To promote freedom, fairness, and economic opportunity by repealing the income tax and other taxes, abolishing the Internal Revenue Service, and enacting a national sales tax to be administered primarily by the States.

July 17, 2001

Mr. LINDER (for himself, Mr. PETERSON of Minnesota, Mr. YOUNG of Alaska, Mr. HALL of Texas, Mr. LEWIS of California, Mr. BARCIA, Mr. BONILLA, and Mr. CONDIT) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means

To promote freedom, fairness, and economic opportunity by repealing the income tax and other taxes, abolishing the Internal Revenue Service, and enacting a national sales tax to be administered primarily by the States.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

(a) SHORT TITLE- This Act may be cited as the `Fair Tax Act of 2001'.

(b) TABLE OF CONTENTS- The table of contents for this Act is as follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.

Sec. 2. Congressional findings.

TITLE I--REPEAL OF THE INCOME TAX, PAYROLL TAXES, AND ESTATE AND GIFT TAXES

Sec. 101. Income taxes repealed.

Sec. 102. Payroll taxes repealed.

Sec. 103. Estate and gift taxes repealed.

Sec. 104. Conforming amendments; effective date.

TITLE II--SALES TAX ENACTED

Sec. 201. Sales tax.

Sec. 202. Conforming and technical amendments.

TITLE III--OTHER MATTERS

Sec. 301. Phase-out of administration of repealed Federal taxes.

Sec. 302. Administration of other Federal taxes.

Sec. 303. Sales tax inclusive social security benefits indexation.

SEC. 2. CONGRESSIONAL FINDINGS.

(a) FINDINGS RELATING TO FEDERAL INCOME TAX- Congress finds that the Federal income tax--

(1) retards economic growth and has reduced the standard of living of the American public;

(2) impedes the international competitiveness of United States industry;

(3) reduces savings and investment in the United States by taxing income multiple times;

(4) slows the capital formation necessary for real wages to steadily increase;

(5) lowers productivity;

(6) imposes unacceptable and unnecessary administrative and compliance costs on individual and business taxpayers;

(7) is unfair and inequitable;

(8) unnecessarily intrudes upon the privacy and civil rights of United States citizens;

(9) hides the true cost of government by embedding taxes in the costs of everything Americans buy;

(10) is not being complied with at satisfactory levels and therefore raises the tax burden on law abiding citizens; and

(11) impedes upward social mobility.

(b) FINDINGS RELATING TO FEDERAL PAYROLL TAXES- Congress finds further that the social security and medicare payroll taxes and self-employment taxes--

(1) raise the cost of employment;

(2) destroy jobs and cause unemployment; and

(3) have a disproportionately adverse impact on lower income Americans.

(c) FINDINGS RELATING TO FEDERAL ESTATE AND GIFT TAXES- Congress finds further that the Federal estate and gift taxes--

(1) force family businesses and farms to be sold by the family to pay such taxes;

(2) discourages capital formation and entrepreneurship;

(3) fosters the continued dominance of large enterprises over small family-owned companies and farms; and

(4) imposes unacceptably high tax planning costs on small businesses and farms.

(d) FINDINGS RELATING TO NATIONAL SALES TAX- Congress finds further that a broad-based national sales tax on goods and services purchased for final consumption--

(1) is similar in many respects to the sales and use taxes in place in 45 of the 50 States;

(2) will promote savings and investment;

(3) will promote fairness;

(4) will promote economic growth;

(5) will raise the standard of living;

(6) will increase investment;

(7) will enhance productivity and international competitiveness;

(8) will reduce administrative burdens on the American taxpayer;

(9) will improve upward social mobility; and

(10) will respect the privacy interests and civil rights of taxpayers.

