Section 19721 Of Chapter 9. Violations From California Revenue And Taxation Code >> Division 2. >> Part 10.2. >> Chapter 9.
19721
. (a) Any person who, with intent to defraud, does any of the
following is liable for a penalty of not more than ten thousand
dollars ($10,000):
(1) Willfully 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) Willfully 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) Willfully 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
the recipient is not entitled to the refund.
(b) The person is also punishable by imprisonment in a county jail
not to exceed one year, or in the state prison, or by a fine not to
exceed fifty thousand dollars ($50,000), or by both that fine and
imprisonment, at the discretion of the court, together with the costs
of investigation and prosecution.
(c) 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.
(d) 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 or a criminal proceeding
for violation of this section.
(e) Any individual guilty under this part shall be subject to
Section 502.01 of the Penal Code.