Article 1. Returns And Payments of California Revenue And Taxation Code >> Division 2. >> Part 31. >> Chapter 6. >> Article 1.

Each supplier shall prepare and file with the board a return in the form as prescribed by the board, which may include, but not be limited to, electronic media showing the total number of gallons of diesel fuel removed, entered, or sold by him or her within this state during each calendar month, or the monthly period ended during that calendar month as the board may authorize, the amount of tax due for the month covered by the return, and any other information as the board deems necessary for the proper administration of this part. The person shall file the return on or before the last day of the calendar month following the monthly period to which it relates, together with a remittance payable to the board for the amount of tax due for that period, less whatever amounts may have been paid theretofore for the same period because of weekly returns. To facilitate the administration of this part, the board may require the filing of the returns for other than monthly periods. Returns shall be authenticated in a form or pursuant to methods as may be prescribed by the board.

Each person subject to the tax imposed under Section 60050.1, on or before September 30, 1995, shall prepare and file with the board, on forms prescribed by the board, a return showing the total number of gallons of undyed diesel fuel owned by the person on July 1, 1995, for which a tax has not been imposed under Part 3 (commencing with Section 8601) as in effect on June 30, 1995, the amount of the tax imposed, and any other information that the board deems necessary for the proper administration of this part. The return shall be accompanied by a remittance payable to the board in the amount of tax due.

A supplier who sells taxable diesel fuel shall collect from the purchaser the diesel fuel tax imposed under Section 60050. At the election of the purchaser, the payment of the diesel fuel tax owed on every gallon of diesel fuel purchased from a supplier shall be remitted to the supplier on terms agreed upon between the purchaser and the supplier or on or before five working days before the last day of the calendar month following the monthly period to which it relates. This election shall be subject to a condition that the purchaser's remittances of all amounts of tax due to the seller shall be paid by electronic funds transfer. The purchaser's election may be terminated by the seller if the purchaser does not make timely payments to the seller as required by this section. This section shall not apply where the purchaser is required by a supplier to pay cash or cash equivalent for diesel fuel purchases.

(a) A supplier is relieved from liability for diesel fuel tax insofar as the sales of the diesel fuel are represented by accounts which have been found worthless and charged off for income tax purposes. If the supplier has previously paid the amount of the tax, he or she may, under the rules and regulations prescribed by the board, take a credit in that amount. If those accounts are thereafter in whole or in part collected by the supplier, the gallons of diesel fuel represented by the amounts collected shall be included in the first return filed after that collection and the amount of the tax thereon shall be paid with the return. The board may, at its option, require the supplier to submit periodic reports listing accounts delinquent for a 90-day period or more.
  (b) Any customer of a supplier who has failed to pay for diesel fuel purchased and for which the supplier has been allowed a credit under subdivision (a) is liable to the state for the diesel fuel tax as an unlicensed supplier and the tax, applicable penalties, and interest become immediately due and payable under the unlicensed persons provisions contained in Article 6 (commencing with Section 60360) of Chapter 6. The notice of determination issued under Section 60361 shall be given to the customer within three years of the last day of the calendar month following the reporting period for which the supplier took a credit for the tax previously paid on the customer's account or within three years after the date a refund of the tax was paid.

(a) Each interstate user shall prepare and file with the board a return in the form as prescribed by the board, which may include, but not be limited to, electronic media showing the amount of diesel fuel used during the quarterly reporting period by the interstate user in this state, the amount of any tax due, and any other information as the board may require for the administration of this part. The return shall be filed with the board on or before the last day of the calendar month following the close of the quarterly period to which it relates, together with a remittance payable to the board of the amount of tax due. To facilitate the administration of this part, the board may require the filing of returns for other than quarterly periods. Returns shall be authenticated in a form or pursuant to methods as may be prescribed by the board.
  (b) An interstate user subject to the tax imposed by Section 60115 shall be allowed a credit against the amount of tax due on his or her return for an amount equal to the tax imposed by Section 60115 on diesel fuel purchased in this state in that same return period for use in the operation of a qualified motor vehicle. No credit shall be allowed unless the tax imposed by Section 60050 and the taxes imposed by Part 1 (commencing with Section 6001) and Part 1.5 (commencing with Section 7200) of Division 2 of the Revenue and Taxation Code and Section 35 of Article XIII of the California Constitution have been paid upon the purchase of the diesel fuel by the interstate user to a diesel vendor in this state. When the amount of the credit for any return period exceeds the amount of tax due for the return period, the excess shall be allowed as a credit against the amount of tax due for succeeding reporting periods or shall be refunded.
  (c) Credits and refunds allowed pursuant to subdivision (b) shall be charged against the Motor Vehicle Fuel Account to the extent the total amount of credits and refunds allowed to all taxpayers for the fiscal year does not exceed the combined amounts due under subdivisions (a) and (b) of Section 60115. To the extent the total amount of credits and refunds allowed to all taxpayers for the fiscal year pursuant to subdivision (b) exceeds the combined amounts due under subdivisions (a) and (b) of Section 60115, the credits and refunds shall be charged against the Motor Vehicle Fuel Account as to the amount of the credits and refunds established under subdivision (a) of Section 60115 and shall be charged against the Retail Sales Tax Fund as to the amount of the credits and refunds established under subdivision (b) of Section 60115.