(e) FINDINGS RELATING TO ADMINISTRATION OF NATIONAL SALES TAX- Congress further finds that--

(1) most of the practical experience administering sales taxes is found at the State governmental level;

(2) it is desirable to harmonize Federal and State collection and enforcement efforts to the maximum extent possible;

(3) it is sound tax administration policy to foster administration and collection of the Federal sales tax at the State level in return for a reasonable administration fee to the States; and

(4) businesses that must collect and remit taxes should receive reasonable compensation for the cost of doing so.

(f) FINDINGS RELATING TO REPEAL OF PRESENT FEDERAL TAX SYSTEM- Congress further finds that the 16th amendment to the United States Constitution should be repealed and that the repealing amendment should prohibit Federal taxation of incomes, wages, estates, and gifts.

TITLE I--REPEAL OF THE INCOME TAX, PAYROLL TAXES, AND ESTATE AND GIFT TAXES

SEC. 101. INCOME TAXES REPEALED.

Subtitle A of title 26 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (relating to income taxes and self-employment taxes) is repealed.

SEC. 102. PAYROLL TAXES REPEALED.

(a) IN GENERAL- Subtitle C of title 26 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (relating to payroll taxes and withholding of income taxes) is repealed.

(b) FUNDING OF SOCIAL SECURITY- For funding of the Social Security Trust Funds from general revenue, see section 201 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 401).

SEC. 103. ESTATE AND GIFT TAXES REPEALED.

Subtitle B of title 26 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (relating to estate and gift taxes) is repealed.

SEC. 104. CONFORMING AMENDMENTS; EFFECTIVE DATE.

(a) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS- The Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended--

(1) by striking subtitle H (relating to financing of Presidential election campaigns), and

(2) by redesignating--

(A) subtitle D (relating to miscellaneous excise taxes) as subtitle B,

(B) subtitle E (relating to alcohol, tobacco, and certain other excise taxes) as subtitle C,

(C) subtitle F (relating to procedure and administration) as subtitle D,

(D) subtitle G (relating to the Joint Committee on Taxation) as subtitle E,

(E) subtitle I (relating to the Trust Fund Code) as subtitle F,

(F) subtitle J (relating to coal industry health benefits) as subtitle G, and

(G) subtitle K (relating to group health plan portability, access, and renewability requirements) as subtitle H.

(b) REDESIGNATION OF 1986 CODE-

(1) IN GENERAL- The Internal Revenue Code of 1986 enacted on October 22, 1986, as heretofore, hereby, or hereafter amended, may be cited as the `Internal Revenue Code of 2001'.

(2) REFERENCES IN LAWS, ETC- Except when inappropriate, any reference in any law, Executive order, or other document--

(A) to the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 shall include a reference to the Internal Revenue Code of 2001, and

(B) to the Internal Revenue Code of 2001 shall include a reference to the provisions of law formerly known as the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.

(c) ADDITIONAL AMENDMENTS- For additional conforming amendments, see section 202 of this Act.

(d) EFFECTIVE DATE- Except as otherwise provided in this Act, the amendments made by this Act shall take effect on January 1, 2003.

TITLE II--SALES TAX ENACTED

SEC. 201. SALES TAX.

(a) IN GENERAL- The Internal Revenue Code of 2001 is amended by inserting before subtitle B (as redesignated by section 104(a)(2)(A)) the following new subtitle:

`Subtitle A--Sales Tax

`Sec. 1. Principles of interpretation.

`Sec. 2. Definitions.

`CHAPTER 1. Interpretation; definitions; imposition of tax; etc.

`CHAPTER 2. Credits; refunds.

`CHAPTER 3. Family consumption allowance.

`CHAPTER 4. State and Federal cooperative tax administration.

`CHAPTER 5. Other administrative provisions.

`CHAPTER 6. Collection; appeals; taxpayer rights.

`CHAPTER 7. Special rules.

`CHAPTER 8. Financial intermediation services.

`CHAPTER 9. Additional matters.

`SECTION 1. PRINCIPLES OF INTERPRETATION.

