject to

10         a freeze to the amount equal to the delinquent

11         amount; amending ss. 220.151, 220.21, 220.221,

12         220.222, F.S.; authorizing the Department of

13         Revenue to accept electronic or telephonic

14         corporate income tax returns in lieu of written

15         paper returns; creating s. 166.235, F.S.;

16         providing procedures for purchasers to obtain

17         refund of or credit for public service taxes

18         collected in error; providing transitional

19         provisions; providing an effective date.

20

21  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:

22

23         Section 1.  Section 198.12, Florida Statutes, is

24  repealed effective January 1, 2000.

25         Section 2.  Effective January 1, 2000, section 198.13,

26  Florida Statutes, is amended to read:

27         198.13  Tax return to be made in certain cases.--

28         (1)  The personal representative of every estate

29  required by the laws of the United States to file a federal

30  estate tax return shall file with the department, on or before

31  the last day prescribed by law for filing the initial federal


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  1  estate tax return for such estate, a return consisting of an

  2  executed copy of the federal estate tax return and shall file

  3  with such return all supplemental data, if any, as may be

  4  necessary to determine and establish the correct tax under

  5  this chapter.  Such return shall be made in the case of every

  6  decedent who at the time of death was not a resident of the

  7  United States and whose gross estate includes any real

  8  property situate in the state, tangible personal property

  9  having an actual situs in the state, and intangible personal

10  property physically present within the state.

11         (2)  Whenever it is made to appear to the department

12  that an estate that has filed a return owes no taxes provided

13  in this chapter, the department will issue to the personal

14  representative a certificate in writing to that effect, which

15  certificate will have the same force and effect as a receipt

16  showing payment. The certificate will be subject to record and

17  admissible in evidence in like manner as receipts showing

18  payment of taxes. A fee of $5 will be paid to the department

19  for each certificate so issued.

20         (3)(2)  Every person required to file a return

21  reporting a generation-skipping transfer under applicable

22  federal statutes and regulations shall file with the

23  Department of Revenue, on or before the last day prescribed

24  for filing the federal return, a return consisting of a

25  duplicate copy of the federal return.

26         Section 3.  Effective January 1, 2000, section 198.23,

27  Florida Statutes, is amended to read:

28         198.23  Personal liability of personal

29  representative.--If any personal representative shall make

30  distribution either in whole or in part of any of the property

31  of an estate to the heirs, next of kin, distributees,


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  1  legatees, or devisees without having paid or secured the tax

  2  due the state under this chapter, or having obtained the

  3  release of such property from the lien of such tax, either by

  4  the department or pursuant to s. 198.32(2), he or she shall

  5  become personally liable for the tax so due the state, or so

  6  much thereof as may remain due and unpaid, to the full extent

  7  of the full value of any property belonging to such person or

  8  estate which may come into the personal representative's

  9  hands, custody, or control.

10         Section 4.  Effective January 1, 2000, section 198.26,

11  Florida Statutes, is amended to read:

12         198.26  No discharge of personal representative until

13  tax is paid.--No final account of a personal representative of

14  the estate of a nonresident, nor of the estate of a resident

15  when the value of the gross estate wherever situate exceeds

16  $60,000 shall be allowed by any court unless and until such

17  account shows, and the judge of said court finds, that the tax

18  imposed by the provisions of this chapter upon the personal

19  representative, which has become payable, has been paid.  The

20  certificate of the department of nonliability for the tax or

21  its receipt for the amount of tax therein certified shall be

22  conclusive in such proceedings as to the liability or the

23  payment of the tax to the extent of said certificate. In the

24  case of a nontaxable estate, the court may consider the

25  affidavit prepared pursuant to s. 198.32(2) as evidence of the

26  nonliability for tax.

27         Section 5.  Effective January 1, 2000, section 198.32,

28  Florida Statutes, is amended to read:

29         198.32  Prima facie liability for tax.--

30         (1)  The estate of each decedent whose property is

31  subject to the laws of the state shall be deemed prima facie


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  1  liable for estate taxes under this chapter and shall be

  2  subject to a lien therefor in such amount as may be later

  3  determined to be due and payable on the estate as provided in

  4  this chapter.  This presumption of liability shall begin on

  5  the date of the death of the decedent and shall continue until

  6  the full settlement of all taxes which may be found to be due

  7  under this chapter, the settlement to be shown by receipts for

  8  all taxes due to be issued by the department as provided for

  9  in this chapter. Whenever it is made to appear to the

10  department that an estate is not subject to any tax under this

11  chapter, the department shall issue to the personal

12  representative, administrator, or curator, or to the heirs,

13  devisees, or legatees of the decedent, a certificate in

14  writing to that effect, showing such nonliability to tax,

15  which certificate of nonliability shall have the same force

16  and effect as a receipt showing payment.  The certificate of

17  nonliability shall be subject to record and admissible in

18  evidence in like manner as receipts showing payment of taxes.

19  A fee of $5 shall be paid to the department for each

20  certificate so issued.

