South Carolina General Assembly
115th Session, 2003-2004

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Bill 3065

Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter


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AS PASSED BY THE SENATE

June 2, 2004

H. 3065

Introduced by Rep. Kirsh

S. Printed 6/2/04--S.

Read the first time April 15, 2003.

            

A BILL

TO AMEND TITLE 12, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING CHAPTER 55 ENACTING THE "OVERDUE TAX DEBT COLLECTION ACT" AUTHORIZING THE SOUTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE TO IMPOSE A COLLECTION ASSISTANCE FEE ON CERTAIN OVERDUE TAX DEBTS EQUAL TO TWENTY PERCENT OF THE OVERDUE AMOUNT AND TO ALLOW THE DEPARTMENT TO RETAIN A PORTION OF THE COLLECTION ASSISTANCE FEE FOR ITS OPERATION.

Amend Title To Conform

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

SECTION    1.    A.        Section 4-29-67(D)(2)(b) of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 69 of 2003, is further amended to read:

"(b)    for an investment exceeding one hundred million dollars an annual payment based on an alternative arrangement yielding a net present value of the sum of the fees for the life of the agreement not less than the net present value of the fee schedule as calculated pursuant to subsection (D)(2)(a). Net present value calculations performed pursuant to this subsection must use a discount rate equivalent to the yield in effect for new or existing United States Treasury bonds of similar maturity as published during the month in which the inducement agreement is executed. If no yield is available for the month in which the inducement agreement is executed, the last published yield for the appropriate maturity must be used. If there are no bonds of appropriate maturity available, bonds of different maturities may be averaged to obtain the appropriate maturity; or."

B.        Section 4-29-67(F)(2)(b) of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 69 of 2003, is further amended to read:

"(b)    the new replacement property that qualifies for the fee provided in subsection (D)(2) is recorded using its income tax basis, and the fee is calculated using the millage rate and assessment ratio provided on the original fee property. The fee payment for replacement property must be based on subsection (D)(2)(a) or (c) if the investor sponsor originally used that method, without regard to present value."

C.     Notwithstanding the general effective date of this act, this section takes effect upon approval of this act by the Governor, and except where otherwise specifically provided, applies for fee agreements entered into after September 30, 2004.

SECTION    2.    A.        Section 12-6-2220(2) of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"(2)    Dividends received from corporate stocks owned not connected with the taxpayer's business, less all related expenses, are allocated to the state of the corporation's principal place of business as defined in Section 12-6-30(9) or the domicile of an individual taxpayer."

B.     Section 12-6-2220(2) of the 1976 Code, as amended by this section, applies for taxable years beginning after 2003.

SECTION    3.    A.     Section 12-6-3365(A) of the 1976 Code, as amended by Act 69 of 2003, is further amended to read:

"(A)     A taxpayer creating and maintaining at least one hundred full-time new jobs, as defined in Section 12-6-3360(M), at a facility of a type identified in Section 12-6-3360(M) may petition, utilizing the procedure in Section 12-6-2320(B), for a moratorium on state corporate income or insurance premium taxes imposed pursuant to Section 12-6-530 or insurance premium taxes imposed pursuant to Title 38 for the ten taxable years beginning the first full taxable year after the taxpayer qualifies and ending either ten years from that year or the year when the taxpayer's number of full-time new jobs falls below one hundred, whichever is earlier. For purposes of insurance premium taxes, the petition pursuant to Section 12-6-2320(B) must be made to and approved by the director of the Department of Insurance."

B.     The amendment to Section 12-6-3365 of the 1976 Code in this section does not affect its repeal as provided in Section 3 of Act 277 of 2000.

SECTION    4.    A.    Section 12-6-3480 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"Section 12-6-3480.    (A)    Notwithstanding any other provision of law:

(1)    Any credits under Title 38 may be applied against any taxes imposed under this chapter or license fees imposed under Chapter 20 of this title.

(2)    Any credits under this chapter or Chapter 14 of this title which are earned by one member of a controlled group of corporations a corporation included in a consolidated corporate income tax return under Section 12-6-5020 may must be used and applied against the consolidated tax, unless otherwise specifically provided by that member and by any other members of the controlled group of corporations.

(3)    Any limitations upon the total amount of liability for taxes or license fees that can be reduced by the use of a credit must be computed one credit at a time before any other another credit is used to reduce any remaining tax or license fee liability under this chapter or Chapter 20 of this title. Subject to item (4), The taxpayer may apply any credits arising under this chapter or Chapter 14 of this title in any order the taxpayer elects, and may apply a credit that is allowed for use against both taxes and license fees in any order, unless otherwise specifically provided, and against either one or both taxes and license fees in any given year, subject to specific limitations in the applicable credit statute and this item.