`(a) IN GENERAL- Any court, the Secretary, and any sales tax administering authority shall consider the purposes of this subtitle (as set forth in subsection (b)) as the primary aid in statutory construction.

`(b) PURPOSES- The purposes of this subtitle are as follows:

`(1) To raise revenue needed by the Federal Government in a manner consistent with the other purposes of this subtitle.

`(2) To tax all consumption of goods and services in the United States once, without exception, but only once.

`(3) To prevent double, multiple, or cascading taxation.

`(4) To simplify the tax law and reduce the administration costs of, and the costs of compliance with, the tax law.

`(5) To provide for the administration of the tax law in a manner that respects privacy, due process, individual rights when interacting with the government, the presumption of innocence in criminal proceedings, and the presumption of lawful behavior in civil proceedings.

`(6) To increase the role of State governments in Federal tax administration because of State government expertise in sales tax administration.

`(7) To enhance generally cooperation and coordination among State tax administrators; and to enhance cooperation and coordination among Federal and State tax administrators, consistent with the principle of intergovernmental tax immunity.

`(c) SECONDARY AIDS TO STATUTORY CONSTRUCTION- As a secondary aid in statutory construction, any court, the Secretary, and any sales tax administering authority shall consider--

`(1) the common law canons of statutory construction;

`(2) the meaning and construction of concepts and terms used in the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 as in effect before the effective date of this subtitle; and

`(3) construe any ambiguities in this Act in favor of reserving powers to the States respectively, or to the people.

`SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS AND SPECIAL RULES.

`(a) IN GENERAL- For purposes of this subtitle--

`(1) AFFILIATED FIRMS- A firm is affiliated with another if 1 firm owns 50 percent or more of--

`(A) the voting shares in a corporation, or

`(B) the capital interests of a business firm that is not a corporation.

`(2) CONFORMING STATE SALES TAX- The term `conforming State sales tax' means a sales tax imposed by a State that adopts the same definition of taxable property and services as adopted by this subtitle.

`(3) DESIGNATED COMMERCIAL PRIVATE COURIER SERVICE- The term `designated commercial private courier service' means a firm designated as such by the Secretary or any sales tax administering authority, upon application of the firm, if the firm--

`(A) provides its services to the general public,

`(B) records electronically to its data base kept in the regular course of its business the date on which an item was given to such firm for delivery, and

`(C) has been operating for at least 1 year.

`(4) EDUCATION AND TRAINING- The term `education and training' means tuition for primary, secondary, or postsecondary level education, and job-related training courses. Such term does not include room, board, sports activities, recreational activities, hobbies, games, arts or crafts or cultural activities.

`(5) GROSS PAYMENTS- The term `gross payments' means payments for taxable property or services, including Federal taxes imposed by this title.

`(6) INTANGIBLE PROPERTY-

`(A) IN GENERAL- The term `intangible property' includes copyrights, trademarks, patents, goodwill, financial instruments, securities, commercial paper, debts, notes and bonds, and other property deemed intangible at common law. The Secretary shall, by regulation resolve differences among the provisions of common law of the several States.

`(B) CERTAIN TYPES OF PROPERTY- Such term does not include tangible personal property (or rents or leaseholds of any term thereon), real property (or rents or leaseholds of any term thereon) and computer software.

`(7) PERSON- The term `person' means any natural person, and unless the context clearly does not allow it, any corporation, partnership, limited liability company, trust, estate, government, agency, administration, organization, association, or other legal entity (foreign or domestic).

`(8) PRODUCE, PROVIDE, RENDER, OR SELL TAXABLE PROPERTY OR SERVICES-

`(A) IN GENERAL- A taxable property or service is used to produce, provide, render, or sell a taxable property or service if such property or service is purchased by a person engaged in a trade or business for the purpose of employing or using such taxable property or service in the production, provision, rendering, or sale of other taxable property or services in the ordinary course of that trade or business.