21         (2)  Whenever an estate is not subject to tax under

22  this chapter and is not required to file a return, the

23  personal representative may execute an affidavit attesting

24  that the estate is not taxable. The form of the affidavit will

25  be prescribed by the department, and will include, but not be

26  limited to, statements regarding the decedent's domicile,

27  whether a federal estate tax return will be filed, and

28  acknowledgment of the personal representative's personal

29  liability under s. 198.23. Such affidavit shall be subject to

30  record and admissible in evidence to show nonliability for

31  tax.


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  1         Section 6.  Effective January 1, 2000, subsection (1)

  2  of section 198.33, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:

  3         198.33  Discharge of estate, notice of lien, limitation

  4  on lien, etc.--

  5         (1)  Where no receipt for the payment of taxes, or no

  6  affidavit or certificate receipt of nonliability for taxes has

  7  been issued or recorded as provided for in this chapter, the

  8  property constituting the estate of the decedent in this state

  9  shall be deemed fully acquitted and discharged of all

10  liability for estate and inheritance taxes under this chapter

11  after a lapse of 10 years from the date of the filing with the

12  department of notice of the decedent's death, or after a lapse

13  of 10 years from the date of the filing with the department of

14  an estate tax return, whichever date shall be earlier, unless

15  the department shall make out and file and have recorded in

16  the public records of the county wherein any part of the

17  estate of the decedent may be situated in this state, a notice

18  of lien against the property of the estate, specifying the

19  amount or approximate amount of taxes claimed to be due to the

20  state under this chapter, which notice of lien shall continue

21  said lien in force for an additional period of 5 years or

22  until payment is made.  Such notice of lien shall be filed and

23  recorded in the book of deeds in the office of the clerk of

24  the circuit court; provided, where no receipt for the payment

25  of taxes, or no affidavit or certificate of nonliability for

26  taxes, has been issued or recorded as provided for in this

27  chapter, the property constituting the estate of the decedent

28  in this state, if said decedent was a resident of this state

29  at the time of death, shall be deemed fully acquitted and

30  discharged of all liability for tax under this chapter after a

31  lapse of 10 years from the date of the death of the decedent,


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  1  unless the department shall make out and file and have

  2  recorded notice of lien as herein provided, which notice shall

  3  continue said lien in force against such property of the

  4  estate as is situate in the county wherein said notice of lien

  5  was recorded for an additional period of 5 years or until

  6  payment is made.

  7         Section 7.  Effective January 1, 2000, section 198.39,

  8  Florida Statutes, is amended to read:

  9         198.39  False statement in return; penalty.--Whoever

10  knowingly makes any false statement in any notice, affidavit,

11  or return required to be filed or made under this chapter is

12  guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as

13  provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.

14         Section 8.  Subsections (2) and (3) of section 199.106,

15  Florida Statutes, are amended to read:

16         199.106  Credit for taxes imposed by other states.--

17         (2)  For intangible personal property that has a

18  taxable situs in this state under s. 199.175(1) or any similar

19  predecessor statute, a credit against the tax imposed by s.

20  199.032 is allowed to a taxpayer, other than a natural person,

21  in an amount equal to a like tax lawfully imposed and paid by

22  that taxpayer on the same property in another state, territory

23  of the United States, or the District of Columbia when the

24  other taxing authority is also claiming situs under provisions

25  similar or identical to those in s. 199.175(1) or any similar

26  predecessor statute.  For purposes of this subsection, "like

27  tax" means an ad valorem tax on intangible personal property

28  which is also subject to tax under s. 199.032.  The credit may

29  not exceed the tax imposed on the property under s. 199.032.

30  Proof of entitlement to such a credit must be made pursuant to

31  rules and forms adopted by the department.


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  1         (3)  The credits provided by this section subsections

  2  (1) and (2) apply retroactively to December 31, 1979.

  3  However, notwithstanding the retroactivity of these credit

  4  provisions, this section does not reopen a closed period of

  5  nonclaim under s. 215.26 or any other statute or extend the

  6  period of nonclaim under s. 215.26 or any other statute.

  7         Section 9.  Section 201.165, Florida Statutes, is

  8  created to read:

  9         201.165  Credit for tax paid to other states.--

10         (1)  With respect to each tax imposed by any section of

11  this chapter, a credit against the specific tax imposed by

12  that section is allowed in an amount equal to the amount of a

13  like tax lawfully imposed and paid on the same document or

14  instrument in another state or territory of the United States

15  or in the District of Columbia. As used in this subsection,

16  the term "like tax" means an excise tax on documents which is

17  in substance identical to the tax imposed by this chapter on

18  the same document. The credit may not exceed the amount of the

19  tax imposed on the document by this chapter. Proof of

20  entitlement to the credit must be provided to the department.

21  The department may adopt rules to implement this credit and

22  designate forms that establish what proof is required.

23         (2)  The credit provided by this section applies

24  retroactively. Notwithstanding the retroactivity of this

25  credit provision, this section does not reopen a closed period

26  of nonclaim under s. 215.26 or any other statute, nor does

27  this section extend the period of nonclaim under s. 215.26 or

28  any other statute.