(4)    No credit amount may be used more than once, and all credits must be used, to the extent possible in any given year, first by the company that earned them, and second against the tax which generated them. Unless otherwise provided by law, a tax credit administered by the department must be used to the extent possible in the year it is generated and cannot be refunded.

(5)    As used in this section:,

(a)    the term "controlled group of corporations" has the same meaning as provided under Section 1563 of the Internal Revenue Code without regard to Section 1563(a)(4), (b)(2)(A), only with respect to corporations which are in existence for less than one-half the number of days in the tax year referred to therein, and (b)(2)(C) and (D);

(b)    the term 'tax credit' or 'credit' means a statutorily directed or authorized reduction in the tax liability made after any applicable tax rates are applied."

B.     Section 12-6-3480 of the 1976 Code, as amended by this section, applies for taxable years beginning after 2003.

SECTION    5.    A.     Section 12-6-5020(F) of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"(F)    If a corporation which files or is required to file a consolidated return is entitled to one or more income tax credits, including the carryover of unused credits from prior years, the income tax credits may must be determined on a consolidated basis. Limitations on credits which refer to the income or the income tax liability of a corporation are deemed to refer to the income or income tax liability of the consolidated group, and credits shall reduce the consolidated group's tax liability regardless of whether or not the corporation entitled to the credit contributed to the tax liability or of the consolidated group."

B.     Section 12-6-5020(F), as amended by this section, applies for taxable years beginning after 2003.

SECTION    6.    A.    Section 12-6-5030 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"Section 12-6-5030.    (A)    A partnership or 'S' Corporation may file a composite individual income tax return on behalf of the nonresident partners or shareholders that are individuals, or trusts, and or estates in which the income is taxed to the trust or estate, or the department may require that a partnership or 'S' Corporation file a composite individual income tax return on behalf of the nonresident partners or shareholders that are individuals, or trusts and estates in which the income is taxed to the trust or estate, provided that a nonresident partner or 'S' Corporation shareholder having taxable income within the jurisdiction of this State from sources other than the partnership or 'S' Corporation may not file as part of the composite return.

(B)(1)    A composite return is one which combines the separate South Carolina tax liabilities of the nonresident partners or shareholders and a single return for two or more taxpayers having the same tax year in which each participant's share of the partnerships or 'S' Corporation's taxable income or loss is separately computed and added together to arrive at the total tax due on the composite return. The partnership or 'S' Corporation may elect to determine each participant's tax due by one of the following methods:

(a)    compute the pro rata share of the standard deduction or itemized deductions, and personal exemption amount for each participant pursuant to Section 12-6-1720(2) in the same manner as if it was being separately reported; or

(b)    compute each participant's share of South Carolina income without regard to any deductions or exemptions.

(2)    The composite return is signed by a general partner or an authorized officer of the 'S' Corporation.

(C)    If there is not sufficient information to determine the separate liability or the state of residence, then no deduction is allowed for personal exemptions, individual itemized deductions, or standard deductions.

(D)(1)    A composite return may be filed even if some of the nonresident fiduciary and individual shareholders and partners eligible to participate in filing a composite return choose not to participate. Corporate taxpayers may not participate in a composite return.

(2)    A nonresident participating in the composite return that has South Carolina income from sources other than the entity filing the composite return is required to file appropriate returns and make payment of all South Carolina taxes required by law. Taxes paid for the nonresident with the composite return shall reduce taxes due at the time the nonresident subject to this subitem files a separate return for the tax year reporting South Carolina income from all sources. The entity shall furnish to each nonresident a written statement as required by Section 12-8-1540(A) as proof of the amount that has been paid by the partnership or 'S' corporation as estimated payments for the nonresident and the amount paid for the nonresident with the composite return.

(E)(D)    The department may establish procedures or promulgate rules and promulgate regulations necessary to carry out the provisions of this section."

B.     Section 12-6-5030 of the 1976 Code, as amended by this section, applies for taxable years beginning after 2003.

SECTION    7.    A.        Section 12-8-1520(A)(2) of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"(2)    If a resident withholding agent is required under the Internal Revenue Code to deposit withheld funds at a financial institution, then the withholding agent shall deposit the funds required to be withheld under this chapter at a financial institution selected by the State Treasurer, unless otherwise instructed by the department."

B.     Section 12-8-1520 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding at the end:

"(D)     Any withholding agent making at least twenty-four payments in a year must do so as provided in Section 12-54-250."

C.     Section 12-8-1520(A)(2) of the 1976 Code, as amended in subsection A of this section, takes effect July 1, 2004. The amendment to Section 12-8-1520 in the 1976 Code in subsection (B) of this section applies for payments due after January 1, 2005.

