Section 6203.5 Of Article 1. Imposition Of Tax From California Revenue And Taxation Code >> Division 2. >> Part 1. >> Chapter 3. >> Article 1.
6203.5
. (a) A retailer is relieved from liability to collect use
tax that became due and payable, insofar as the measure of the tax is
represented by accounts that have been found to be worthless and
charged off for income tax purposes by the retailer or, if the
retailer is not required to file income tax returns, charged off in
accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A retailer
that has previously paid the amount of the tax may, under rules and
regulations prescribed by the board, take as a deduction the amount
found worthless and charged off by the retailer. If these accounts
are thereafter in whole or in part collected by the retailer, the
amount collected shall be included in the first return filed after
the collection and the amount of the tax shall be paid with the
return. For purposes of this subdivision, the term "retailer" shall
include any entity affiliated with the retailer under Section 1504 of
Title 26 of the United States Code.
(b) (1) In the case of accounts held by a lender, a retailer or
lender that makes a proper election under paragraph (4) shall be
entitled to a deduction or refund of the tax that the retailer has
previously reported and paid if all of the following conditions are
met:
(A) A deduction was not previously claimed or allowed on any
portion of the accounts.
(B) The accounts have been found worthless and written off by the
lender in accordance with the requirements of subdivision (a).
(C) The contract between the retailer and the lender contains an
irrevocable relinquishment of all rights to the account from the
retailer to the lender.
(D) The retailer remitted the tax on or after January 1, 2000.
(E) The party electing to claim the deduction or refund under
paragraph (4) files a claim in a manner prescribed by the board.
(2) If the retailer or the lender thereafter collects in whole or
in part any accounts, one of the following shall apply:
(A) If the retailer is entitled to the deduction or refund under
the election specified in paragraph (4), the retailer shall include
the amount collected in its first return filed after the collection
and pay tax on that amount with the return.
(B) If the lender is entitled to the deduction or refund under the
election specified in paragraph (4), the lender shall pay the tax to
the board in accordance with Section 6451.
(3) For purposes of this subdivision, the term "lender" means any
of the following:
(A) Any person that holds a retail account which that person
purchased directly from a retailer who reported the tax.
(B) Any person that holds a retail account pursuant to that person'
s contract directly with the retailer that reported the tax.
(C) Any person that is either an affiliated entity, under Section
1504 of Title 26 of the United States Code, of a person described in
subparagraph (A) or (B), or an assignee of a person described in
subparagraph (A) or (B).
(4) For purposes of this section, a "proper election" shall be
established when the retailer that reported the tax and the lender
prepare and retain an election form, signed by both parties,
designating which party is entitled to claim the deduction or refund.
This election may not be amended or revoked unless a new election,
signed by both parties, is prepared and retained by the retailer and
the lender.