29         Section 10.  Paragraph (c) of subsection (14) of

30  section 212.02, Florida Statutes, 1998 Supplement, is amended

31  to read:


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  1         212.02  Definitions.--The following terms and phrases

  2  when used in this chapter have the meanings ascribed to them

  3  in this section, except where the context clearly indicates a

  4  different meaning:

  5         (14)

  6         (c)  "Retail sales," "sale at retail," "use,"

  7  "storage," and "consumption" do not include materials,

  8  containers, labels, sacks, bags, or similar items intended to

  9  accompany a product sold to a customer without which delivery

10  of the product would be impracticable because of the character

11  of the contents and be used one time only for packaging

12  tangible personal property for sale or for the convenience of

13  the customer or for packaging in the process of providing a

14  service taxable under this chapter. When a separate charge for

15  packaging materials is made, the charge shall be considered

16  part of the sales price or rental charge for purposes of

17  determining the applicability of tax. The terms do term also

18  does not include the sale, use, storage, or consumption of

19  industrial materials, including chemicals and fuels except as

20  provided herein, for future processing, manufacture, or

21  conversion into articles of tangible personal property for

22  resale when such industrial materials, including chemicals and

23  fuels except as provided herein, become a component or

24  ingredient of the finished product and do not include the

25  sale, use, storage, or consumption of materials for use in

26  repairing a motor vehicle, airplane, or boat, when such

27  materials are incorporated into the repaired vehicle,

28  airplane, or boat. However, the terms include the sale, use,

29  storage, or consumption of tangible personal property,

30  including machinery and equipment or parts thereof, purchased

31  electricity, and fuels used to power machinery, when such


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  1  items are used and dissipated in fabricating, converting, or

  2  processing tangible personal property for sale, even though

  3  they may become ingredients or components of the tangible

  4  personal property for sale through accident, wear, tear,

  5  erosion, corrosion, or similar means. The terms do not include

  6  the sale of materials to a registered repair facility for use

  7  in repairing a motor vehicle, airplane, or boat when such

  8  materials are incorporated into and sold as part of the

  9  repair. Such a sale is to be considered a purchase for resale

10  by the repair facility even though every material is not

11  separately stated or separately priced on the repair invoice.

12         Section 11.  Effective January 1, 2000, subsections (4)

13  and (5) of section 212.04, Florida Statutes, 1998 Supplement,

14  are amended to read:

15         212.04  Admissions tax; rate, procedure, enforcement.--

16         (4)  Each person who exercises the privilege of

17  charging admission taxes, as herein defined, shall apply for,

18  and at that time shall furnish the information and comply with

19  the provisions of s. 212.18 not inconsistent herewith and

20  receive from the department, a certificate of right to

21  exercise such privilege, which certificate shall apply to each

22  place of business where such privilege is exercised and shall

23  be in the manner and form prescribed by the department.  Such

24  certificate shall be issued upon payment to the department of

25  a registration fee of $5 by the applicant.  Each person

26  exercising the privilege of charging such admission taxes as

27  herein defined shall cause to be kept records and accounts

28  showing the admission which shall be in the form as the

29  department may from time to time prescribe, inclusive of

30  records of all tickets numbered and issued for a period of not

31  less than the time within which the department may, as


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  1  permitted by s. 95.091(3), make an assessment with respect to

  2  any admission evidenced by such records and accounts, and

  3  inclusive of all bills or checks of customers who are charged

  4  any of the taxes defined herein, showing the charge made to

  5  each for that period.  The department is empowered to use each

  6  and every one of the powers granted herein to the department

  7  to discover the amount of tax to be paid by each such person

  8  and to enforce the payment thereof as are hereby granted the

  9  department for the discovery and enforcement of the payment of

10  taxes hereinafter levied on the sales of tangible personal

11  property.  The failure of any person to pay such taxes before

12  the 21st day of the succeeding month after the taxes are

13  collected shall render such person liable to the same

14  penalties that are hereafter imposed upon such person for

15  being delinquent in the payment of taxes imposed upon the

16  sales of tangible personal property; the failure of any person

17  to render returns and to pay taxes as prescribed herein shall

18  render such person subject to the same penalties, by way of

19  charges for delinquencies, at the rate of 10 percent per month

20  for a total amount of tax delinquent up to a total of 50

21  percent of such tax and at the rate of 100-percent penalty for

22  attempted evasion of payment of any such tax or for any

23  attempt to file false or misleading returns that are required

24  to be filed by the department.

25         (5)  All of the provisions of this chapter relating to

26  collection, investigation, discovery, and aids to collection

27  of taxes upon sales of tangible personal property shall

28  likewise apply to all privileges described or referred to in

29  this section, and the obligations imposed in this chapter upon

30  retailers are hereby imposed upon the seller of such

31  admissions. All penalties applicable to a dealer of tangible


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  1  personal property for failure to meet any such obligation,

  2  including, but not limited to, any failure related to the

  3  filing of returns, the payment of taxes, or the maintenance

  4  and production of records, are applicable to the seller of

  5  admissions. When tickets or admissions are sold and not used

  6  but returned and credited by the seller, the seller may apply

  7  to the department for a credit allowance for such returned

  8  tickets or admissions if advance payments have been made by

  9  the buyer and have been returned by the seller, upon such form

10  and in such manner as the department may from time to time

11  prescribe.  The department may, upon obtaining satisfactory

12  proof of the refunds on the part of the seller, credit the

13  seller for taxes paid upon admissions that have been returned

14  unused to the purchaser of those admissions. The seller of

15  admissions, upon the payment of the taxes before they become

16  delinquent and the rendering of the returns in accordance with

17  the requirement of the department and as provided in this law,

18  shall be entitled to a discount of 2.5 percent of the amount

19  of taxes upon the payment thereof before such taxes become

20  delinquent, in the same manner as permitted the sellers of

21  tangible personal property in this chapter.  However, if the

22  amount of the tax due and remitted to the department for the

23  reporting period exceeds $1,200, no discount shall be allowed

24  for all amounts in excess of $1,200.