SECTION    8.    Section 12-10-105 of the 1976 Code, as added by Act 334 of 2002, is amended to read:

Section 12-10-105.    In addition to the application fee provided in Section 12-10-100, an additional annual fee of one thousand dollars must be remitted by those qualifying businesses receiving claiming in excess of ten thousand dollars of job development credits or in excess of ten thousand dollars in job retraining credits in one calendar year . to the department The fee is due for each project that is subject to a revitalization or retraining agreement that exceeds ten thousand dollars in one calendar year and must be remitted to the Department of Revenue to be used to reimburse the department of Revenue for costs incurred auditing reports required pursuant to Section 12-10-80(A). The fee becomes due at the time the single project's claims for job development credits or job retraining credits exceeds ten thousand dollars for that calendar year.

SECTION    9.    A.    Subsections (B)(1) and (C) of Section 12-20-105 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 69 of 2003, are further amended to read:

"(1)    To be considered an eligible project for purposes of this section, the project must qualify for income tax credits under Chapter 6 of Title 12, withholding tax credit under Chapter 10 of Title 12, income tax credits under Chapter 14 of Title 12, or fees in lieu of property taxes under either Chapter 12 of Title 4, Chapter 29 of Title 4, Chapter 37 of Title 12, or Chapter 44 of Title 12.

(C)    For the purpose of this section, 'infrastructure' means improvements for water, sewer, gas, steam, electric energy, and communication services made to a building or land that are considered necessary, suitable, or useful to an eligible project. These improvements include, but are not limited to:

(1)    improvements to both public or private water and sewer systems;

(2)    improvements to both public or private electric, natural gas, and telecommunications systems including, but not limited to, ones owned or leased by an electric cooperative, electric utility, or electric supplier, as defined in Chapter 27, Title 58;

(3)    fixed transportation facilities including highway, road, rail, water, and air;

(4)    for a qualifying project under subsection (B)(2), infrastructure improvements include industrial shell buildings and the purchase of land for an office, business, commercial, or industrial park which is owned or constructed by a county or political subdivision of this State."

B.     Subsections (B)(1) and (C) of Section 12-20-105 of the 1976 Code, as amended by this section, apply for taxable years beginning after 2003.

SECTION    10.    Section 12-28-740(3)(b) of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"(b)    by application for a refund or credit against its liabilities otherwise arising under this chapter, if the purchase is charged to a credit card issued to an eligible government entity, the issuer of the card elects to be the ultimate vendor, and the federal agency is billed without the user fee;"

SECTION    11.    Article 13, Chapter 28, Title 28 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 12-28-1400.    (A)    All information required to be reported in this chapter must be used in the tracking of petroleum products and must be submitted in the manner prescribed by the department by regulation. The regulation must include, but not be limited to, the data elements, the format of the data elements, and the method and medium of transmission to the department.

(B)    A person liable for reporting under this chapter who fails to meet the requirements of this section within three months after notification of the failure by the department, in addition to all other penalties prescribed by this chapter, is subject to an additional penalty of five thousand dollars for each month the failure continues."

SECTION    12.    Subsections (C) and (F) of Section 12-28-1730 of the 1976 Code are amended to read:

"(C)    Reserved.    The department shall impose a civil penalty on the operator of a vehicle of two hundred dollars for the initial occurrence in each calendar year of a violation of the prohibition of use of dyed motor fuel subject to the user fee on the public highways of this State. Each subsequent offense in a calendar year is subject to a civil penalty of five thousand dollars.

(F)    The department shall impose a civil penalty in an amount equivalent to that imposed by Section 6715 of the Internal Revenue Code on the operator of a vehicle who knowingly violates the prohibition on the sale or use of dyed fuel upon public highways of this State. The department shall impose a civil penalty in the amount of one thousand dollars or ten dollars for each gallon of dyed fuel involved, whichever is greater, on the operator of a vehicle that is used on the highways of this State, or is authorized or otherwise allowed to be used on the highways of this State, and who uses dyed fuel for the propulsion of that vehicle or who stores dyed fuel to be used for the propulsion of a vehicle on the highways of this State, regardless of whether any of such dyed fuel is used for a nontaxable purpose, unless permitted to do so under federal law.

For purposes of this section, the operator is the person responsible for the management and operation of the vehicle, whether as owner, lessee, or other party."

SECTION    13.    A.        Section 12-36-2510 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"Section 12-36-2510.    (A)(1)    Notwithstanding other provisions of this chapter, when, in the opinion of the department, the nature of a taxpayers business renders it impracticable for the taxpayer to account for the sales or use taxes, as imposed by this chapter, at the time of purchase, the department may issue its certificate to the taxpayer authorizing the purchase at wholesale and the taxpayer is liable for the taxes imposed by this chapter with respect to the gross proceeds of sale, or sales price, of the property withdrawn, used or consumed by the taxpayer within this State. at its discretion, may issue or authorize for the efficient administration of the sales and use tax law any type of certificate allowing a taxpayer to purchase tangible personal property tax free and be liable for any taxes.

