§ 26-62-211 - Entry slips -- Tax on out-of-state motor vehicle use -- Penalties.

26-62-211. Entry slips -- Tax on out-of-state motor vehicle use -- Penalties.

(a) Any unlicensed alternative fuels user, unless exempt from the tax levied herein, operating an out-of-state motor vehicle, upon entering the State of Arkansas, at the point of entry shall secure a copy of an entry slip from the Director of the Department of Finance and Administration or his or her authorized agent or employee.

(b) The entry slip shall be signed by the director or his or her authorized agent or employee, and the entry slip shall also be signed by the driver of the vehicle.

(c) The entry slip shall contain the following information:

(1) Name and address of the owner or the operator of the vehicle;

(2) State of registration;

(3) License number;

(4) Odometer reading;

(5) Destination and point of leaving state; and

(6) Description of vehicle.

(d) The entry slip shall remain in the vehicle for the remainder of the trip over the highways of this state and shall be produced for the inspection of the director or his or her authorized employee or representative, at any point within the state and shall also be produced at the port of exit to the director or his or her authorized agent or employee, for determination of any alternative fuels taxes due the state.

(e) For the purpose of determining the amount the interstate user owes the State of Arkansas for tax on alternative fuels used in this state as provided in this section, the number of equivalent gallons of alternative fuels used in this state shall be determined by an assessment based on the mileage factors per equivalent gallon of alternative fuels set out in 26-62-209(f) compared to the appropriate class of vehicle set out in 26-62-209(f).

(f) The alternative fuels tax levied by this chapter shall be paid upon all such fuels used to propel out-of-state motor vehicles upon the highways of this state.

(g) The tax shall be paid by the owner or operator of the motor vehicle in either of the following ways, at the option of the owner or operator:

(1) (A) By the purchase of a sufficient amount or quantity, as determined above, of alternative fuels from an alternative fuels supplier within the State of Arkansas to propel the vehicle the number of miles which the vehicle travels upon the highways of this state.

(B) At the time of the purchase of the fuels, the owner or operator of such vehicle shall obtain from the alternative fuels supplier from whom purchased an invoice or sales ticket, on forms approved by the director, which shall contain the:

(i) Name and address of the seller of the alternative fuels;

(ii) Name and address of the purchaser;

(iii) Date of purchase; and

(iv) Amount or quantity and type of alternative fuels purchased.

(C) The invoice or sales ticket shall remain in the vehicle for the remainder of the trip over the highways of this state. The invoice or sales ticket shall be preserved and retained by the owner or operator for a period of not less than three (3) years and shall be produced for the inspection and examination of the director or his or her authorized agent or employee, at any reasonable time and place, either within or without this state, upon proper demand therefor;

(2) (A) By the payment to the director or to his or her agent, representative, or employee of the amount of tax which would be due upon a sufficient quantity, as determined above, of alternative fuels to propel the vehicle over the highways of this state.

(B) At the time of payment of the tax, the director or his or her employee or representative shall issue to the person paying the tax a receipt showing:

(i) The amount of tax paid;

(ii) The name and address of the owner or operator of the vehicle;

(iii) A description of the vehicle, including license number and state of registration;

(iv) The point at which the vehicle entered upon the highways of this state;

(v) The destination and the place where the vehicle is to leave the highways of this state; and

(vi) Any other information which the director may require,

which receipt shall be signed by the director or his or her agent or representative.

(C) The receipt shall remain in the vehicle for the remainder of the trip over the highways of this state and thereafter shall be preserved and retained by the owner or operator for a period of not less than three (3) years and shall be produced for the inspection of the director or his or her authorized agent or representative, at any reasonable time and place, either within or without this state, upon proper demand.

(h) (1) If a person who has not obtained an alternative fuels license from this state, and who is nevertheless determined an alternative fuels user, leaves the State of Arkansas by a state highway or other road not equipped with a permanent port of entry or exit and has not paid the alternative fuels tax or has not purchased tax-paid alternative fuels from a licensed alternative fuels supplier in an amount equal to the number of equivalent gallons used upon the highways of the State of Arkansas, the person shall be liable for the payment of the tax due as determined above together with the penalties as set out in 26-62-105.

(2) If an unlicensed alternative fuels user is within one (1) mile of the state line on the way out of the state and does not have in his or her possession a form issued by a licensed alternative fuels supplier showing the number of equivalent gallons purchased equal to the amount used in traveling upon the highways of the State of Arkansas, it shall be prima facie evidence of his or her failure to comply with the requirements of this chapter, and he or she shall be liable for the payment of the tax due, plus the fine as set out in 26-62-106.

(3) In the event an unlicensed alternative fuels user enters the State of Arkansas via a state highway not equipped with a permanent port of entry, and the driver of the vehicle does not receive an entry form, then the burden of proof of the point of entry and time of entry for the purpose of determining the miles traveled and the tax due shall be upon the driver or owner of the vehicle.