Section 19720 Of Chapter 9. Violations From California Revenue And Taxation Code >> Division 2. >> Part 10.2. >> Chapter 9.
19720
. (a) Any person who does any of the following is liable for a
penalty of not more than five thousand dollars ($5,000):
(1) Utters, passes, or negotiates a state-issued income tax refund
warrant generated as a result of the filing of a return knowing that
the recipient is not entitled to the refund.
(2) Procures a state-issued income tax refund, in any form,
generated as a result of the filing of a return knowing that the
recipient is not entitled to the refund.
(3) Aids, abets, advises, encourages, or counsels any individual
to utter, pass, or negotiate a state-issued income tax refund
warrant, or to procure a state-issued income tax refund, in any form,
generated as a result of the filing of a return, knowing that the
recipient is not entitled to a refund.
(b) The fact that an individual's name is endorsed to a
state-issued refund warrant shall be prima facie evidence for all
purposes that the refund warrant was actually signed by him or her.
(c) The penalty shall be recovered in the name of the people in
any court of competent jurisdiction. Counsel for the Franchise Tax
Board may, upon request of the district attorney or other prosecuting
attorney, assist the prosecuting attorney in presenting the law or
facts to recover the penalty at the trial of a criminal proceeding
for violation of this section.
(d) The person is also guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction
shall be punishable by a fine not to exceed ten thousand dollars
($10,000) or by imprisonment not to exceed one year, or both, at the
discretion of the court, together with costs of investigation and
prosecution.
(e) Any individual guilty under this part shall be subject to
Section 502.01 of the Penal Code.