(2)    In addition to any other type of certificate the department considers necessary to issue, the department may issue at its discretion:

(a)    Direct Pay Certificate: a direct pay certificate allows its holder to make all purchases tax free and to report and pay directly to the department any taxes due. The holder of a direct pay certificate is liable for any taxes due. If an exemption or exclusion is not applicable, the tax is due upon the withdrawal, use, or consumption of the tangible personal property purchased with the certificate.

(b)    Exemption Certificate: an exemption certificate, as opposed to allowing its holder to make all purchases tax free, allows its holder to make only certain purchases tax free such as machinery, electricity, or raw materials. The holder of an exemption certificate is liable for any taxes due. If an exemption or exclusion is not applicable, the tax is due upon purchase, or upon the withdrawal, use, or consumption of the tangible personal property purchased with the certificate if the application of the exemption or exclusion cannot be determined at the time of purchase.

(B)    To reduce the complexity and administrative burden of transactions exempt from sales or use tax, the following provisions must be followed when a purchaser claims an exemption by use of an exemption certificate:

(1)    the seller shall obtain at the time of the purchase any information determined necessary by the department, including the reason the purchaser is claiming a tax exemption or exclusion;

(2)    the department, at its discretion, may utilize a system where the purchaser exempt from the payment of the tax is issued an identification number which must be presented to the seller at the time of the sale;

(3)    the seller shall maintain proper records of exempt or excluded transactions and provide them to the department when requested and in the form requested by the department.

(C)    A seller that complies with the provisions of this section is relieved from any tax otherwise applicable if it is determined that the purchaser improperly claimed an exemption or exclusion by use of a certificate, provided the seller fraudulently did not fail to collect or remit the tax, or both, or solicit a purchaser to participate in an unlawful claim of an exemption. The liability for any tax shifts to the purchaser who improperly claimed the exemption or exclusion by use of the certificate."

B.     This section takes effect October 1, 2004.

SECTION    14.    Section 12-37-290 of the 1976 Code is repealed.

SECTION    15.    A.    Section 12-44-50(A)(3) of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 69 of 2003, is further amended to read:

"(3)    If the project subject to the fee agreement involves an investment of at least forty-five one hundred million dollars, the county and the sponsor may agree to pay the fees established in subsection (A)(1) based on an alternative payment method yielding a net present value of the fee schedule as calculated in subsection (A)(1) provided the sponsor agrees to a millage rate as established in subsection (A)(1)(b)(i). Net present value calculations must use a discount rate equivalent to the yield in effect for new or existing United States Treasury bonds of similar maturity as published during the month in which the fee agreement is executed. If no yield is available for the month in which the fee agreement is executed, the last published yield for the appropriate maturity available must be used. If there are no bonds of appropriate maturity available, bonds of different maturities may be averaged to obtain the appropriate maturity."

B.     Notwithstanding the general effective date of this act, this section takes effect upon approval of this act by the Governor and except where otherwise specifically provided, applies for fee agreements entered into after September 30, 2004.

SECTION    16.    A.    Subsections (a) and (b) of Section 12-54-42 of the 1976 Code are amended to read:

"(a)    An employer A person who fails to comply with the provisions of Section 12-8-1540, requiring the furnishing of a withholding statement to employees is subject to a penalty of not less than one hundred dollars nor more than one thousand dollars for each violation.

(b)    An employer A person who fails to comply with the provisions of Section 12-8-540(A)(1), requiring the filing of withholding statements with the department is subject to a penalty of not less than one hundred dollars nor more than two thousand dollars for each violation."

B.     This section takes effect July 1, 2004.

SECTION    17.    A.        Section 12-54-43(I) of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"(I)    A person:

(1)(a)    who files what purports to be a return of the tax imposed by a provision of law administered by the department but which:

(a)(i)    does not contain information on which the substantial correctness of the tax liability may be judged; or

(b)(ii)    contains information that on its face indicates the liability is substantially incorrect; and or

(b)    who files a claim, a protest, or document, other than a return, that contains information that on its face indicates its position is substantially incorrect; and

(2)    whose conduct is due to:

(a)    a position which is frivolous or groundless; or

(b)    a desire, which appears on the purported return, claim, protest, or document, to delay or impede the administration of state tax laws;

(3) is liable to a penalty of five hundred dollars for the first filing, twenty-five hundred dollars for the second filing, and five thousand dollars for each subsequent filing. This penalty is These penalties are in addition to all other penalties provided by law."

