19730-19738
REVENUE AND TAXATION CODE
SECTION 19730-19738
19730. The Franchise Tax Board shall administer a tax amnesty program for taxpayers subject to Part 10 (commencing with Section 17001) and Part 11 (commencing with Section 23001), as provided in this chapter. 19731. The tax amnesty program shall be conducted during a two-month period beginning February 1, 2005, and ending March 31, 2005, inclusive, or during a timeframe ending no later than June 30, 2005, pursuant to Section 19733. The program shall apply to tax liabilities for taxable years beginning before January 1, 2003. 19732. (a) For any taxpayer who meets each of the requirements of Section 19733 both of the following apply: (1) The Franchise Tax Board shall waive all unpaid penalties and fees imposed by this part for each taxable year for which tax amnesty is allowed, but only to the extent of the amount of any penalty or fee that is owed as a result of previous nonreporting or underreporting of tax liabilities or prior nonpayment of any taxes previously assessed or proposed to be assessed for that taxable year. (2) Except as provided in subdivision (b), no criminal action shall be brought against the taxpayer for the taxable years for which tax amnesty is allowed for the nonreporting or underreporting of tax liabilities or the nonpayment of any taxes previously assessed or proposed to be assessed. (b) This chapter shall not apply to violations of this part, for which, as of February 1, 2005, any of the following applies: (1) The taxpayer is on notice of a criminal investigation by a complaint having been filed against the taxpayer. (2) The taxpayer is under criminal investigation. (3) A court proceeding has already been initiated. (c) This section shall not apply to any nonreported or underreported tax liability amounts attributable to tax shelter items that could have been reported under either the voluntary compliance initiative under Chapter 9.5 (commencing with Section 19751) or the Internal Revenue Service's Offshore Voluntary Compliance Initiative described in Revenue Procedure 2003-11. (d) No refund or credit shall be granted with respect to any penalty or fee paid with respect to a taxable year prior to the time the taxpayer makes a request for tax amnesty for that taxable year pursuant to Section 19733. (e) Notwithstanding Chapter 6 (commencing with Section 19301), a taxpayer may not file a claim for refund or credit for any amounts paid in connection with the tax amnesty program under this chapter. 19733. (a) This chapter shall apply to any taxpayer who satisfiesall of the following requirements: (1) During the tax amnesty program period specified in Section 19731, is eligible to participate in the tax amnesty program. (2) During the tax amnesty program period specified in Section 19731, files a completed amnesty application with the Franchise Tax Board, signed under penalty of perjury, electing to participate in the tax amnesty program. (3) Within 60 days after the conclusion of the tax amnesty period, does the following: (A) (i) For any taxable year eligible for the tax amnesty program where the taxpayer has not filed any required return, files a completed original tax return for that year, or (ii) For any taxable year eligible for the tax amnesty program where the taxpayer filed a return but underreported tax liability on that return, files an amended return for that year. (B) Pays in full any taxes and interest due for each taxable year described in clauses (i) and (ii) of subparagraph (A), as applicable, for which amnesty is requested, or applies for an installment payment agreement under subdivision (b). For taxpayers who have not paid in full any taxes previously proposed to be assessed, pays in full the taxes and interest due for that portion of the proposed assessment for each taxable year for which amnesty is requested or applies for an installment payment agreement under subdivision (b). (4) For purposes of complying with the full payment provisions of paragraph (3) of subdivision (a), if the full amount due is paid within the period set forth in paragraph (3) of subdivision (c) of Section 19101 after the date the Franchise Tax Board mails a notice resulting from the filing of an amnesty application or the full amount is paid within 60 days after the conclusion of the tax amnesty period, the full amount due shall be treated as paid during the amnesty period. (5) In the case of any taxpayer that has filed for bankruptcy protection under Title 11 of the United States Code, submits an order from a Federal Bankruptcy Court allowing the taxpayer to participate in the amnesty program. (b) (1) For purposes of complying with the full payment provisions of subparagraph (B) of paragraph (3) of subdivision (a), the Franchise Tax Board may enter into an installment payment agreement, but only if final payment under the terms of that installment payment agreement is due and is paid no later than June 30, 2006. (2) Any installment payment agreement authorized by this subdivision shall include interest on the outstanding amount due at the rate prescribed in Section 19521. (3) Failure by the taxpayer to fully comply with the terms of an installment payment agreement under this subdivision shall render the waiver of penalties and fees under Section 19732 null and void, unless the Franchise Tax Board determines that the failure was due to reasonable cause and not due to willful neglect. (4) In the case of any failure described under paragraph (3), the total amount of tax, interest, fees, and all penalties shall become immediately due and payable. (c) (1) The application required under paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) shall be in the form and manner specified by the Franchise Tax Board, but in no case shall a mere payment of any taxes and interest due, in whole or in part, for any taxable year otherwise eligible for amnesty under this part, be deemed to constitute an acceptable amnesty application under this part. For purposes of the prior sentence, the application of a refund from one taxable year to offset a tax liability from another taxable year otherwise eligible for amnesty shall not, without the filing of an amnesty application, be deemed to constitute an acceptable amnesty application under this part. (2) The Legislature specifically intends that the Franchise Tax Board, in administering the amnesty application requirement under this part, make the amnesty application process as streamlined as possible to ensure participation in the amnesty program will be available to as many taxpayers as possible without otherwise compromising the Franchise Tax Board's ability to enforce and collect the taxes imposed under Part 10 (commencing with Section 17001) and Part 11 (commencing with Section 23001). (d) Upon the conclusion of the tax amnesty program period, the Franchise Tax Board may propose a deficiency upon any return filed pursuant to subparagraph (A) of paragraph (3) of subdivision (a), impose penalties and fees, or initiate criminal action under this part with respect to the difference between the amount shown on that return and the correct amount of tax. This action shall not invalidate any waivers previously granted under Section 19732. (e) All revenues derived pursuant to subdivision (c) shall be subject to Sections 19602 and 19604. 19734. Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, if any overpayment of tax shown on an original or amended return filed under this article is refunded or credited within 180 days after the return is filed, no interest shall be allowed under Section 19340 on that overpayment. 19735. (a) The Franchise Tax Board may issue forms, instructions, notices, rules, or guidelines, and take any other necessary actions, needed to implement this chapter, specifically including any forms, instructions, notices, rules, or guidelines that specify the form and manner of any acceptable form of amnesty application described in Section 19733. (b) Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code does not apply to any standard, criterion, procedure, determination, rule, notice, or guideline established or issued by the Franchise Tax Board pursuant to this chapter. 19736. (a) The Franchise Tax Board shall conduct a public outreach program and adequately publicize the tax amnesty program so as to maximize public awareness and to make taxpayers aware of the program. In addition, the Franchise Tax Board shall make taxpayers aware of the new and increased penalties associated with taxpayer failure to participate in the tax amnesty program. (b) The Franchise Tax Board shall make reasonable efforts to identify taxpayer liabilities and, to the extent practicable, will send written notice to taxpayers of their eligibility for the tax amnesty program. However, failure of the Franchise Tax Board to notify a taxpayer of the existence or correct amount of a tax liability eligible for amnesty shall not preclude the taxpayer from participating in the tax amnesty program, nor shall such failure be grounds for abating the penalty imposed under Section 19777.5. 19738. Any taxpayer who has an existing installment payment agreement under Section 19008 as of the start of the amnesty program, and who does not participate in the amnesty program, may not be subject to the penalty imposed under Section 19777.5 with respect to amounts payable under that agreement.