(a) Each terminal operator shall prepare and file with the board a report in the form as prescribed by the board, which may include, but not be limited to, electronic media showing, for the calendar month, or that monthly period ended during the calendar month as the board may authorize, the following:
  (1) The name and license number of each person that is a positionholder at each terminal it operates.
  (2) The amount of diesel fuel received at each terminal it operates.
  (3) The identity of each positionholder with respect to the rack removals of diesel fuel from each terminal it operates and the volume and dates of the removals.
  (4) The amount of diesel fuel stored at each terminal it operates.
  (5) The destination (by state) of all diesel fuel removed at a terminal rack of each terminal it operates, to the extent that information has been provided to the terminal operator.
  (6) Any other information required by the board for the proper administration of this part. The terminal operator shall file the report on or before the last day of the month following the monthly period to which it relates. To facilitate the administration of this part, the board may require the filing of the reports for other than monthly periods. Reports shall be authenticated in a form or pursuant to methods as may be prescribed by the board.
  (b) Upon written approval of the board, a terminal operator may satisfy the requirements of subdivision (a) above by executing and providing to the board a consent and authorization for the Internal Revenue Service to provide to the board under Section 6103 of the Internal Revenue Code, the return filed by the terminal operator under Section 48.4101-2 of Title 26 of the Code of Federal Regulations. The board may, in its sole discretion, rescind its approval and require a terminal operator to file reports as specified in subdivision (a).

(a) Each pipeline operator and vessel operator shall prepare and file with the board a report in the form as prescribed by the board, which may include, but not be limited to, electronic media showing, for the calendar month, or that monthly period ended during the calendar month as the board may authorize, all of the following:
  (1) The amount of diesel fuel delivered to each terminal or refinery.
  (2) The location of the terminal or refinery where the diesel fuel was delivered.
  (3) The date of delivery.
  (4) Any other information required by the board for the proper administration of this part. The pipeline operator and vessel operator shall file the report on or before the last day of the month following the monthly period to which it relates. To facilitate the administration of this part, the board may require the filing of the reports for other than monthly periods. Reports shall be authenticated in a form or pursuant to methods as may be prescribed by the board.
  (b) Upon written approval of the board, a pipeline operator and vessel operator may satisfy the requirements of subdivision (a) by executing and providing to the board a consent and authorization for the Internal Revenue Service to provide to the board under Section 6103 of the Internal Revenue Code, the return filed by the pipeline operator and vessel operator under Section 48.4101-2 of Title 26 of the Code of Federal Regulations. The board may, in its sole discretion, rescind its approval and require a pipeline operator and vessel operator to file reports as specified in subdivision (a).

Each train operator shall prepare and file with the board a report in the form as prescribed by the board, which may include, but not be limited to, electronic media showing, for the calendar month, or that monthly period ended during the calendar month as the board may authorize, all of the following:
  (a) The amount of diesel fuel delivered into, out of, or within this state.
  (b) The location where the diesel fuel was delivered.
  (c) The date of delivery.
  (d) Any other information required by the board for the proper administration of this part. The train operator shall file the report on or before the last day of the month following the monthly period to which it relates. To facilitate the administration of this part, the board may require the filing of the reports for other than monthly periods. Reports shall be authenticated in a form or pursuant to methods as may be prescribed by the board.

Each exempt bus operator shall prepare and file with the board a return in the form as prescribed by the board, which may include, but not be limited to, electronic media showing the total number of gallons of diesel fuel used in the exempt bus operation by him or her within this state during each calendar month, or the monthly period ended during that calendar month as the board may authorize, the amount of tax pursuant to Section 60502.2 due for the month covered by the return, and any other information as the board deems necessary for the proper administration of this part. The person shall file the return on or before the last day of the calendar month following the monthly period to which it relates, together with a remittance payable to the board for the amount of tax due for that period. To facilitate the administration of this part, the board may require the filing of the returns for other than monthly periods. Returns shall be authenticated in a form or pursuant to methods as may be prescribed by the board.