B.        Section 12-54-43 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 89 of 2001, is further amended by adding an appropriately lettered subsection at the end to read:

"( )    If a purchaser uses a resale, wholesale, or an exemption certificate issued or authorized by the department to purchase tangible personal property tax free which the purchaser knows is not excluded or exempt from the tax under the provisions of Chapter 36 of this title, then the purchaser, in addition to any other penalties due under this title, is liable for a penalty of five percent of the amount of the tax if the failure is for not more than one month, with an additional five percent for each additional month or fraction of the month during which the failure continues, not exceeding fifty percent in the aggregate. The provisions of this section do not apply to direct pay certificates."

C.        Section 12-54-43(I) of the 1976 Code, as amended by subsection A. of this section, takes effect October 1, 2004. Section 12-54-43 of the 1976 Code, as amended by subsection B. of this section, takes effect July 1, 2004.

SECTION    18.    A.    Chapter 54, Title 12 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 12-54-123.    A person in possession of property upon which a levy has been made who, upon demand by the department, surrenders the property to the department must not be held personally liable for any obligation or liability to the taxpayer and any other person with respect to the property that arises from the surrender or payment. If a person brings an action not allowed pursuant to this section in any court of this State, the court shall dismiss the case."

B.        This section takes effect July 1, 2004.

SECTION    19.    A.        Section 12-54-210(A) of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"(A)     A person liable for a tax, license, fee, or surcharge administered by the department or for the filing of a return with the department, including information returns, required by this title shall keep books, papers, memoranda, records, render statements, make returns, and comply with regulations as the department prescribes. Persons failing to comply with the provisions of this section must be penalized in an amount to be assessed by the department not to exceed five hundred one thousand dollars for the period covered by the return in addition to other penalties provided by law."

B.        This section takes effect July 1, 2004.

SECTION    20.    A.        Items (11) and (12) of Section 12-54-240(B) of the 1976 Code are amended to read:

"(11)    disclosure of information contained on a return to the South Carolina Employment Security department Commission, Department of Revenue, or to the Department of the Treasury, Alcohol, and Tobacco Tax and Firearms Division Trade Bureau;

(12)(a)    disclosure to any state agency, county auditor, or county assessor of whether a resident or nonresident tax return was filed by any particular taxpayer.;

(b)    disclosure to any county auditor or county assessor of whether the four percent assessment pursuant to Section 12-43-220(c)(1) has been claimed by a taxpayer in any county."

B.        Section 12-54-240(B)(24) of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 69 of 2003, is further amended to read:

"(24)    disclosure of information pursuant to a subpoena issued by a federal grand jury or the State Grand Jury of South Carolina."

SECTION    21.    A.        Section 12-60-420 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 69 of 2003, is further amended to read:

"Section 12-60-420.    (A)    If a division of the department makes a division decision or determines there is a deficiency in a state or local tax administered by the department, it may send by first class mail or deliver the division decision or the proposed assessment to the taxpayer. The division decision or the proposed assessment must explain the basis for the division decision or the proposed assessment and state that assessment will be made or the decision will become final unless the taxpayer protests the division decision or the proposed assessment as provided in Section 12-60-450.

(B)    If the taxpayer fails to file a protest, the division decision or proposed assessment will become final and, if applicable, an assessment will be made for the amount of a proposed assessment. The department shall make available forms which taxpayers may use to protest the division decision or the proposed assessments. The division decision or the proposed assessment is effective if mailed to the taxpayer's last known address even if the taxpayer refuses or fails to take delivery, is deceased, or is under a legal disability, or, if a corporation, has terminated its existence. For a joint tax return or liability, one division decision or the proposed assessment may be mailed to both taxpayers unless the department has notice that the taxpayers have separate addresses in which event a duplicate original of the division decision or the proposed assessment must be sent to each taxpayer at his last known address."

B.        This section takes effect January 1, 2004.

SECTION    22.    Section 12-60-490 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 69 of 2003, is further amended to read:

"Section 12-60-490.    If a taxpayer is due a refund, the refund must be applied first against any amount of that same tax that is assessed and is currently due from the taxpayer. The remaining refund, if any, must then be applied against any other state taxes that have been assessed against the taxpayer and that are currently due, or offset as provided in Article 3, Chapter 54 Chapter 56 of this title, or offset to collect a debt pursuant to Section 12-4-580, or both. If any excess remains, the taxpayer must be refunded the amount plus interest as determined in Section 12-54-25, or, at the taxpayer's request, it may be credited to future tax liabilities."