`(B) RESEARCH, EXPERIMENTATION, TESTING, AND DEVELOPMENT- Taxable property or services used in a trade or business for the purpose of research, experimentation, testing, and development shall be treated as used to produce, provide, render, or sell taxable property or services.

`(C) INSURANCE PAYMENTS- Taxable property or services purchased by an insurer on behalf of an insured shall be treated as used to produce, provide, render, or sell taxable property or services if the premium for the insurance contract giving rise to the insurer's obligation was subject to tax pursuant to section 801 (relating to financial intermediation services).

`(D) EDUCATION AND TRAINING- Education and training shall be treated as services used to produce, provide, render, or sell taxable property or services.

`(9) REGISTERED SELLER- The term `registered seller' means a person registered pursuant to section 502.

`(10) SALES TAX ADMINISTERING AUTHORITY- The term `sales tax administering authority' means--

`(A) the State agency designated to collect and administer the sales tax imposed by this subtitle, in an administering State, or

`(B) the Secretary, in a State that is neither--

`(i) an administering State, nor

`(ii) a State that has elected to have its sales tax administered by an administering State.

`(11) SECRETARY- The term `Secretary' means the Secretary of the Treasury.

`(12) TAXABLE EMPLOYER-

`(A) IN GENERAL- The term `taxable employer' includes--

`(i) any household employing domestic servants, and

`(ii) any government except for government enterprises (as defined in section 704).

`(B) EXCEPTIONS- The term `taxable employer' does not include any employer which is--

`(i) engaged in a trade or business,

`(ii) a not-for-profit organization (as defined in section 706), or

`(iii) a government enterprise (as defined in section 704).

`(C) Cross reference-

`(13) TAX INCLUSIVE FAIR MARKET VALUE- The term `tax inclusive fair market value' means the fair market value of taxable property or services plus the tax imposed by this subtitle.

`(14) TAXABLE PROPERTY OR SERVICE-

`(A) GENERAL RULE- The term `taxable property or service' means--

`(i) any property (including leaseholds of any term or rents with respect to such property) but excluding--

`(I) intangible property, and

`(II) used property, and

`(ii) any service (including any financial intermediation services as determined by section 801).

`(B) SERVICE- For purposes of subparagraph (A), the term `service'--

`(i) shall include any service performed by an employee for which the employee is paid wages or a salary by a taxable employer, and

`(ii) shall not include any service performed by an employee for which the employee is paid wages or a salary--

`(I) by an employer in the regular course of the employer's trade or business,

`(II) by an employer that is a not-for-profit organization (as defined in section 706),

`(III) by an employer that is a government enterprise (as defined in section 704), and

`(IV) by taxable employers to employees directly providing education and training.

`(15) UNITED STATES- The term `United States', when used in the geographical sense, means each of the 50 States, the District of Columbia, and any commonwealth, territory, or possession of the United States.

`(16) USED PROPERTY- The term `used property' means--

`(A) property on which the tax imposed by section 101 has been collected and for which no credit has been allowed under section 203, and

`(B) property that was held other than for a business purpose (as defined in section 102(b)) on December 31, 2002.

`(17) WAGES AND SALARY- The terms `wage' and `salary' mean all compensation paid for employment service including cash compensation, employee benefits, disability insurance, or wage replacement insurance payments, unemployment compensation insurance, workers' compensation insurance, and the fair market value of any other consideration paid by an employer to an employee in consideration for employment services rendered.

`(b) Cross References-

`CHAPTER 1--INTERPRETATION; DEFINITIONS; IMPOSITION OF TAX; ETC.

`Sec. 101. Imposition of sales tax.

`Sec. 102. Intermediate and export sales.

`Sec. 103. Rules relating to collection and remittance of tax.

`SEC. 101. IMPOSITION OF SALES TAX.

`(a) IN GENERAL- There is hereby imposed a tax on the use or consumption in the United States of taxable property or services.

