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TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 12-21-1085 SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR SALES AND USE TAXES ON BEER AND WINE; BY ADDING SECTION 12-28-1400 SO AS TO REQUIRE THE REPORTING THE DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE REQUIRES BY REGULATION FOR PURPOSES OF THE USER FEE ON MOTOR FUELS AND PROVIDE AN ADDITIONAL CIVIL PENALTY FOR VIOLATORS; BY ADDING SECTION 12-54-123 SO AS TO PROTECT FROM LIABILITY A PERSON WHO SURRENDERS THE PROPERTY OF ANOTHER LEVIED ON BY THE DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE; BY ADDING CHAPTER 55 TO TITLE 12, ENACTING THE OVERDUE 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; BY ADDING SECTION 61-4-725 SO AS TO ALLOW A LICENSED WINERY TO SELL, DELIVER, AND PERMIT ON-PREMISES CONSUMPTION ON SUNDAYS IN JURISDICTIONS WHERE MINIBOTTLE SALES ARE ALLOWED ON SUNDAYS; TO AMEND SECTION 4-29-67, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO THE FEE IN LIEU OF PROPERTY TAX, SO AS TO DELETE THE NET PERCENT VALUE METHOD OF CALCULATING ANNUAL FEE PAYMENTS; TO AMEND SECTION 6-1-320, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO THE LIMITS ON ANNUAL INCREASES IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND SCHOOL DISTRICT PROPERTY TAX MILLAGE, SO AS TO CLARIFY THE METHOD OF CALCULATING THE ALLOWED CONSUMER PRICE INDEX INCREASE IN THE MILLAGE RATE; TO AMEND SECTIONS 12-6-40 AND 12-6-50, BOTH AS AMENDED, RELATING TO DEFINITIONS AND CONFORMITY PROVISIONS FOR PURPOSES OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA INCOME TAX ACT, SO AS TO UPDATE THE REFERENCE DATE BY WHICH THIS STATE ADOPTS VARIOUS PROVISIONS OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF 1986 AND CLARIFY THOSE PROVISIONS NOT ADOPTED; TO AMEND SECTIONS 12-6-1110 AND 12-6-1130, RELATING TO CALCULATIONS OF INCOME, SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR CALCULATIONS WITHOUT SOME OF THE DEDUCTIONS ALLOWED BY THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE; TO AMEND SECTION 12-6-1140, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO DEDUCTIONS FROM SOUTH CAROLINA INDIVIDUAL TAXABLE INCOME FOR PURPOSES OF THE STATE INCOME TAX, SO AS TO DELETE AN OBSOLETE DEDUCTION RELATING TO MEDICAL INSURANCE PREMIUMS; TO AMEND SECTION 12-6-2220, RELATING TO ALLOCATION AND APPORTIONMENT FOR PURPOSES OF THE STATE INCOME TAX, SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR THE ALLOCATION OF DIVIDENDS; TO AMEND SECTION 12-6-3360, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO THE TARGETED JOBS TAX CREDIT, SO AS TO REVISE THE DEFINITION OF "NEW JOB"; TO AMEND SECTION 12-6-3365, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO THE CORPORATE INCOME TAX MORATORIUM FOR JOB CREATION, SO AS TO CLARIFY THE APPLICATION OF THE MORATORIUM TO INSURANCE PREMIUM TAXES; TO AMEND SECTION 12-6-3480, RELATING TO TAX CREDITS, SO AS TO FURTHER PROVIDE THE MANNER IN WHICH CREDITS ARE ALLOWED AND MAY BE CLAIMED; TO AMEND SECTION 12-6-4910, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO THOSE REQUIRED TO FILE INCOME TAX RETURNS, SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR THOSE NONRESIDENTS REQUIRED TO FILE IN THIS STATE; TO AMEND SECTIONS 12-6-5020, AS AMENDED, AND 12-6-5030, RELATING TO THE FILING OF CONSOLIDATED CORPORATE INCOME TAX RETURNS AND COMPOSITE INDIVIDUAL INCOME TAX RETURNS, SO AS TO REQUIRE THE DETERMINATION OF CREDITS ON A CONSOLIDATED BASIS AND FURTHER PROVIDE FOR COMPOSITE RETURNS; TO AMEND SECTION 12-8-520 RELATING TO STATE INCOME TAX WITHHOLDING, SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR THE WITHHOLDING OF PARTNERSHIP AND SUBCHAPTER "S" CORPORATION INCOME OF NONRESIDENTS; TO AMEND SECTION 12-8-1520, RELATING TO STATE INCOME TAX WITHHOLDING, SO AS TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS FOR WITHHOLDING AGENTS; TO AMEND SECTION 12-10-105, RELATING TO ANNUAL FEES FOR JOB DEVELOPMENT CREDITS FOR PURPOSES OF THE ENTERPRISE ZONE ACT OF 1995, SO