25         Section 12.  Section 212.0602, Florida Statutes, is

26  amended to read:

27         212.0602  Education; limited exemption.--To facilitate

28  investment in education and job training, there is also exempt

29  from the taxes levied under this chapter, subject to the

30  provisions of this section, the purchase or lease of

31  materials, equipment, and other items or the license in or


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  1  lease of real property by any entity, institution, or

  2  organization that is primarily engaged in teaching students to

  3  perform any of the activities or services described in s.

  4  212.031(1)(a)9., that conducts classes at a fixed location

  5  located in this state, that is licensed under chapter 246, and

  6  that has at least 500 enrolled students.  Any entity,

  7  institution, or organization meeting the requirements of this

  8  section shall be deemed to qualify for the exemptions in ss.

  9  212.031(1)(a)9. and 212.08(5)(f) and (12), and to qualify for

10  an exemption for its purchase or lease of materials,

11  equipment, and other items used for education or demonstration

12  of the school's curriculum, including supporting operations.

13  Nothing in this section shall preclude an entity described in

14  this section from qualifying for any other exemption provided

15  for in this chapter.

16         Section 13.  Paragraph (ii) of subsection (7) and

17  subsection (10) of section 212.08, Florida Statutes, 1998

18  Supplement, are amended to read:

19         212.08  Sales, rental, use, consumption, distribution,

20  and storage tax; specified exemptions.--The sale at retail,

21  the rental, the use, the consumption, the distribution, and

22  the storage to be used or consumed in this state of the

23  following are hereby specifically exempt from the tax imposed

24  by this chapter.

25         (7)  MISCELLANEOUS EXEMPTIONS.--

26         (ii)  Certain electricity or steam uses.--

27         1.  Subject to the phase-in provisions in subparagraph

28  4., charges for electricity or steam used to operate machinery

29  and equipment at a fixed location in this state when such

30  machinery and equipment is used to manufacture, process,

31  compound, produce, or prepare for shipment items of tangible


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  1  personal property for sale, or to operate pollution control

  2  equipment, recycling equipment, maintenance equipment, or

  3  monitoring or control equipment used in such operations are

  4  exempt to the extent provided in this paragraph. If In order

  5  to qualify for this exemption, 75 percent or more of the

  6  electricity or steam used at the fixed location is must be

  7  used to operate qualifying machinery or equipment, 100 percent

  8  of the charges for electricity or steam used at the fixed

  9  location is exempt. If less than 75 percent but 50 percent or

10  more of the electricity or steam is used at the a fixed

11  location is used to operate qualifying machinery or equipment,

12  then it is presumed that 50 percent of the charges for

13  electricity or steam used at the fixed location is exempt

14  charge for electricity is for nonexempt purposes. If less than

15  50 percent of the electricity or steam used at the fixed

16  location is used to operate qualifying machinery and

17  equipment, none of the charges for electricity or steam used

18  at the fixed location is exempt.

19         2.  This exemption applies only to industries

20  classified under SIC Industry Major Group Numbers 10, 12, 13,

21  14, 20, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34,

22  35, 36, 37, 38, and 39. As used in this paragraph, "SIC" means

23  those classifications contained in the Standard Industrial

24  Classification Manual, 1987, as published by the Office of

25  Management and Budget, Executive Office of the President.

26         3.  Possession by a seller of a written certification

27  by the purchaser, certifying the purchaser's entitlement to an

28  exemption permitted by this subsection, relieves the seller

29  from the responsibility of collecting the tax on the

30  nontaxable amounts, and the department shall look solely to

31


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  1  the purchaser for recovery of such tax if it determines that

  2  the purchaser was not entitled to the exemption.

  3         4.  Such exemption shall be applied as follows:

  4         a.  Beginning July 1, 1996, 20 percent of the charges

  5  for such electricity shall be exempt.

  6         b.  Beginning July 1, 1997, 40 percent of the charges

  7  for such electricity shall be exempt.

  8         c.  Beginning July 1, 1998, 60 percent of the charges

  9  for such electricity or steam shall be exempt.

10         d.  Beginning July 1, 1999, 80 percent of the charges

11  for such electricity or steam shall be exempt.

12         e.  Beginning July 1, 2000, 100 percent of the charges

13  for such electricity or steam shall be exempt.

14         5.  Notwithstanding any other provision in this

15  paragraph to the contrary, in order to receive the exemption

16  provided in this paragraph a taxpayer must first register with

17  the WAGES Program Business Registry established by the local

18  WAGES coalition for the area in which the taxpayer is located.

19  Such registration establishes a commitment on the part of the

20  taxpayer to hire WAGES program participants to the maximum

21  extent possible consistent with the nature of their business.

