RS 22:833 Authorization of local taxes; penalties for nonpayment
§833. Authorization of local taxes; penalties for nonpayment
A. Any municipal or parochial corporation in the state shall have the right to impose a tax on any insurer engaged in the business of issuing any form of insurance policy or contract, which may now or hereafter be subject to the payment of any tax for state purposes, as provided in this Part, as follows:
(1) On any insurer engaged in the business of issuing life or accident or health insurance policies, other than programs of benefits authorized or provided pursuant to the provisions of Parts I and II of Chapter 12 of Title 42 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950, or other forms of contracts or obligations covering such risks, or issuing endowment or annuity policies, or contracts, or other similar forms of contract obligations in consideration of the payment of a premium or other consideration for the issuance of such policies, contracts, or obligations, whether such insurer is operating in this state through an agent or other representative or otherwise, not more than ten dollars on gross annual premiums up to two thousand dollars, and the additional tax thereafter shall not be more than seventy dollars on each ten thousand dollars, or fraction thereof, of gross annual premiums in excess of two thousand dollars. However, the maximum tax on such businesses, payable to such municipal or parochial corporation by any one insurer, shall not exceed twenty-one thousand dollars.
(2) On any insurer, engaged in the business of issuing policies, contracts, or other forms of obligations covering the risk of fire, marine, transportation, surety, fidelity, indemnity, guaranty, worker's compensation, employers' liability, property damage, livestock, vehicle, automatic sprinkler, burglary, or insurance business of any other kind whatsoever in this state, whether such insurer is operating in this state through producers or other representatives or otherwise, not more than the following:
(a) 1st Class: When the gross receipts are not more than two thousand dollars, the tax shall not exceed forty dollars;
(b) 2nd Class: When the gross receipts are more than two thousand dollars, and not more than four thousand dollars, the tax shall not exceed sixty dollars;
(c) 3rd Class: When the gross receipts are more than four thousand dollars, and not more than six thousand dollars, the tax shall not exceed eighty dollars;
(d) 4th Class: When the gross receipts exceed six thousand dollars, the additional tax thereafter shall not be more than seventy dollars for each ten thousand dollars, or fraction thereof, in excess of six thousand dollars.
B. The maximum tax on such businesses, payable to such municipality or parochial corporation by any insurer, shall not exceed nine thousand dollars. Provided, that:
(1) Plate glass and steam boiler inspection insurers shall pay only one-third of the above rates provided in Paragraph (A)(2) of this Section.
(2) The amount of tax payable to any municipal or parochial corporation as fixed in this Section shall be one-third of the amount so fixed if the payer shall file a sworn statement with the annual report required by this Part, showing that at least one-sixth of the total admitted assets of the payer, are invested and maintained in qualifying Louisiana investments as defined in R.S. 22:832(C).
(3) The total tax payable by an insurer to a parish shall be calculated on the total direct premiums written by such insurer for risks located within unincorporated areas of such parish. The total tax payable by an insurer to a municipality shall be calculated on the total direct premiums written by such insurer for risks located within such municipality. Such premiums shall not be subject to taxation by both the parish and the municipality. Such premiums shall not be subject to taxation by more than one parish or municipality.
C.(1) In case of any failure to make a report or to make payment of tax as required by this Section, before June first of any year in which it is due, a penalty of five percent per month shall be added to the amount of tax due and payable to the municipal or parochial corporation along with the tax due. The municipal or parochial corporation may waive the payment of the penalty if it finds that failure to pay was due to some unforeseen or unavoidable reason, other than mere neglect.
(2) The amount of any monetary penalty assessed pursuant to this Section shall not be greater than twenty-five percent of the total amount of the tax due.
(3) When a payment is more than six months delinquent, the municipal or parochial corporation may send a written recommendation to the commissioner of insurance requesting the commissioner to revoke the authority of the delinquent taxpayer and all of the taxpayer's agents to do business in this state. Upon receiving such a recommendation and finding that the local tax assessment is correct and the insurer was duly notified of the assessment after the payment thereof is delinquent, the commissioner, after due notice to all affected parties, may revoke the authority of the taxpayer and all the taxpayer's agents to do business in this state.
D. An aggrieved party affected by the commissioner's decision, act, or order may demand a hearing in accordance with Chapter 12 of this Title, R.S. 22:2191 et seq.
Acts 1958, No. 125. Acts 1983, 1st Ex.Sess., No. 1, §6; Acts 1989, No. 405, §1; Acts 1990, No. 863, §1, eff. July 25, 1990; Acts 1992, No. 89, §1; Acts 2001, No. 799, §1, eff. June 26, 2001; Redesignated from R.S. 22:1076 by Acts 2008, No. 415, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2009; Acts 2009, No. 317, §1; Acts 2009, No. 503, §1.