(a) Each government entity shall prepare and file with the board a return in the form as prescribed by the board, which may include, but not be limited to, electronic media showing the total number of gallons of dyed diesel fuel and undyed diesel fuel used in a diesel-powered highway vehicle during each calendar month, or the monthly period ending during the calendar month covered by the return, and any other information as the board deems necessary for the proper administration of this part. The person shall file the return on or before the last day of the calendar month following the monthly period to which it relates, together with a remittance payable to the board for the amount of tax due for that period. To facilitate the administration of this part, the board may require the filing of the returns for other than monthly periods. Returns shall be authenticated in a form or pursuant to methods as may be prescribed by the board.
  (b) A government entity that has paid diesel fuel tax to a retail vendor that sold the diesel fuel to the government entity shall be allowed a credit on its tax return for the tax paid to the retail vendor.

Each qualified highway vehicle operator shall prepare and file with the board a return in the form as prescribed by the board, which may include, but not be limited to, electronic media showing the total number of gallons of diesel fuel subject to the backup tax that was delivered into the fuel tank of a diesel-powered highway vehicle within this state during each calendar month, or the monthly period ended during that calendar month as the board may authorize, the amount of tax due for the month covered by the return, and any other information as the board deems necessary for the proper administration of this part. The person shall file the return on or before the last day of the calendar month following the monthly period to which it relates, together with a remittance payable to the board for the amount of tax due for that period. To facilitate the administration of this part, the board may require the filing of the returns for other than monthly periods. Returns shall be authenticated in a form or pursuant to methods as may be prescribed by the board.

(a) Any person who fails to pay the amount of tax shown to be due by that person's return on or before the last day of the month following the reporting period to which it relates, shall pay a penalty of 10 percent of the tax, together with interest on that tax at the modified adjusted rate per month, or fraction thereof, established pursuant to Section 6591.5, from the date on which the tax became due and payable to the state until the date of payment.
  (b) Any person who fails to file a return in accordance with the due dates set forth in Article 1 (commencing with Section 60201) shall pay a penalty of 10 percent of the amount of taxes with respect to the period for which the return is required.
  (c) The penalties imposed by this section shall be limited to a maximum of 10 percent of the taxes for which the return is required for any one return.

(a) If the board finds, taking into account all facts and circumstances, that it is inequitable to compute interest at the modified adjusted rate per month or fraction thereof, as defined in subdivision (b) of Section 6591.5, interest shall be computed at the modified adjusted daily rate from the date on which the tax was due until the date of payment, if all of the following occur:
  (1) The payment of tax was made one business day after the date the tax was due.
  (2) The person was granted relief from all penalties that applied to that payment of tax.
  (3) The person files a request for an oral hearing before the board.
  (b) For purposes of this section, "modified adjusted daily rate" means the modified adjusted rate per annum as defined in subdivision (a) of Section 6591.5 determined on a daily basis by dividing the modified adjusted rate per annum by 365.
  (c) For purposes of this section, "board" means the members of the State Board of Equalization meeting as a public body.
  (d) For purposes of this section, "business day" means any day other than a Saturday, Sunday, or any day designated as a state holiday.
  (e) This section shall not apply to any payment made pursuant to a deficiency determination, a determination where no return has been filed or a jeopardy determination issued by the board.
  (f) This section shall only apply to electronic payments of taxes.
  (g) This section shall be operative only until January 1, 2016.

The board for good cause may extend for a period not to exceed one month, the time for making any report or return or paying any tax required under this part. The extension may be granted at any time provided a request therefor is filed with the board within or prior to the period for which the extension may be granted. Any person to whom an extension is granted shall pay, in addition to the tax, interest at the modified adjusted rate per month, or fraction thereof, established pursuant to Section 6591.5, from the date on which the tax would have been due without the extension to the date of payment.

(a) If the board finds that a person's failure to make a timely report, return, or payment is due to reasonable cause and circumstances beyond the person's control, and occurred notwithstanding the exercise of ordinary care and the absence of willful neglect, the person may be relieved of the penalty provided by Sections 60207, 60250, 60301, 60338, and 60355.
  (b) Except as provided in subdivision (c), any person seeking to be relieved of the penalty shall file with the board a statement under penalty of perjury setting forth the facts upon which he or she bases the claim for relief.
  (c) The board shall establish criteria that provide for efficient resolution of requests for relief pursuant to this section.