AS TO EXTEND THESE FEES TO JOB RETRAINING CREDITS IN EXCESS OF TEN THOUSAND DOLLARS AND PROVIDE FOR THE COLLECTION OF THESE FEES; TO AMEND SECTION 12-20-105, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO TAX CREDITS FOR PURPOSES OF THE CORPORATE LICENSE TAX, SO AS TO CLARIFY THE APPLICATION OF THESE CREDITS; TO AMEND SECTION 12-28-740, RELATING TO EXEMPTIONS FROM THE MOTOR FUELS USER FEE, SO AS TO DELETE A REFERENCE TO A CREDIT; TO AMEND SECTIONS 12-21-1090 AND 12-21-6550, RELATING TO LICENSE TAXES, SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR THE PERMISSIVE PROMULGATION OF REGULATIONS AND FURTHER PROVIDE FOR THE APPLICATIONS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO THE TOURISM INFRASTRUCTURE ADMISSIONS TAX ACT; TO AMEND SECTION 12-28-1730, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO PENALTIES FOR PURPOSES OF THE MOTOR FUELS TAX, SO AS TO DELETE A CIVIL PENALTY; TO AMEND SECTION 12-36-530, RELATING TO THE REQUIREMENT FOR THE RETURN OF A RETAIL LICENSE WHEN A BUSINESS CLOSES OR IS SOLD, SO AS TO ELIMINATE THE REQUIREMENT THAT THE TAX IS DUE AT THE TIME OF SALE AND CONSTITUTES A LIEN ON THE PROPERTY IN THE HANDS OF THE PURCHASER; TO AMEND SECTION 12-36-1310, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO THE SOUTH CAROLINA SALES AND USE TAX ACT, SO AS TO FURTHER PROVIDE FOR THE APPLICATION OF SALES TAX TO TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICES; TO AMEND SECTION 12-36-2120, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO SALES AND USE TAX EXEMPTIONS, SO AS TO EXEMPT PRESCRIPTIONS AND OVER-THE-COUNTER MEDICINES AND MEDICAL SUPPLIES SOLD TO A FREE CLINIC; TO AMEND SECTION 12-36-2510, RELATING TO THE SOUTH CAROLINA SALES AND USE TAX ACT, SO AS TO PROVIDE FURTHER FOR THE ISSUE OF CERTIFICATES BY THE DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE FOR DIRECT PAY AND EXEMPTIONS AND PROVIDE FOR MORE EFFICIENT ADMINISTRATION OF SALES TAXES AND SALES TAX EXEMPTIONS; TO AMEND SECTION 12-37-220, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTIONS, SO AS TO DELETE OBSOLETE REFERENCES IN EXISTING EXEMPTIONS; TO AMEND SECTION 12-37-230, RELATING TO SERVICE CONTRACTS WITH NONPROFIT HOUSING CORPORATIONS, SO AS TO ALLOW A COUNTY OR MUNICIPALITY TO CHARGE REASONABLE FEES FOR SERVICES NOT TO EXCEED TAXES THAT WOULD OTHERWISE BE DUE ON THE PROPERTY; TO AMEND SECTION 12-44-50, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO THE "FEE IN LIEU OF TAX SIMPLIFICATION ACT OF 1997", SO AS TO REVISE THE ELIGIBILITY TO USE THE NET PERCENT VALUE METHOD OF CALCULATING THE ANNUAL FEE PAYMENT; TO AMEND SECTIONS 12-54-42 AND 12-54-43, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO THE UNIFORM METHOD OF COLLECTION AND ENFORCEMENT OF STATE LEVIED TAXES, SO AS TO CLARIFY THE APPLICATION OF PENALTIES FOR FAILING TO PROVIDE WITHHOLDING STATEMENTS, AND CLARIFY AND REVISE THE APPLICATION OF CIVIL PENALTIES FOR FILING GROUNDLESS RETURNS OR FOR MISUSE OF A SALES TAX CERTIFICATE; TO AMEND SECTION 12-54-90, RELATING TO THE COLLECTION AND ENFORCEMENT OF STATE TAXES, SO AS TO ALLOW THE DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE TO REFUSE TO ISSUE A LICENSE TO A TAXPAYER IN VIOLATION; TO AMEND SECTIONS 12-54-210 AND 12-54-240, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO THE COLLECTION AND ENFORCEMENT OF STATE TAXES, SO AS TO INCREASE THE PENALTY FOR FAILURE TO KEEP RECORDS, FILE RETURNS, AND COMPLY WITH REGULATIONS, UPDATE REFERENCES RELATING TO THE CONFIDENTIALITY OF RETURNS, AND DELETE AN EXEMPTION TO THE CONFIDENTIALITY REQUIREMENTS FOR RECORDS SUBPOENAED BY A FEDERAL GRAND JURY; TO AMEND SECTION 12-58-185, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO THE TAXPAYERS' BILL OF RIGHTS, SO AS TO CLARIFY AND EXTEND THE APPLICATION OF HARDSHIP EXTENSIONS TO PAY; TO AMEND SECTIONS 12-60-420 AND 12-60-490, BOTH AS AMENDED, RELATING TO THE REVENUES PROCEDURE ACT, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT THE APPLICATION OF A DIVISION DECISION OR A DETERMINATION OF DEFICIENCY