22         6.a.  In order to determine whether the exemption

23  provided in this paragraph from the tax on charges for

24  electricity or steam has an effect on retaining or attracting

25  companies to this state, the Office of Program Policy Analysis

26  and Governmental Accountability shall periodically monitor and

27  report on the industries receiving the exemption.

28         b.  The first report shall be submitted no later than

29  January 1, 1997, and must be conducted in such a manner as to

30  specifically determine the number of companies within each SIC

31  Industry Major Group receiving the exemption as of September


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  1  1, 1996, and the number of individuals employed by companies

  2  within each SIC Industry Major Group receiving the exemption

  3  as of September 1, 1996.

  4         c.  The second report shall be submitted no later than

  5  January 1, 2001, and must be comprehensive in scope, but, at a

  6  minimum, must be conducted in such a manner as to specifically

  7  determine the number of companies within each SIC Industry

  8  Major Group receiving the exemption as of September 1, 2000,

  9  the number of individuals employed by companies within each

10  SIC Industry Major Group receiving the exemption as of

11  September 1, 2000, whether the change, if any, in such number

12  of companies or employees is attributable to the exemption

13  provided in this paragraph, whether it would be sound public

14  policy to continue or discontinue the exemption, and the

15  consequences of doing so.

16         d.  Both reports shall be submitted to the President of

17  the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the

18  Senate Minority Leader, and the House Minority Leader.

19

20  Exemptions provided to any entity by this subsection shall not

21  inure to any transaction otherwise taxable under this chapter

22  when payment is made by a representative or employee of such

23  entity by any means, including, but not limited to, cash,

24  check, or credit card even when that representative or

25  employee is subsequently reimbursed by such entity.

26         (10)  PARTIAL EXEMPTION; MOTOR VEHICLE SOLD TO RESIDENT

27  OF ANOTHER STATE.--The tax collected on the sale of a new or

28  used motor vehicle in this state to a resident of another

29  state shall be an amount equal to the sales tax which would be

30  imposed on such sale under the laws of the state of which the

31  purchaser is a resident, except that such tax shall not exceed


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  1  the tax that would otherwise be imposed under this chapter.

  2  At the time of the sale, the purchaser shall execute a

  3  notarized statement of his or her intent to license the

  4  vehicle in the state of which the purchaser is a resident

  5  within 45 10 days of the sale and of the fact of the payment

  6  to the State of Florida of a sales tax in an amount equivalent

  7  to the sales tax of his or her state of residence and shall

  8  submit the statement to the appropriate sales tax collection

  9  agency in his or her state of residence. Nothing in this

10  subsection shall be construed to require the removal of the

11  vehicle from this state following the filing of an intent to

12  license the vehicle in the purchaser's home state if the

13  purchaser licenses the vehicle in his or her home state within

14  45 days after the date of sale.

15         Section 14.  Effective January 1, 2000, paragraph (e)

16  of subsection (4) of section 212.11, Florida Statutes, 1998

17  Supplement, is amended to read:

18         212.11  Tax returns and regulations.--

19         (4)

20         (e)  The penalty provisions of this chapter, except s.

21  212.12(2)(e) s. 212.12(2)(c), apply to the provisions of this

22  subsection.

23         Section 15.  Effective January 1, 2000, subsection (2)

24  of section 212.12, Florida Statutes, 1998 Supplement, is

25  amended to read:

26         212.12  Dealer's credit for collecting tax; penalties

27  for noncompliance; powers of Department of Revenue in dealing

28  with delinquents; brackets applicable to taxable transactions;

29  records required.--

30         (2)(a)  When any person, firm, or corporation required

31  hereunder to make any return or to pay any tax or fee imposed


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  1  by this chapter fails to timely file such return or fails to

  2  pay the tax or fee due within the time required hereunder, in

  3  addition to all other penalties provided herein and by the

  4  laws of this state in respect to such taxes or fees, a

  5  specific penalty shall be added to the tax or fee in the

  6  amount of 10 percent of any unpaid tax or fee if the failure

  7  is for not more than 30 days, with an additional 10 percent of

  8  any unpaid tax or fee for each additional 30 days, or fraction

  9  thereof, during the time which the failure continues, not to

10  exceed a total penalty of 50 percent, in the aggregate, of any

11  unpaid tax or fee.  In no event may the penalty be less than

12  $10 for failure to timely file a tax return required by s.

13  212.11(1)(b) or $5 for failure to timely file a tax return

14  authorized by s. 212.11(1)(c) or (d).

15         (b)  Any person who knowingly and with a willful intent

16  to evade any tax imposed under this chapter fails to file six

17  consecutive returns as required by law commits a felony of the

18  third degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s.

19  775.083.

20         (c)  Any person who makes a false or fraudulent return

21  with a willful intent to evade payment of any tax or fee

22  imposed under this chapter is, in addition to the other

23  penalties provided by law, liable for a specific penalty of

24  100 percent of the tax bill or fee and for fine and punishment

25  as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084.