SECTION    23.    A.        Section 61-4-720 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 76 of 2001, is further amended to read:

"Section 61-4-720.    Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a licensed winery located in this State which produces and sells only domestic wine as defined in Section 12-21-1010 is authorized to sell the domestic wine produced on its premises with a majority of the juice from fruit and berries which are grown in this State with an alcoholic content of sixteen percent or less on the winery premises and deliver or ship this wine to consumer homes in or outside the State. These domestic wineries are authorized to provide, with or without cost, wine taste samples to prospective customers."

B.        This section takes effect July 1, 2004.

SECTION    24.    A.        Article 7, Chapter 4, Title 61 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 61-4-725.    Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a licensed winery located in a county or municipality that has conducted a favorable referendum under the provisions of Section 61-6-2010, during those same hours authorized by permits issued under Section 61-6-2010, may sell, possess, and permit the consumption of wine on the premises."

B.        This section takes effect July 1, 2004.

SECTION    25.    A.        Section 61-4-730 of the 1976 Code, as added by Act 415 of 1996, is amended to read:

Section 61-4-730.    Permitted wineries which produce and sell only domestic wine produced on its premises with a majority of the juice from fruit and berries which are grown in this State as defined in Section 12-21-1010 may sell the wine at retail, wholesale, or both, and deliver or ship the wine to the purchaser in the State. Domestic Wine must be delivered between 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m.

B.        This section takes effect July 1, 2004.

SECTION    26.    A.        Section 61-4-747(C)(4) of the 1976 Code, as added by Act 40 of 2003, is amended to read:

"(4)    annually, by August thirty-first January twentieth of each year, pay to the department all sales taxes and excise taxes due on sales to residents of this State in the preceding calendar year, the amount of the taxes to be calculated as if the sale were in this State at the location where delivery is made;"

B.        Section 61-4-747(C)(4) of the 1976 Code, as amended by this section, applies for reports due after 2004.

SECTION    27.    Article 7, Chapter 21, Title 12 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 12-21-1085.    Except as provided in Section 12-21-1035 and Sections 12-21-1320 to 12-21-1350, the taxes provided for in this article are in lieu of all other taxes and licenses on beer and wine of the State, the county, or the municipality, except the sales and use tax, or Sections 6-1-700 through 6-1-770, and include licenses for its delivery by the wholesaler."

SECTION    28.    Subarticle 15, Article 3, Chapter 6, Title 61 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 61-6-1555.    Notwithstanding any other provision of law, airline companies may purchase beer, wine, and alcoholic liquor directly from wholesalers licensed under the provisions of Section 61-4-520(3) or Section 61-6-100(2). Wholesalers may sell and deliver beer, wine, and alcoholic liquor to airline companies. It is a misdemeanor to use beer, wine, or alcoholic liquor purchased under the provisions of this section for any purpose other than the sale or use by the airline company on its airplanes."

SECTION    29.    The ultimate undesignated paragraph of Section 12-6-3360(M)(3) of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 168 of 2004, is further amended to read:

Notwithstanding any other another provision of law, 'new job' includes jobs created by a taxpayer when the taxpayer hires more than five hundred full-time individuals:

(a)    at a manufacturing facility located in a county classified as least developed distressed;

(b)    immediately before their employment by the taxpayer, the individuals were employed by a company operating, as of the effective date of this paragraph, under Chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code; and

(c)    the taxpayer, as an unrelated entity, acquires as of July 10, 2002, March 12, 2004, substantially all of the assets of the company operating under Chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code.

SECTION    30.    A.    Section 12-6-40(A)(1) of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 69 of 2003, is further amended to read:

"(1)(a)    Except as otherwise provided, 'Internal Revenue Code' means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended through December 31, 2002 2003, and includes the effective date provisions contained in it.

(b)    For purposes of sections 63 and 179 of the Internal Revenue Code, the amendments made by sections 103 and 202 of the Jobs and Growth Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2003, P.L. 108-27 (May 28, 2003) are only effective for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2003."

B .    That portion of Section 12-6-50 of the 1976 Code preceding item (1) is amended to read:

"For purposes of this chapter and references to the Internal Revenue Code and its sections, except as otherwise specifically provided, the following Internal Revenue Code Sections provisions are specifically not adopted by this State:"

SECTION    31.    A.    Title 12 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"CHAPTER 55

Overdue Tax Debt Collection Act

Section 12-55-10.    This chapter may be cited as the 'Overdue Tax Debt Collection Act'.

Section 12-55-20.    The General Assembly finds that the Department of Revenue has documented that the state's cost of collecting overdue tax debts exceeds twenty percent of the cost of collecting overdue debts. The General Assembly further finds that the cost of collecting overdue tax debts is currently borne by taxpayers who pay their taxes on time. It is the intent of the General Assembly by enacting the 'Overdue Tax Debt Collection Act' to ship this cost to the delinquent taxpayers who owe overdue tax debts.