APPLIES TO LOCAL TAXES ADMINISTERED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE AND REQUIRE THE NOTICE TO PROVIDE THAT FAILURE TO FILE A PROTEST RESULTS IN A DECISION BECOMING FINAL AND TO PROVIDE, FURTHER, FOR SETOFFS AGAINST TAX REFUNDS; TO AMEND SECTION 61-4-747, RELATING TO REGULATION OF WINE, SO AS TO REQUIRE OUT-OF-STATE WINE SHIPPERS TO PAY SALES AND EXCISE TAXES ON WINE SHIPPED TO RESIDENTS OF THIS STATE BY JANUARY TWENTIETH OF EACH YEAR FOR THE PRECEDING YEAR; BY ADDING SECTION 33-14-420 SO AS TO FURTHER PROVIDE FOR CLAIMANTS AGAINST FUNDS OF A DISSOLVED CORPORATION; TO REPEAL SECTION 12-37-240, RELATING TO PAYMENTS IN LIEU OF TAXES BY EXEMPT NONPROFIT HOUSING CORPORATIONS AND SECTION 12-37-290, RELATING TO AN OBSOLETE HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION PROVISION.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
SECTION 1. 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 Article 9 of this chapter, 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 the local hospitality tax, and include licenses for its delivery by the wholesaler."
SECTION 2. Article 13, Chapter 28, Title 12 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 3. 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, 2005.
SECTION 4. A. Title 12 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:
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 5. 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, 2005.
SECTION 6. 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, 2005.
SECTION 7. Section 6-1-320(A) of the 1976 Code is 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 price 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."
SECTION 8. 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 2004, 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 effective only for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2003."
SECTION 9. Section 12-6-50 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 69 of 2003, is further amended to read:
"Section 12-6-50. For purposes of this chapter title and all other titles which provide for taxes administered by the department, except as otherwise specifically provided, the following Internal Revenue Code Sections are specifically not adopted by this State:
(1) Sections 1(a) through 1(e), 3, 11, and 1201 relating to federal tax rates;
(2) Sections 22 through 53, 515, 853, 901 through 908, and 960 relating to tax credits;
(3) Sections 55 through 59 relating to minimum taxes;
(4) Sections 78, 86, 87, 168(k), 196, and 280C relating to dividends received from certain foreign corporations by domestic corporations, taxation of social security and certain railroad retirement benefits, the alcohol fuel credit, bonus depreciation, deductions for certain unused business credits, and certain expenses for which credits are allowable;
(5) Sections 72(m)(5)(B), 72(f), 72(o), 72(q), and 72(t), relating to penalty taxes on certain retirement plan distributions;
(6) Section 172(b)(1) relating to net operating loss carrybacks;
(7) Section 199 relating to the deduction attributable to domestic production activities;
(8) Sections 531 through 564 relating to certain special taxes on corporations;
(8)(9) Sections 581, 582, and 585 through 596 relating to the taxation of banking institutions;
(9)(10) Sections 665 through 668 relating to taxation of certain accumulation distributions from trusts;
(10)(11) Sections 801 through 845 relating to taxation of insurance companies;
(11)(12) Sections 861 through 908, 912, 931 through 940, and 944 through 989 relating to the taxation of foreign income;
(13) Sections 1352 through 1359 relating to an alternative tax on qualifying shipping activities;
(12)(14) Sections 1401 through 1494;
(13)(15) Sections 1501 through 1505 relating to consolidated tax returns; and
(14)(16) Sections 2001 through 7655, 7801 through 7871, and 8001 through 9602, except for Section 6015, and except for Sections 6654 and 6655 which are adopted as provided in Section 12-6-3910."