`(b) RATE-

`(1) FOR 2003- In the calendar year 2003, the rate of tax is 23 percent of the gross payments for the taxable property or service.

`(2) FOR YEARS AFTER 2003- For years after the calendar year 2003, the rate of tax is the combined Federal tax rate percentage (as defined in paragraph (3) of the gross payments for the taxable property or service.

`(3) COMBINED FEDERAL TAX RATE PERCENTAGE- The combined Federal tax rate percentage is the sum of--

`(A) the general revenue rate (as defined in paragraph (4), and

`(B) the old-age, survivors and disability insurance rate, and

`(C) the hospital insurance rate.

`(4) GENERAL REVENUE RATE- The general revenue rate shall be 14.91 percent.

`(c) COORDINATION WITH IMPORT DUTIES- The tax imposed by this section is in addition to any import duties imposed by chapter 4 of title 19. The Secretary shall provide by regulation that, to the maximum extent practicable, the tax imposed by this section on imported taxable property and services is collected and administered in conjunction with any applicable import duties imposed by the United States.

`(d) LIABILITY FOR TAX-

`(1) IN GENERAL- The person using or consuming taxable property or services in the United States is liable for the tax imposed by this section, except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection.

`(2) EXCEPTION WHERE TAX PAID TO SELLER- A person using or consuming a taxable property or service in the United States is not liable for the tax imposed by this section if the person pays the tax to a person selling the taxable property or service and receives from such person a purchaser's receipt within the meaning of section 510.

`SEC. 102. INTERMEDIATE AND EXPORT SALES.

`(a) IN GENERAL- For purposes of this subtitle--

`(1) BUSINESS AND EXPORT PURPOSES- No tax shall be imposed under section 101 on any taxable property or service purchased for--

`(A) a business purpose in a trade or business, or

`(B) export from the United States for use or consumption outside the United States, if, the purchaser provided the seller with a registration certificate, and the seller was a wholesale seller.

`(2) INVESTMENT PURPOSE- No tax shall be imposed under section 101 on any taxable property or service purchased for an investment purpose and held exclusively for an investment purpose.

`(3) STATE GOVERNMENT FUNCTIONS- No tax shall be imposed under section 101 on State government functions that do not constitute the final consumption of property or services.

`(b) BUSINESS PURPOSES- For purposes of this section, the term `purchased for a business purpose in a trade or business' means purchased by a person engaged in a trade or business and used in that trade or business--

`(1) for resale,

`(2) to produce, provide, render, or sell taxable property or services, or

`(3) in furtherance of other bona fide business purposes.

`(c) INVESTMENT PURPOSES- For purposes of this section, the term `purchased for an investment purpose' means property purchased exclusively for purposes of appreciation or the production of income but not entailing more than minor personal efforts.

`SEC. 103. RULES RELATING TO COLLECTION AND REMITTANCE OF TAX.

`(a) LIABILITY FOR COLLECTION AND REMITTANCE OF THE TAX- Except as provided otherwise by this section, any tax imposed by this subtitle shall be collected and remitted by the seller of taxable property or services (including financial intermediation services).

`(b) TAX TO BE REMITTED BY PURCHASER IN CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES-

`(1) IN GENERAL- In the case of taxable property or services purchased outside of the United States and imported into the United States for use or consumption in the United States, the purchaser shall remit the tax imposed by section 101.

`(2) CERTAIN WAGES OR SALARY- In the case of wages or salary paid by a taxable employer which are taxable services, the employer shall remit the tax imposed by section 101.

`(c) CONVERSION OF BUSINESS OR EXPORT PROPERTY OR SERVICES- Property or services purchased for a business purpose in a trade or business or for export (sold untaxed pursuant to section 102(a)) that is subsequently converted to personal use shall be deemed purchased at the time of conversion and shall be subject to the tax imposed by section 101 at the fair market value of the converted property as of the date of conversion. The tax shall be due as if the property had been sold at the fair market value during the month of conversion. The person using or consuming the converted property is liable for and shall remit the tax.