Section 12-55-30.    (A)    As used in this chapter:

(1)    'Overdue tax debt' means any part of a tax debt that remains unpaid one hundred twenty days or more after the taxpayer receives notice as defined in Section 12-55-30(A)(2).

(2)    'Notice' means a notice of assessment issued by the department to the taxpayer pursuant to the South Carolina Revenue Procedures Act.

(3)    'Tax debt' means the total amount of tax, fees, penalties, interest, and costs for which notice has been issued by the department to the taxpayer.

(B)    Except when the context clearly indicates a different meaning, the definitions in Section 12-60-30 also apply to this chapter.

Section 12-55-40.    A collection assistance fee may be imposed on an overdue tax debt. To impose a collection assistance fee on a tax debt, the department shall notify the taxpayer that the collection assistance fee may be imposed if the tax debt becomes overdue tax debt.

Section 12-55-50.    The collection assistance fee is collectible as part of the debt. The department may waive the fee to the same extent as if it were a penalty.

Section 12-55-60.    The amount of the collection assistance fee is twenty percent of the amount of the overdue tax.

Section 12-55-70.    The proceeds of the collection assistance fee must be credited to a special account within the department and must be used to fund the South Carolina Business One Stop (SCBOS) program within the department. Any excess proceeds of the collection assistance fee above the amount required to fund the SCBOS program must be credited to the department to be retained and expended for use in budgeted operations.

Section 12-55-80.    The department may bring suits in the courts of other states to collect taxes legally due this State. The officials of other states are empowered to sue for the collection of taxes in the courts of this State. Whenever the department considers it expedient to employ local counsel to assist in bringing suit in an out-of-state court, the department may employ local counsel.

Section 12-55-90.    Collection agencies with which the department contracts under Sections 12-4-340 and 12-54-227 are also authorized to collect on behalf of the department overdue tax debts and the collection fee imposed by this chapter."

B.    The 'Overdue Tax Debt Collection Act' as added by this section applies for all tax debts incurred before which remain outstanding on December 1, 2002, and to all tax debts incurred on or after December 1, 2002.

SECTION    32.    If any section, subsection, paragraph, subparagraph, sentence, clause, phrase, or word of this act is for any reason held to be unconstitutional or invalid, such holding shall not affect the constitutionality or validity of the remaining portions of this act, the General Assembly hereby declaring that it would have passed this , and each and every section, subsection, paragraph, subparagraph, sentence, clause, phrase, and word thereof, irrespective of the fact that any one or more other sections, subsections, paragraphs, subparagraphs, sentences, clauses, phrases, or words hereof may be declared to be unconstitutional, invalid, or otherwise ineffective.

SECTION    33.    Subarticle 15, Article 3, Chapter 6, Title 61 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 61-6-1555.    Notwithstanding any other provision of law, an airline company may purchase beer, wine, and alcoholic liquor directly from a wholesaler licensed pursuant to the provisions of Section 61-4-520(3) or Section 61-6-100(2). A wholesaler may sell and deliver beer, wine, and alcoholic liquor to an airline company for use on the company's airplanes. A person other than an airline passenger who uses beer, wine, or alcoholic liquor purchased pursuant to the provisions of this section for another purpose other than the sale or use by the airline company on its airplanes is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be fined not more than one thousand dollars or imprisoned not more than six months, or both. Each violation of this section constitutes a separate offense."

SECTION    34.    Section 12-36-2120 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding an appropriately numbered item at the end to read:

"( )    prescription and over-the-counter medicines and medical supplies, including diabetic supplies, sold to a health care clinic that provides medical and dental care without charge to all of its patients."

SECTION    35.    A.        Article 3, Chapter 37, Title 12 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 12-37-223.    (A)    For purposes of this section, real property means real property classified for property tax purposes pursuant to Section 12-43-220.

(B)    There is exempted from property tax an amount of fair market value of real property located in the county sufficient to limit to twenty percent any valuation increase attributable to a countywide appraisal and equalization program conducted pursuant to Section 12-43-217. An exemption allowed by this section does not apply to:

(1)    value attributable to property or improvements not previously taxed, such as new construction, and for renovation of existing structures;

(2)    real property transferred after the year in which the most recent countywide equalization program was implemented pursuant to Section 12-43-217; and

(3)    real property valued for property tax purposes by the unit evaluation method.