SECTION 10. Section 12-6-1110 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:
"Section 12-6-1110. (A) For South Carolina income tax purposes, gross income, adjusted gross income, and taxable income as calculated under the Internal Revenue Code are modified as provided in this article and subject to allocation and apportionment as provided in Article 17 of this chapter.
(B) If a taxpayer has made an election pursuant to Internal Revenue Code Section 1354 to be taxed under the provisions of Section 1352-1359 of the Internal Revenue Code, Election to Determine Taxable Income from Certain International Shipping Activities, the election is not effective for South Carolina income tax purposes, and the taxpayer is taxed in accordance with this chapter as though no federal Section 1354 election has been made."
SECTION 11. A. Section 12-6-1130(2) of the 1976 Code is amended to read:
"(2) The deduction for taxes permitted by Internal Revenue Code Section 164 is computed in the same manner as provided in Section 164 except there is no deduction for state and local income taxes, or state and local franchise taxes measured by net income, or any other income taxes, or any taxes measured by or with respect to net income, or state or local sales or use taxes."
B. Section 12-6-1130 of the 1976 Code, as amended by Act 363 of 2002, is further amended by adding an appropriately numbered item at the end to read:
"( ) Adjusted gross income and taxable income are computed without the deduction allowed pursuant to Internal Revenue Code Section 199 relating to domestic production activities."
SECTION 12. Section 12-6-1140(8) of the 1976 Code is amended to read:
"(8) RESERVED. the portion of premiums not deductible pursuant to Internal Revenue Code Section 162(l) because the "applicable percentage" as defined in that section is less than one hundred percent."
SECTION 13. 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 2004.
SECTION 14. 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 15. A. Section 12-6-3365(A) of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 172 of 2004, 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 16. 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 2004.
SECTION 17. A. Section 12-6-4910(1)(d) of the 1976 Code is amended to read:
"(d) a nonresident individual with South Carolina gross income greater than the personal exemption amount provided in Internal Revenue Code Section 151(d)."
B. Section 12-6-4910(1)(d) of the 1976 Code, as amended by this section, applies for taxable years beginning after 2005.
SECTION 18. 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 2004.
SECTION 19. 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 2004.
SECTION 20. A. Subsections (A) and (D)(3) of Section 12-8-520 of the 1976 Code are amended to read:
"(A) An employer paying wages at the rate of eight hundred dollars or more a year to an employee shall withhold income tax for that employee if at the time of payment the wages are expected to equal one thousand dollars or more during the year, except as provided in (C), using the tables and rules promulgated by the department.
(3) for personal services performed on occasional, sporadic, or casual visits to in this State by nonresident employees in connection with their regular employment outside of this State; when the gross South Carolina wages are equal to or less than the personal exemption amount provided in Internal Revenue Code Section 151(d) as defined in Section 12-6-40. However, this item does not apply to employees performing construction, installation, engineering, or similar services are considered to have earned wages in this State if where the situs of the job is in this State;"
B. Subsections (A) and (D)(3) of Section 12-8-520 of the 1976 Code, as amended by this section, apply for taxable years beginning after 2005.
SECTION 21. 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, 2005. The amendment to Section 12-8-1520 in the 1976 Code in subsection (B) of this section applies for payments due after January 1, 2006.
SECTION 22. 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 23. 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 2004.
SECTION 24. Section 12-21-1090 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:
"Section 12-21-1090. The department shall may promulgate rules and regulations for the payment and collection of the taxes levied by this article. The administrative provisions of Section 12-21-2870, wherever applicable, are hereby adopted for the administration and enforcement of the provisions of this article."