(a) If the board finds that a person's failure to make a timely return or payment is due to the person's reasonable reliance on written advice from the board, the person may be relieved of the taxes imposed by this part and any penalty or interest added thereto.
  (b) For purposes of this section, a person's failure to make a timely return or payment shall be considered to be due to reasonable reliance on written advice from the board, only if the board finds that all of the following conditions are satisfied:
  (1) The person requested in writing that the board advise him or her whether a particular activity or transaction is subject to tax under this part. The specific facts and circumstances of the activity or transaction shall be fully described in the request.
  (2) The board responded in writing to the person regarding the written request for advice, stating whether or not the described activity or transaction is subject to tax, or stating the conditions under which the activity or transaction is subject to tax.
  (3) The liability for taxes applied to a particular activity or transaction that occurred before either of the following:
  (A) Before the board rescinded or modified the advice so given, by sending written notice to the person of the rescinded or modified advice.
  (B) Before a change in statutory or constitutional law, a change in the board's regulations, or a final decision of a court, that renders the board's earlier written advice no longer valid.
  (c) Any person seeking relief under this section shall file with the board all of the following:
  (1) A copy of the person's written request to the board and a copy of the board's written advice.
  (2) A statement under penalty of perjury setting forth the facts on which the claim for relief is based.
  (3) Any other information that the board may require.
  (d) Only the person making the written request shall be entitled to rely on the board's written advice to that person.

(a) Under regulations prescribed by the board, if:
  (1) A tax liability under this part was understated by a failure to file a return required to be filed under this part, by the omission of an amount properly includable therein, or by erroneous deductions or credits claimed on a return, and the understatement of tax liability is attributable to one spouse; or any amount of the tax reported on a return was unpaid and the nonpayment of the reported tax liability is attributable to one spouse.
  (2) The other spouse establishes that he or she did not know of, and had no reason to know of, that understatement or nonpayment.
  (3) Taking into account whether or not the other spouse significantly benefited directly or indirectly from the understatement or the nonpayment and taking into account all other facts and circumstances, it is inequitable to hold the other spouse liable for the deficiency in tax attributable to that understatement or nonpayment, then the other spouse shall be relieved of liability for tax (including interest, penalties, and other amounts) to the extent that the liability is attributable to that understatement or nonpayment of tax.
  (b) For purposes of this section, the determination of the spouse to whom items of understatement or nonpayment are attributable shall be made without regard to community property laws.
  (c) This section shall apply to all calendar months or quarters subject to the provisions of this part, but shall not apply to any calendar month or quarter that is more than five years from the final date on the board-issued determination, five years from the return due date for nonpayment on a return, or one year from the first contact with the spouse making a claim under this section; or that has been closed by res judicata, whichever is later.
  (d) For purposes of paragraph (2) of subdivision (a), "reason to know" means whether or not a reasonably prudent person would have had reason to know of the understatement or nonpayment.
  (e) For purposes of this section, with respect to a failure to file a return or an omission of an item from the return, "attributable to one spouse" may be determined by whether a spouse rendered substantial service as a supplier entering, removing, or selling taxable diesel fuel, an interstate user, an exempt bus operator, or a highway vehicle operator using taxable diesel fuel to which the understatement is attributable. If neither spouse rendered substantial services as a supplier, interstate user, exempt bus operator, or highway vehicle operator, then the attribution of applicable items of understatement shall be treated as community property. An erroneous deduction or credit shall be attributable to the spouse who caused that deduction or credit to be entered on the return.
  (f) Under procedures prescribed by the board, if, taking into account all the facts and circumstances, it is inequitable to hold the other spouse liable for any unpaid tax or any deficiency (or any portion of either) attributable to any item for which relief is not available under subdivision (a), the board may relieve the other spouse of that liability.
  (g) For purposes of this section, registered domestic partners, as defined in Section 297 of the Family Code, have the same rights, protections, and benefits as provided by this section, and are subject to the same responsibilities, obligations, and duties as imposed by this section, as are granted to and imposed upon spouses.
  (h) The relief provided by this section shall apply retroactively to liabilities arising prior to the effective date of this section.

If the board finds that a person's failure to make a timely return or payment was due to a disaster, and occurred notwithstanding the exercise of ordinary care and the absence of willful neglect, the person may be relieved of the interest provided by Sections 60207, 60208, 60250, 60302, and 60339. Any person seeking to be relieved of the interest shall file with the board a statement under penalty of perjury setting forth the facts upon which he or she bases the claim for relief.

(a) The board, in its discretion, may relieve all or any part of the interest imposed on a person by this part where the failure to pay tax is due in whole or in part to an unreasonable error or delay by an employee of the board acting in his or her official capacity.
  (b) For purposes of this section, an error or delay shall be deemed to have occurred only if no significant aspect of the error or delay is attributable to an act of, or a failure to act by, the taxpayer.
  (c) Any person seeking relief under this section shall file with the board a statement under penalty of perjury setting forth the facts on which the claim for relief is based and any other information which the board may require.
  (d) The board may grant relief only for interest imposed on tax liabilities that arise during taxable periods commencing on or after January 1, 2000.