26         1.  If the total amount of unreported taxes or fees is

27  less than $300, the first offense is a misdemeanor of the

28  second degree, the second offense is a misdemeanor of the

29  first degree, and the third and each subsequent offense is a

30  felony of the third degree.

31


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  1         2.  If the total amount of unreported taxes or fees is

  2  at least $300 but less than $20,000, the offense is a felony

  3  of the third degree.

  4         3.  If the total amount of unreported taxes or fees is

  5  at least $20,000 but less than $100,000, the offense is a

  6  felony of the second degree.

  7         4.  If the total amount of unreported taxes or fees is

  8  $100,000 or more, the offense is a felony of the first degree.

  9  In the case of a false or fraudulent return or a willful

10  intent to evade payment of any tax or fee imposed under this

11  chapter, in addition to the other penalties provided by law,

12  the person making such false or fraudulent return or willfully

13  attempting to evade the payment of such a tax or fee shall be

14  liable for a specific penalty of 100 percent of the tax bill

15  or fee and for fine and punishment as provided by law for a

16  conviction of a misdemeanor of the first degree.

17         (d)(b)  When any person, firm, or corporation fails to

18  timely remit the proper estimated payment required under s.

19  212.11, a specific penalty shall be added in an amount equal

20  to 10 percent of any unpaid estimated tax. Beginning with

21  January 1, 1985, returns, The department, upon a showing of

22  reasonable cause, is authorized to waive or compromise

23  penalties imposed by this paragraph. However, other penalties

24  and interest shall be due and payable if the return on which

25  the estimated payment was due was not timely or properly

26  filed.

27         (e)(c)  Dealers filing a consolidated return pursuant

28  to s. 212.11(1)(e) s. 212.11(1)(d) shall be subject to the

29  penalty established in paragraph (b) unless the dealer has

30  paid the required estimated tax for his or her consolidated

31  return as a whole without regard to each location.  If the


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  1  dealer fails to pay the required estimated tax for his or her

  2  consolidated return as a whole, each filing location shall

  3  stand on its own with respect to calculating penalties

  4  pursuant to paragraph (b).

  5         Section 16.  Subsection (8) is added to section 213.27,

  6  Florida Statutes, to read:

  7         213.27  Contracts with debt collection agencies.--

  8         (8)(a)  The executive director of the department may

  9  enter into contracts with private vendors to develop and

10  implement systems for enhancing tax collections. The vendor's

11  compensation under such a contract must be funded through

12  increased tax collections. The amount of the compensation paid

13  to a vendor must be a percentage of the increase in the amount

14  of tax collected which is attributable to the system, after

15  all administrative and judicial appeals are exhausted, and the

16  total amount of compensation paid to a vendor may not exceed

17  the maximum amount stated in the contract.

18         (b)  A person acting on behalf of the department under

19  a contract authorized by this section does not exercise any of

20  the powers of the department, except that the person is an

21  agent of the department for the purposes of developing and

22  implementing a system for enhancing tax collections.

23         (c)  Disclosure of information under this subsection

24  must be governed by a written agreement between the executive

25  director and the private vendor. The vendor is bound by the

26  confidentiality requirements that apply to the Department of

27  Revenue. Breach of confidentiality is a misdemeanor of the

28  first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s.

29  775.083.

30         Section 17.  Subsection (1) of section 213.67, Florida

31  Statutes, 1998 Supplement, is amended to read:


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  1         213.67  Garnishment.--

  2         (1)  If a person is delinquent in the payment of any

  3  taxes, penalties, and interest owed to the department, the

  4  executive director or his or her designee may give notice of

  5  the amount of such delinquency by registered mail to all

  6  persons having in their possession or under their control any

  7  credits or personal property, exclusive of wages, belonging to

  8  the delinquent taxpayer, or owing any debts to such delinquent

  9  taxpayer at the time of receipt by them of such notice.

10  Thereafter, any person who has been notified may not transfer

11  or make any other disposition of such credits, other personal

12  property, or debts until the executive director or his or her

13  designee consents to a transfer or disposition or until 60

14  days after the receipt of such notice, except that the amount

15  by which the value of the credits, other personal property, or

16  debts, wherever held, exceeds the delinquent amount stipulated

17  in the notice is exempt from this section if the dealer does

18  not have a prior history of tax delinquencies. If during the

19  effective period of the notice to withhold, any person so

20  notified makes any transfer or disposition of the property or

21  debts required to be withheld hereunder, he or she is liable

22  to the state for any indebtedness owed to the department by

23  the person with respect to whose obligation the notice was

24  given to the extent of the value of the property or the amount

25  of the debts thus transferred or paid if, solely by reason of

26  such transfer or disposition, the state is unable to recover

27  the indebtedness of the person with respect to whose

28  obligation the notice was given. If the delinquent taxpayer

29  contests the intended levy in circuit court or under chapter

30  120, the notice under this section remains effective until

31  that final resolution of the contest. Any financial


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  1  institution receiving such notice will maintain a right of

  2  setoff for any transaction involving a debit card occurring on

  3  or before the date of receipt of such notice.

  4         Section 18.  Effective January 1, 2000, section

  5  213.757, Florida Statutes, is created to read:

  6         213.757  Willful failure to pay over funds or

  7  destruction of records by agent.--Any person who accepts from

  8  a taxpayer money that is due to the department, for the

  9  purpose of acting as the taxpayer's agent to make the payment

10  to the department, but who willfully fails to remit the

11  payment to the department when due, commits a felony of the

12  third degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s.

