Article 6. Payment By Unlicensed Persons of California Revenue And Taxation Code >> Division 2. >> Part 31. >> Chapter 6. >> Article 6.

If any person becomes a supplier, exempt bus operator, government entity, qualified highway vehicle operator, or interstate user without first securing a license, the tax, and applicable penalties and interest, if any, become immediately due and payable on account of all diesel fuel removed, entered, sold, delivered, or used by him or her.

(a) The board shall forthwith ascertain as best it may the amount of the diesel fuel removed, entered, sold, delivered, or used and shall determine immediately the tax on that amount, adding to the tax a penalty of 25 percent of the amount of tax or five hundred dollars ($500), whichever is greater, and shall give the unlicensed person notice of this determination as prescribed by Section 60340. However, where the board determines that the failure to secure a license was due to reasonable cause, the penalty may be waived. Sections 60331 and 60332 shall be applicable with respect to the finality of the determination and the right of the unlicensed person to petition for a redetermination. 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.
  (b) In any case where the board does not determine an amount of tax due, the unlicensed person shall be subject to a penalty of one hundred dollars ($100), which penalty shall be immediately due and payable. Each subsequent violation shall increase the penalty amount by one hundred dollars ($100), up to a maximum penalty of five hundred dollars ($500). The board shall serve the person with a notice of penalty assessment in the manner prescribed by Section 60340 for service of notice of a deficiency determination. However, if the board finds that the failure of the person to secure a license was due to reasonable cause, the board may waive the penalty. A 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 the request for relief is based.

(a) Except in the case of a qualified highway vehicle operator, the backup tax imposed under Section 60058 and any applicable penalties and interest shall be immediately due and payable. The board shall forthwith ascertain as best it may the amount of diesel fuel sold, or delivered into the fuel tank of a diesel fuel-powered highway vehicle, or sold and delivered into the fuel tank of a diesel fuel-powered highway vehicle, and shall determine immediately the tax on the amount and shall give the highway vehicle operator/fueler notice of this determination as prescribed by Section 60340. The determination shall include interest at the modified adjusted rate per month, or fraction thereof, established pursuant to Section 6591.5, from the last day of the month following the date the backup tax applies until the date of remittance to the state. The provisions of Sections 60331 and 60332 shall be applicable with respect to the finality of the determination and the right of the highway vehicle operator/fueler to petition for a redetermination.
  (b) A penalty of 25 percent of the amount of tax or five hundred dollars ($500), whichever is greater, shall be added to the tax.
  (c) If more than one of the penalties specified in this section and Section 60105, 60106.3, or 60503.2 is otherwise applicable, only the penalty totaling the greatest amount shall be imposed, and the penalty specified in this section may be imposed only if the amount of penalty exceeds any other applicable penalty.
  (d) Where the board determines that the sale, delivery into the fuel tank of a diesel fuel-powered highway vehicle, or sale and delivery into the fuel tank of a diesel fuel-powered highway vehicle of untaxed diesel fuel was 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. A 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 the request for relief is based.
  (e) All administrative provisions contained in this part that apply to a supplier shall also be applicable to a highway vehicle operator/fueler.

The board shall forthwith collect the tax, penalty, and interest due from the unlicensed person by seizure and sale of property in the manner prescribed for the collection of a delinquent monthly tax.

At the request of the board, the Attorney General shall commence and prosecute to final determination an action at law to collect the tax, penalty, and interest, or any part thereof, determined against an unlicensed person.

In the suit, a copy of the jeopardy determination certified by the board shall be prima facie evidence that the unlicensed person is indebted to the state in the amount of the tax, penalties, and interest computed as prescribed by Section 60339.

The foregoing remedies of the state are cumulative.

No action taken pursuant to this article relieves the unlicensed person in any way from the penal provisions of this part.