SECTION 25. A. Section 12-21-6550 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:
"Section 12-21-6550. In order to obtain the amounts provided in Sections 12-21-6530 and 12-21-6540:
(A) The county or municipality in which the major tourism or recreation facility or major tourism or recreation area is located must file with the Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism a certification application. The Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism shall review the application for completeness and accuracy and if necessary contact the county or municipality for additional information. A separate certification application must be filed for each tourism or recreation facility located in a tourism or recreation area. The certification application must be filed within one year of the end of the investment period.
(B) When the application is complete, the Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism shall forward the application on to the department. The department must shall notify the county or the municipality, in writing, if the certification application has been approved.
(B)(C) A tourism or recreation facility for which a certification application has been filed must request a determination from the council as to the status of the tourism or recreation facility. The council must classify each tourism or recreation facility as a new tourism or recreation facility or an expansion to an existing tourism or recreation facility. If a tourism or recreation facility is classified as an expansion to an existing tourism or recreation facility, Section 12-21-6580 applies. The request for determination of classification must be included in the certification application. The department must forward a copy of the request to the council for its determination."
B. This section takes effect July 1, 2005.
SECTION 26. 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 27. 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 28. Section 12-36-530 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:
"Section 12-36-530. Retailers, after closing or selling a business, must return the retail license to the department for cancellation and remit any unpaid or accrued taxes. The department may refuse to issue a new retail license to any person who has failed to comply with the provisions of this section.
In the case of sale of any business the tax is considered to be due at the time of the sale of the fixtures and equipment incident to the business and constitutes a lien against the stock of goods and the fixtures and equipment in the hands of the purchaser, or any other third party, until the tax is paid. The department may not issue a retail license to continue or conduct the business to the purchaser until all taxes due the State have been settled and paid."
SECTION 29. Section 12-36-1310(B) of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 334 of 2002, is further amended to read:
"(B) The use tax imposed by this article also applies to the:
(1) gross proceeds accruing or proceeding from the business of providing or furnishing any a laundering, dry cleaning, dyeing, or pressing service, but does not apply to the gross proceeds derived from coin operated laundromats and dry cleaning machines;
(2) gross proceeds accruing or proceeding from the sale of electricity;
(3)(a) gross proceeds accruing or proceeding from the charges for the ways or means for the transmission of the voice or messages, including the charges for use of equipment furnished by the seller or supplier of the ways or means for the transmission of the voice or messages. Gross proceeds from the sale of prepaid wireless calling arrangements subject to tax at retail pursuant to item (5) of this subsection are not subject to tax pursuant to this item. Effective for bills rendered after August 1, 2002, charges for mobile telecommunications services subject to the tax under this item must be sourced in accordance with the Mobile Telecommunications Sourcing Act as provided in Title 4 of the United States Code. The term 'charges for mobile telecommunications services' is defined for purposes of this section the same as it is defined in the Mobile Telecommunications Sourcing Act. All other definitions and provisions of the Mobile Telecommunications Sourcing Act as provided in Title 4 of the United States Code are adopted;
(b)(i) for purposes of this item, a 'bundled transaction' means a transaction consisting of distinct and identifiable properties or services, which are sold for one nonitemized price but which are treated differently for tax purposes:
(ii) for bills rendered on or after January 1, 2004, that include telecommunications services in a bundled transaction, if the nonitemized price is attributable to properties or services that are taxable and nontaxable, the portion of the price attributable to any nontaxable property or service is subject to tax unless the provider can reasonably identify that portion from its books and records kept in the regular course of business for purposes other than sales taxes.
(4) fair market value of tangible personal property brought into this State, by the manufacturer thereof, for storage, use, or consumption in this State by the manufacturer.
(5) gross proceeds accruing or proceeding from the sale or recharge at retail for prepaid wireless calling arrangements.
(a) 'Prepaid wireless calling arrangements' means communication services that:
(i) are used exclusively to purchase wireless telecommunications;
(ii) are purchased in advance;
(iii) allow the purchaser to originate telephone calls by using an access number, authorization code, or other means entered manually or electronically; and
(iv) are sold in units or dollars which decline with use in a known amount.
(b) All charges for prepaid wireless calling arrangements must be sourced to the:
(i) location in this State where the over-the-counter sale took place;
(ii) shipping address if the sale did not take place at the seller's location and an item is shipped; or
(iii) either the billing address or location associated with the mobile telephone number if the sale did not take place at the seller's location and no item is shipped."