`(d) SELLER RELIEVED OF LIABILITY IN CERTAIN CASES- In the case of any taxable property or service which is sold untaxed pursuant to section 102(a), the seller shall be relieved of the duty to collect and remit the tax imposed under section 101 on such purchase if the seller--

`(1) received in good faith, and retains on file for the period set forth in section 509, a copy of a registration certificate from the purchaser, and

`(2) did not, at the time of sale, have reasonable cause to believe that the buyer was not registered pursuant to section 502.

`(e) PURCHASER LIABLE TO COLLECT AND REMIT IN CERTAIN CASES- In the case of any taxable property or service which is sold untaxed pursuant to section 102, if the seller is relieved by reason of subsection (d) of the duty to collect and remit the tax imposed by section 101, then the duty to pay any tax due shall rest with the purchaser.

`(f) BARTER TRANSACTIONS- If gross payment for taxable property or services is made in other than money, then the person responsible for collecting and remitting the tax shall remit the tax to the sales tax administering authority in money as if gross payment had been made in money at the tax inclusive fair market value of the taxable property or services purchased.

`(g) INTERCOMPANY SALES- Firms that make purchases from affiliated firms that are untaxed pursuant to section 102, or make sales to affiliated firms that are untaxed pursuant to section 102, shall not need to comply with the requirements of subsection (d) (relating to certificates) for said purchases or sales to remain untaxed.

`CHAPTER 2--CREDITS; REFUNDS

`Sec. 201. Credits and refunds.

`Sec. 202. Business use conversion credit.

`Sec. 203. Intermediate and export sales credit.

`Sec. 204. Administration credit.

`Sec. 205. Bad debt credit.

`Sec. 206. Insurance proceeds credit.

`Sec. 207. Refunds.

`SEC. 201. CREDITS AND REFUNDS.

`(a) IN GENERAL- Each person shall be allowed a credit with respect to the taxes imposed by section 101 for each month in an amount equal to the sum of--

`(1) such person's business use conversion credit pursuant to section 202 for such month,

`(2) such person's intermediate and export sales credit pursuant to section 203 for such month,

`(3) the administration credit pursuant to section 204 for such month,

`(4) the bad debt credit pursuant to section 205 for such month,

`(5) the insurance proceeds credit pursuant to section 206 for such month,

`(6) the transitional inventory credit pursuant to section 902, and

`(7) any amount paid in excess of the amount due.

`(b) CREDITS NOT ADDITIVE- Only one credit allowed by chapter 2 may be taken with respect to any particular gross payment.

`SEC. 202. BUSINESS USE CONVERSION CREDIT.

`(a) IN GENERAL- For purposes of section 201, a person's business use conversion credit for any month is the aggregate of the amounts determined under subsection (b) with respect to taxable property and services--

`(1) on which tax was imposed by section 101 (and actually paid), and

`(2) which commenced to be 95 percent or more used during such month for business purposes (within the meaning of section 102(b)).

`(b) AMOUNT OF CREDIT- The amount determined under this paragraph with respect to any taxable property or service is the lesser of--

`(1) the product of--

`(A) the rate imposed by section 101, and

`(B) the quotient that is--

`(i) the fair market value of the property or service when its use is converted, divided by

`(ii) the quantity that is 1 minus the tax rate imposed by section 101, or

`(2) the amount of tax paid with respect to such taxable property or service, including the amount, if any, determined in accordance with section 705 (relating to mixed use property).

`SEC. 203. INTERMEDIATE AND EXPORT SALES CREDIT.

`For purposes of section 201, a person's intermediate and export sales credit is the amount of sales tax paid on the purchase of any taxable property or service purchased for--

`(1) a business purpose in a trade or business (as defined in section 102(b)), or

`(2) export from the United States for use or consumption outside the United States.