13  775.083, or s. 775.084. Any person who has possession as a

14  taxpayer's agent of the taxpayer's records that are required

15  to be maintained under the revenue laws of this state and who

16  intentionally destroys those records with the intent of

17  depriving the state of tax revenues commits a felony of the

18  third degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s.

19  775.083, or s. 775.084.

20         Section 19.  Paragraph (b) of subsection (1) of section

21  220.151, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:

22         220.151  Apportionment; methods for special

23  industries.--

24         (1)

25         (b)  If the principal source of premiums written by an

26  insurance company consists of premiums for reinsurance

27  accepted by it, the tax base of such company shall be

28  apportioned to this state by multiplying such base by a

29  fraction the numerator of which is the sum of:

30         1.  Direct premiums written for insurance upon

31  properties and risks in this state, plus


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  1         2.  Premiums written for reinsurance, accepted in

  2  respect to properties and risks in this state,

  3

  4  and the denominator of which is the sum of direct premiums

  5  written for insurance upon properties and risks everywhere

  6  plus premiums written for reinsurance accepted in respect to

  7  properties and risks everywhere.  For purposes of this

  8  paragraph, premiums written for reinsurance accepted in

  9  respect to properties and risks in this state, whether or not

10  otherwise determinable, shall may, at the election of the

11  company, either be determined on the basis of the proportion

12  which premiums written for reinsurance accepted from companies

13  resident in or having a regional home office in the state

14  bears to premiums written for reinsurance accepted from all

15  sources or, alternatively, on the basis of the proportion

16  which the sum of the direct premiums written for insurance

17  upon properties and risks in this state by each ceding company

18  from which reinsurance is accepted bears to the sum of the

19  total direct premiums written by each such ceding company for

20  the taxable year.

21         Section 20.  Section 220.21, Florida Statutes, is

22  amended to read:

23         220.21  Returns and records; regulations.--Every

24  taxpayer liable for the tax imposed by this code shall keep

25  such records, render such statements, make such returns and

26  notices, and comply with such rules and regulations, as the

27  department may from time to time prescribe.  The director may

28  require any taxpayer or class of taxpayers, by notice or by

29  regulation, to make such returns and notices, render such

30  statements, and keep such records as the director deems

31  necessary to determine whether such taxpayer or taxpayers are


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  1  liable for tax under this code. The department may prescribe

  2  standards for acceptance of electronic or telephonic returns;

  3  however, national standards for taxpayer authentication must

  4  be used in lieu of signature.

  5         Section 21.  Subsection (3) of section 220.221, Florida

  6  Statutes, is amended to read:

  7         220.221  Returns; signing and verification.--

  8         (3)  Each return or notice required to be filed under

  9  this code shall be verified by a written declaration that it

10  is made under the penalties of perjury, and if prepared by

11  someone other than the taxpayer the return shall also contain

12  a declaration by the preparer that it was prepared on the

13  basis of all information of which the preparer had knowledge.

14         Section 22.  Paragraphs (a) and (b) of subsection (2)

15  of section 220.222, Florida Statutes, 1998 Supplement, are

16  amended to read:

17         220.222  Returns; time and place for filing.--

18         (2)(a)  When a taxpayer has been granted an extension

19  or extensions of time within which to file its federal income

20  tax return for any taxable year, and if the requirements of s.

21  220.32 are met, the filing of a written request for such

22  extension or extensions with the department shall

23  automatically extend the due date of the return required under

24  this code until 15 days after the expiration of the federal

25  extension or until the expiration of 6 months from the

26  original due date, whichever first occurs.

27         (b)  The department may grant an extension or

28  extensions of time for the filing of any return required under

29  this code upon receiving a prior written request therefor if

30  good cause for an extension is shown.  However, the aggregate

31  extensions of time under paragraphs (a) and (b) shall not


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  1  exceed 6 months. No extension granted under this paragraph

  2  shall be valid unless the taxpayer complies with the

  3  requirements of s. 220.32.

  4         Section 23.  Section 166.235, Florida Statutes, is

  5  created to read:

  6         166.235  Procedure on purchaser's request for refund or

  7  credit.--

  8         (1)  A purchaser seeking a refund of or credit for

  9  public service taxes shall submit a written request therefor

10  to the seller within the time prescribed in s. 166.234(6) and

11  in accordance with this section. A request may not be granted

12  unless the amount claimed was collected from the purchaser and

13  was not due to any municipality.

14         (a)  The request must be signed by the purchaser and is

15  considered completed for purposes of this section and the

16  limitations period if it states the purchaser's name, mailing

17  address, and account number; the tax amounts claimed; the

18  specific months during which those amounts were collected; and

19  the reason for the purchaser's claim that such amounts were

20  not due to any municipality.  Upon receipt of a completed

21  request, the seller shall ascertain whether it collected the

22  tax claimed from the purchaser and whether the request is

23  timely.