SECTION 30. Section 12-36-2120 of the 1976 Code, as amended by Act 69 of 2003, is further amended by adding an appropriately numbered item at the end to read:
"( ) prescription and over-the-counter medicines and medical supplies, including diabetic supplies, diabetic diagnostic equipment, and diabetic testing equipment, sold to a health care clinic that provides medical and dental care without charge to all of its patients."
SECTION 31. 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, 2005.
SECTION 32. Items (5) and (8) of Section 12-37-220(B) of the 1976 Code are amended to read:
"(5) All property of the American Legion, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Spanish American War Veterans, the Disabled American Veterans, and Fleet Reserve Association or any similar Veterans Organization chartered by the Congress of the United States, whether belonging to the department or to any of the Posts in this State when used exclusively for the purpose of such organization and not used for any purpose other than club rooms, offices, meeting places or other activities directly in keeping with the policy stated in the National Constitution of such organization, and such property is devoted entirely to its own uses and not held for 'pecuniary profit'. For the purposes of this item 'pecuniary profit' refers to income received from the sale of alcoholic beverages to persons other than bona fide members and their bona fide guests, or any income, any part of which inures to the benefit of any private individual. Where any structure or parcel of land is used partly for the purposes of such organization and partly for such pecuniary profits, the area for pecuniary profits shall be assessed separately and that portion shall be taxed.
(8) Properties of whatever nature or kind owned within the State and used or occupied by the Palmetto Junior Homemakers Association, the New Homemakers of South Carolina, the South Carolina Association of Future Farmers of America and the New Farmers of South Carolina, so long as such properties are used exclusively to promote vocational education or agriculture, better business methods and more effective organization for farming or to encourage thrift or provide recreation for persons studying agriculture or home economics in the public schools."
SECTION 33. A. Section 12-37-230 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:
"Section 12-37-230. When any a nonprofit housing corporation owns property within a county or municipality which is exempted from ad valorem taxes under pursuant to Section 12-37-220, the county or the municipality or both are authorized to contract with such corporation for payments of charge the owners of the property reasonable fees for services rendered by the county or municipality. Fees must not exceed the amount of taxes that would be levied on any of the subject property for any one service if the subject property were subject to ad valorem taxation."
SECTION 34. 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, 2005.
SECTION 35. 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) 12-8-1550, 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, 2005.
SECTION 36. 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, 2005. Section 12-54-43 of the 1976 Code, as amended by subsection B. of this section, takes effect July 1, 2005.
SECTION 37. Section 12-54-90(A) of the 1976 Code is amended to read:
"(A) When a person fails, neglects, violates, or refuses to comply with a provision of law or regulation administered by the department, the department, in its discretion, may refuse to issue a license to a taxpayer and may revoke one or more licenses held by the taxpayer. within ten days of notification in writing of the taxpayer's failure to comply. The notification may be served by certified mail or personally."
SECTION 38. 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, 2005.
SECTION 39. 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 added 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 40. Section 12-58-185(A) of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 89 of 2001, is further amended to read:
"(A) The department, in its discretion, may accept installment payment payments for amounts due it for a period not to exceed one year from the date the payment was due originally. Interest accrues during the installment period, pursuant to Section 12-54-25. In addition, the department may extend the time for payment of an amount due it. An extension pursuant to this section may be granted only beyond one year if it is shown to the satisfaction of the department that the payment of the amount due it upon the date originally fixed for the payment will result in undue hardship to the taxpayer."
SECTION 41. 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, 2005.
SECTION 42. 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 43. 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 2005.
SECTION 44. A. Article 4, Chapter 14, Title 33 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:
"Section 33-14-420. Notwithstanding another provision of this title, a claimant may not commence a suit or other proceeding against a former shareholder of a dissolved corporation for any known or unknown claim arising from the liabilities of the corporation, acts or omissions of the corporation, or acts committed in its name if the corporation filed its articles of dissolution with the Secretary of State before January 1, 1989, or was otherwise judicially or administratively dissolved before January 1, 1989. Further, a claimant may not satisfy a judgment rendered against a dissolved corporation by proceeding against or joining an individual shareholder if the corporation filed its articles of dissolution with the Secretary of State before January 1, 1989, or was otherwise judicially or administratively dissolved before January 1, 1989."
B. This section takes effect upon approval of the Governor, and applies to corporations dissolved before, on, or after the effective date of this section.
SECTION 45. 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 46. Section 12-37-240 and Section 12-37-290 of the 1976 Code are repealed.
SECTION 47. Except where otherwise provided, this act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.
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