24676.5
. (a) A taxpayer who is on an accrual method of accounting
may elect not to include in the gross income for the taxable year the
income attributable to the qualified sale of any magazine,
paperback, or record which is returned to the taxpayer before the
close of the merchandise return period.
(b) For purposes of this section--
(1) The term "magazine" includes any other periodical.
(2) The term "paperback" means any book which has a flexible outer
cover and the pages of which are affixed directly to such outer
cover. Such term does not include a magazine.
(3) The term "record" means a disc, tape, or similar object on
which musical, spoken, or other sounds are recorded.
(4) If a taxpayer makes qualified sales of more than one category
of merchandise in connection with the same trade or business, this
section shall be applied as if the qualified sales of each such
category were made in connection with a separate trade or business.
For purposes of the preceding sentence, magazines, paperbacks, and
records shall each be treated as a separate category of merchandise.
(5) A sale of a magazine, paperback, or record is a qualified sale
if--
(A) At the time of sale, the taxpayer has a legal obligation to
adjust the sales price of such magazine, paperback, or record if it
is not resold, and
(B) The sales price of such magazine, paperback, or record is
adjusted by the taxpayer because of a failure to resell it.
(6) The amount excluded under this section with respect to any
qualified sale shall be the lesser of--
(A) The amount covered by the legal obligation described in
paragraph (5)(A), or
(B) The amount of the adjustment agreed to by the taxpayer before
the close of the merchandise return period.
(7) (A) Except as provided in subparagraph (B), the term
"merchandise return period" means, with respect to any taxable year--
(i) In the case of magazines, the period of 2 months and 15 days
first occurring after the close of the taxable year, or
(ii) In the case of paperbacks and records, the period of 4 months
and 15 days first occurring after the close of the taxable year.
(B) The taxpayer may select a shorter period than the applicable
period set forth in subparagraph (A).
(C) Any change in the merchandise return period shall be treated
as a change in the method of accounting.
(8) As prescribed by the Franchise Tax Board, the taxpayer may
substitute, for the physical return of magazines, paperbacks, or
records required by subdivision (a), certification or other evidence
that the magazine, paperback, or record has not been resold and will
not be resold if such evidence--
(A) Is in the possession of the taxpayer at the close of the
merchandise return period, and
(B) Is satisfactory to the Franchise Tax Board.
(9) A repurchase by the taxpayer shall be treated as an adjustment
of the sales price rather than as a resale.
(c) (1) This section shall apply to qualified sales of magazines,
paperbacks, or records, as the case may be, if and only if the
taxpayer makes an election under this section with respect to the
trade or business in connection with which such sales are made. An
election under this section may be made without the consent of the
Franchise Tax Board. The election shall be made in such manner as the
Franchise Tax Board may prescribe and shall be made for any taxable
year not later than the time prescribed by law for filing the return
for such taxable year (including extensions thereof).
(2) An election made under this section shall apply to all
qualified sales of magazines, paperbacks, or records, as the case may
be, made in connection with the trade or business with respect to
which the taxpayer has made the election.
(3) An election under this section shall be effective for the
taxable year for which it is made and for all subsequent taxable
years, unless the taxpayer secures the consent of the Franchise Tax
Board to the revocation of such election.
(4) Except to the extent inconsistent with the provisions of this
section, for purposes of this subtitle, the computation of taxable
income under an election made under this section shall be treated as
a method of accounting.
(d) In applying Section 24723 with respect to any election under
this section which applies to magazines, the period of taking into
account any decrease in taxable income resulting from the application
of subdivision (b) of Section 24721 shall be the taxable year for
which the election is made and the four succeeding taxable years.
(e) (1) In the case of any election under this section which
applies to paperbacks or records, in lieu of applying Sections 24721
through 24725, the taxpayer shall establish a suspense account for
the trade or business for the taxable year for which the election is
made.
(2) The opening balance of the account described in paragraph (1)
for the first taxable year to which the election applies shall be the
largest dollar amount of returned merchandise which would have been
taken into account under this section for any of the three
immediately preceding taxable years if this section had applied to
such preceding three taxable years. This paragraph and paragraph (3)
shall be applied by taking into account only amounts attributable to
the trade or business for which such account is established.
(3) At the close of each taxable year the suspense account shall
be--
(A) Reduced by the excess (if any) of--
(i) The opening balance of the suspense account for the taxable
year, over
(ii) The amount excluded from gross income for the taxable year
under subdivision (a), or
(B) Increased (but not in excess of the initial opening balance)
by the excess (if any) of--
(i) The amount excluded from gross income for the taxable year
under subdivision (a), over
(ii) The opening balance of the account for the taxable year.
(4) (A) In the case of any reduction under paragraph (3)(A) in the
account for the taxable year, an amount equal to such reduction
shall be excluded from gross income for such taxable year.
(B) In the case of any increase under paragraph (3)(B) in the
account for the taxable year, an amount equal to such increase shall
be included in gross income for such taxable year.
If the initial opening balance exceeds the dollar amount of
returned merchandise which would have been taken into account under
subdivision (a) for the taxable year preceding the first taxable year
for which the election is effective if this section had applied to
such preceding taxable year, then an amount equal to the amount of
such excess shall be included in gross income for such first taxable
year.
(5) The application of this subdivision with respect to a taxpayer
which is a party to any transaction with respect to which there is
nonrecognition of gain or loss to any party to the transaction by
reason of Chapter 8 shall be determined as prescribed by the
Franchise Tax Board.
(6) The amendments to this section made by the 1979-80 Regular
Session of the Legislature shall apply to taxable years beginning on
or after October 1, 1979.