24         (b)  Within 30 days following receipt of a completed

25  request, the seller shall determine whether lists available

26  pursuant to s. 166.233(3) support the purchaser's claim and

27  whether all or any portion of the tax timely claimed was not

28  due to any municipality and was collected solely as a result

29  of the seller's error.  The seller shall refund or credit the

30  purchaser's account for any such amount within 45 days

31  following its determination thereof.


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  1         (c)  With respect to all amounts timely claimed which

  2  the seller collected from the purchaser and which the seller

  3  has not determined to be subject to refund or credit pursuant

  4  to paragraph (b), the seller shall within 30 days following

  5  receipt of the completed request provide a copy thereof to

  6  each municipality to which the taxes claimed were remitted and

  7  to each municipality that has asserted in writing the right to

  8  impose the tax in a geographic area that includes the

  9  purchaser's billing address or service address, as the case

10  may be.  Within 30 days following receipt of such information,

11  each such municipality shall notify the seller in writing if

12  it approves the issuance of a refund or credit for all or a

13  specified portion of the purchaser's claim.  A municipality

14  shall approve the refund or credit except to the extent that

15  the tax was due to such municipality.  Within 45 days

16  following receipt of notifications establishing that all of

17  the municipalities receiving the request have approved a

18  refund or credit, the seller shall issue a refund or credit

19  the purchaser's account for the amount approved by all such

20  municipalities.  The seller's obligation to refund or credit

21  the purchaser's account is limited to amounts approved in

22  accordance with this section.  The seller is entitled to a

23  corresponding refund or credit from any municipality to which

24  the tax was remitted.

25         (d)  The seller shall issue a written response advising

26  the purchaser of the disposition of the purchaser's request.

27  The response shall specify any portion of the tax claimed that

28  is being refunded or credited to the purchaser's account and

29  the reason for denial of any portion of the request.  Reasons

30  for denial include untimely submission of the request, the

31  failure of the seller to collect the tax claimed, the absence


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  1  of municipal approval to issue a refund or credit, the

  2  previous receipt by the purchaser of a refund of or credit for

  3  the same tax, and the failure to provide information required

  4  to complete the request.  A copy of each notification received

  5  from a municipality pursuant to paragraph (c) must accompany

  6  the response.  If the seller submitted the request to a

  7  municipality but received no such notification, the response

  8  must so state.  With respect to any portion of the request

  9  that is granted, the response must be issued at the time of

10  refund or credit to the purchaser's account.  With respect to

11  any portion of the request which is denied, the response must

12  be issued within 90 days following receipt of the purchaser's

13  completed request.

14         (e)  The seller may deduct from any refund or credit

15  under this section any amount owed by the purchaser to the

16  seller which is delinquent.

17         (2)  This section provides the sole and exclusive

18  procedure and remedy for a purchaser who claims that a seller

19  has collected municipal public service taxes that were not

20  due.  An action arising as a result of the claimed collection

21  of municipal public service taxes that were not due may not be

22  commenced or maintained by or on behalf of a purchaser against

23  a seller or a municipality unless the purchaser pleads and

24  proves that the purchaser has exhausted the procedures in

25  subsection (1) and that the defendant has failed to comply

26  with that subsection; however, no determination of a seller

27  under paragraph (1)(b) shall be deemed to be a failure to

28  comply with subsection (1) if the seller has complied with

29  paragraphs (1)(c) and (d).  In any such action it is a

30  complete defense that the seller or municipality has refunded

31  the taxes claimed or has credited the purchaser's account


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  1  therewith; and in such an action against a seller it is a

  2  complete defense that the seller collected the tax in reliance

  3  upon written information provided by a municipality pursuant

  4  to s. 166.233(3) or supplementing such information.  Such an

  5  action must be commenced within 180 days following the

  6  purchaser's submission of a completed request, or it is

  7  barred.  The relief available to a purchaser as a result of

  8  collection of municipal public service taxes that were not due

  9  is limited to a refund of or credit for such taxes.

10         Section 24.  Section 166.235, Florida Statutes, as

11  created by this act, is remedial in nature, and applies to all

12  claims asserted by purchasers before, on, or after the

13  effective date of this act based upon the alleged collection

14  of municipal public service taxes that were not due, except

15  for claims that have been finally resolved by judgment,

16  settlement, or the issuance of refunds or credits before the

17  effective date of this act.  With respect to any claim that

18  was properly asserted before the effective date of this act

19  and that is the subject of pending litigation in a trial or

20  appellate court on or after the effective date of this act,

21  the court shall, upon motion, direct the parties to comply

22  with the procedures prescribed in section 166.235, Florida

23  Statutes, as created by this act, and allow such amendments of

24  the pleadings and enter such other orders as are appropriate

25  to dispose of the cause in a manner consistent with section

26  166.235, Florida Statutes, as created by this act.

27         Section 25.  Except as otherwise expressly provided in

28  this act, this act shall take effect July 1, 1999, except that

29  the amendments made by this act to sections 198.12, 198.13,

30  198.23, 198.26, 198.32, 198.33, and 198.39, Florida Statutes,

31  apply to taxes with respect to estates of decedents who have


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  1  passed away after December 31, 1999, and the law in effect

  2  before January 1, 2000, shall apply to estates of decedents

  3  who have passed away before such date.

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