Section 21012 Of Part 10.7. Taxpayers' Bill Of Rights From California Revenue And Taxation Code >> Division 2. >> Part 10.7.
21012
. (a) If 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 assessed or any
interest, additions to tax, and penalties added thereto, as follows:
(1) Taxes shall only be relieved, and any interest, additions to
tax, and penalties added thereto, if the person's failure to make a
timely return or payment was due to a person's reasonable reliance on
the written advice of a legal ruling by the chief counsel, and only
if the board itself finds all the conditions satisfied.
(2) In the event that the person relied on written advice of other
than a chief counsel ruling, taxes shall not be relieved. Interest,
additions to tax, and penalties may be waived if the board staff
finds all the conditions satisfied.
(b) For purposes of subdivision (a), all of the following
conditions shall be satisfied:
(1) The person or the person's representative requested in writing
that the board advise him or her whether a particular activity or
transaction is subject to tax under the tax laws administered by that
agency, and the specific facts and circumstances of the activity or
transaction were fully described in the request. If the request is
for a legal ruling, the request shall specifically so state.
(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. In the
case where a chief counsel ruling is issued, the ruling shall be
signed by the chief counsel or his or her designee.
(3) In reasonable reliance on the board's written advice, the
person did not remit the tax due.
(4) The liability for taxes applied to a particular activity or
transaction which occurred before the board rescinded or modified the
advice so given, by sending written notice to the person of the
rescinded or modified advice.
(5) The tax consequences expressed in the board's written advice
were not subsequently changed by any of the following:
(A) A change in statutory law or case law.
(B) A change in federal interpretation in cases where the board's
written advice was predicated upon federal interpretation.
(C) A change in material facts or circumstances relating to the
taxpayer.
(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 signed under penalty of perjury, setting forth the
facts on which the claim is based.
(3) Any other information which 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.
(e) If written advice is issued pursuant to this section, it shall
include a declaration that the tax consequences expressed in the
advice may be subject to change for any of the reasons specified in
paragraph (5) of subdivision (b) and that it is the duty of the
taxpayer to be aware of any of these possible changes.
(f) This section does not apply if the taxpayer's request for
written advice pursuant to paragraph (1) of subdivision (b) contained
a misrepresentation or omission of one or more material facts.
(g) For purposes of subdivision (a), the board shall waive only
that portion of tax, penalties, interest, and additions to tax
attributable to the actions taken by the taxpayer after receipt of
the written advice of the board which were in reasonable reliance on
the written advice.
(h) Chief counsel rulings shall be issued as provided in published
guidelines.