`SEC. 204. ADMINISTRATION CREDIT.

`(a) IN GENERAL- Every person filing a timely monthly report (with regard to extensions) in compliance with section 501 shall be entitled to a taxpayer administrative credit equal to the greater of--

`(1) $200, or

`(2) one-quarter of 1 percent of the tax remitted.

`(b) LIMITATION- The credit allowed under this section shall not exceed 20 percent of the tax due to be remitted prior to the application of any credit or credits permitted by section 201.

`SEC. 205. BAD DEBT CREDIT.

`(a) FINANCIAL INTERMEDIATION SERVICES- Any person who has experienced a bad debt (other than unpaid invoices within the meaning of subsection (b)) shall be entitled to a credit equal to the product of--

`(1) the rate imposed by section 101, and

`(2) the quotient that is--

`(A) the amount of the bad debt (as defined in section 802), divided by

`(B) the quantity that is 1 minus the rate imposed by section 101.

`(b) UNPAID INVOICES- Any person electing the accrual method pursuant to section 503 that has with respect to a transaction--

`(1) invoiced the tax imposed by section 101,

`(2) remitted the invoiced tax,

`(3) actually delivered the taxable property or performed the taxable services invoiced, and

`(4) not been paid 180 days after date the invoice was due to be paid,

shall be entitled to a credit equal to the amount of tax remitted and unpaid by the purchaser.

`(c) SUBSEQUENT PAYMENT- Any payment made with respect to a transaction subsequent to a section 205 credit being taken with respect to that transaction shall be subject to tax in the month the payment was received as if a tax inclusive sale of taxable property and services in the amount of the payment had been made.

`(d) PARTIAL PAYMENTS- Partial payments shall be treated as pro rata payments of the underlying obligation and shall be allocated proportionately--

`(1) for fully taxable payments, between payment for the taxable property and service and tax, and

`(2) for partially taxable payments, among payment for the taxable property and service, tax and other payment.

`(e) RELATED PARTIES- The credit provided by this section shall not be available with respect to sales made to related parties. For purposes of this section, related party means affiliated firms and family members (as defined in section 302(b)).

`SEC. 206. INSURANCE PROCEEDS CREDIT.

`(a) IN GENERAL- A person receiving a payment from an insurer by virtue of an insurance contract shall be entitled to a credit in an amount determined by subsection (b), less any amount paid to the insured by the insurer pursuant to subsection (c), if the entire premium (except that portion allocable to the investment account of the underlying policy) for the insurance contract giving rise to the insurer's obligation to make a payment to the insured was subject to the tax imposed by section 101 and said tax was paid.

`(b) CREDIT AMOUNT- The amount of the credit shall be the product of--

`(1) the rate imposed by section 101, and

`(2) the quotient that is--

`(A) the amount of the payment made by the insurer to the insured, divided by

`(B) the quantity that is 1 minus the rate imposed by section 101.

`(c) ADMINISTRATIVE OPTION- The credit determined in accordance with subsection (b) shall be paid by the insurer to the insured and the insurer shall be entitled to the credit in lieu of the insured, except that the insurer may elect, in a form prescribed by the Secretary, to not pay the credit and require the insured to make application for the credit. In the event of such election, the insurer shall provide to the Secretary and the insured the name and tax identification number of the insurer and of the insured and indicate the proper amount of the credit.

`(d) COORDINATION WITH RESPECT TO EXEMPTION- If taxable property or services purchased by an insurer on behalf of an insured are purchased free of tax by virtue of section 2(a)(8)(C), then the credit provided by this section shall not be available with respect to that purchase.

`(e) INSURANCE CONTRACT- For purposes of subsection (a), the term `insurance contract' shall include a life insurance contract, a health insurance contract, a property and casualty loss insurance contract, a general liability insurance contract, a marine insurance contract, a fire insurance contract, an accident insurance contract, a disability insurance contract, a long-term care insurance contract, and an insurance contract that provides a combination of these types of insurance.