(C)(1)    Notwithstanding subsection (B)(2), the exemption provided in subsection (B) applies to property which has been transferred in fee simple in a transfer that is not subject to income tax pursuant to Sections 102, limited to transfer to a spouse or surviving spouse, (Gifts and Inheritances), 1033 (Conversions--Fire and Insurance Proceeds to Rebuild), 1041 (Transfers of Property Between Spouses or Incident to Divorce), 351 (Transfer to a Corporation Controlled by Transferor), 355 (Distribution by a Controlled Corporation), 368 (Corporate Reorganizations), 721 (Nonrecognition of Gain or Loss on a Contribution to a Partnership) of the Internal Revenue Code as defined in Section 12-6-40; and to distributions of real property out of corporations, partnerships, or limited liability companies to persons who initially contributed the property to the corporation, partnership, or limited liability company.

(2)    Notwithstanding Subsection (B)(2), and in addition to the nondisqualifying transfers allowed pursuant to item (1) of this subsection, the transfer of any interest in real property to a spouse, whether inter vivos, testamentary, or by operation of law, is a nondisqualifying transfer, and the exemption allowed pursuant to Subsection (B) continues to apply to the interest transferred.

(D)    Once the taxable value of a property is reduced because of the exemption provided in subsection (B), that reduced value remains in effect, except as otherwise provided in subsection (B)(2), until the implementation of the next equalization and reassessment program. The effect of this exemption is, that upon the implementation of each subsequent equalization and reassessment program, the value of the property as determined under Section 12-37-930, reduced by the amount of any exemption granted under this section, may not increase except in the year following a disqualifying transfer in ownership.

When a property is transferred such that the property is no longer eligible for the exemption provided for in subsection (B), the property is subject to being taxed in the tax year following the transfer at its value, as determined under Section 12-37-930, at market value based on the sale or transfer of ownership or at the appraised value determined by the county assessor.

(E)    The closing attorney involved in a real estate transfer shall provide the following notice to the buyer(s):

THE INTEREST IN REAL PROPERTY TRANSFERRED AS A RESULT OF THIS TRANSACTION MAY BE SUBJECT TO PROPERTY TAXATION DURING THE NEXT TAX YEAR AT A VALUE THAT REFLECTS ITS FAIR MARKET VALUE.

(F)    To qualify for the exemption authorized under subsection (B), the owner of the property for which the exemption is sought or the owner's agent must apply to the county assessor where the property is located and establish eligibility for the exemption. The time period for making application for the exemption provided for in subsection (B), or for seeking a refund of taxes paid as a result of a subsequent determination of eligibility for the exemption, is the same as provided for in Section 12-43-220(c) for administering the special legal residence assessment ratio, mutatis mutandis.

Under penalty of perjury, the taxpayer must certify that the property meets the qualifications established in subsection (B) for eligibility for the exemption and provide such other proof required by the county assessor. The burden is on the taxpayer to establish eligibility for the exemption. The Department of Revenue shall assist the applicant and the assessor to the extent practicable in providing information necessary or helpful in determining eligibility. If the assessor determines the applicant ineligible, the value of the property must be determined by the assessor.

No further application is necessary from the owner who qualified the property for the exemption while the property continues to meet the eligibility requirements. If a change in ownership occurs, the owner who had qualified for the exemption shall notify the assessor within six months of the transfer of title. Another application is required by the new owner if the new owner seeks to qualify for the exemption provided by this section.

If a person signs the certification, obtains the exemption, and is, thereafter, found not eligible, a penalty may be imposed equal to one hundred percent of the tax paid, plus interest on that amount at a rate of one-half of one percent a month, but in no case less than thirty dollars nor more than the current year's taxes assessed on the value of the property without regard to the exemption."

B.        Section 12-37-223A. of the 1976 Code, is repealed for property tax years beginning after 2003.

C.        Article 1, Chapter 37, title 12 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 12-37-130.    The Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President Pro Tempore of the Senate shall appoint, by January 14, 2014, a task force to study the effects of this chapter on homeowners and the real estate industry and recommend changes to this chapter, and shall report its findings to the General Assembly no later than January 13, 2015."

D.    Section 6-1-320(A) of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 114 of 1999, is further amended to read:

"(A)    Notwithstanding Section 12-37-251(E), a local governing body may increase the millage rate imposed for general operating purposes above the rate imposed for such purposes for the preceding tax year only to the extent of the increase in the consumer price index for the in the average of the twelve monthly consumer prices indexes for the most recent twelve-month period consisting of January through December of the preceding calendar year. However, in the year in which a reassessment program is implemented, the rollback millage, as calculated pursuant to Section 12-37-251(E), must be used in lieu of the previous year's millage rate."

E.        This Section takes effect upon approval by the Governor and applies for countywide reassessment values implemented after 2003. Amounts exempted pursuant to the former provisions of Section 12-37-223(A) are deemed to have been exempted pursuant to Section 12-37-223 of the 1976 Code, as added by this Section.

SECTION    36.    Except where otherwise provided, this act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.

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This web page was last updated on Thursday, June 25, 2009 at 9:31 A.M.