`SEC. 207. REFUNDS.

`(a) REGISTERED SELLERS- If a registered seller files a monthly tax report with an overpayment, then, upon application by the registered seller in a form prescribed by the sales tax administering authority, the overpayment shown on the report shall be refunded to the registered seller within 60 days of receipt of said application.

In the absence of such application, the overpayment may be carried forward, without interest, by the person entitled to the credit.

`(b) OTHER PERSONS- If a person other than a registered seller has an overpayment for any month, then, upon application by the person in a form prescribed by the sales tax administering authority, the credit balance due shall be refunded to the person within 60 days of receipt of said application.

`(c) INTEREST- No interest shall be paid on any balance due from the sales tax administering authority under this subsection for any month if such balance due is paid within 60 days after the application for refund is received. Balances due not paid within 60 days after the application for refund is received shall bear interest from the date of application. Interest shall be paid at the Federal short-term rate (as defined in section 512).

`(d) SUSPENSION OF PERIOD TO PAY REFUND ONLY IF FEDERAL OR STATE COURT RULING- The 60-day periods under subsections (a) and (b) shall be suspended with respect to a purported overpayment (or portion thereof) only during any period that there is in effect a preliminary, temporary, or final ruling from a Federal or State court that there is reasonable cause to believe that such overpayment may not actually be due.

`CHAPTER 3--FAMILY CONSUMPTION ALLOWANCE

`Sec. 301. Family consumption allowance.

`Sec. 302. Qualified family.

`Sec. 303. Monthly poverty level.

`Sec. 304. Rebate mechanism.

`Sec. 305. Change in family circumstances.

`SEC. 301. FAMILY CONSUMPTION ALLOWANCE.

`Each qualified family shall be eligible to receive a sales tax rebate each month. The sales tax rebate shall be in an amount equal to the product of--

`(1) the rate of tax imposed by section 101, and

`(2) the monthly poverty level.

`SEC. 302. QUALIFIED FAMILY.

`(a) GENERAL RULE- For purposes of this chapter, the term `qualified family' shall mean 1 or more family members sharing a common residence. All family members sharing a common residence shall be considered as part of 1 qualified family.

`(b) FAMILY SIZE DETERMINATION-

`(1) IN GENERAL- To determine the size of a qualified family for purposes of this chapter, family members shall mean--

`(A) an individual,

`(B) the individual's spouse,

`(C) all lineal ancestors and descendants of said individual (and such individual's spouse),

`(D) all legally adopted children of such individual (and such individual's spouse), and

`(E) all children under legal guardianship of such individual (or such individual's spouse).

`(2) IDENTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS- In order for a person to be counted as a member of the family for purposes of determining the size of the qualified family, such person must--

`(A) have a bona fide social security number; and

`(B) be a lawful resident of the United States.

`(c) CHILDREN LIVING AWAY FROM HOME-

`(1) STUDENTS LIVING AWAY FROM HOME- Any person who was a registered student during not fewer than 5 months in a calendar year while living away from the common residence of a qualified family but who receives over 50 percent of such person's support during a calendar year from members of the qualified family shall be included as part of the family unit whose members provided said support for purposes of this chapter.

`(2) CHILDREN OF DIVORCED OR SEPARATED PARENTS- If a child's parents are divorced or legally separated, a child for purposes of this chapter shall be treated as part of the qualified family of the custodial parent. In cases of joint custody, the custodial parent for purposes of this chapter shall be the parent that has custody of the child for more than one- half of the time during a given calendar year. A parent entitled to be treated as the custodial parent pursuant to this paragraph may release this claim to the other parent if said release is in writing.

`(d) ANNUAL REGISTRATION- In order to receive the family consumption allowance provided by section 301, a qualified family must register with the sales tax administering authority in a form prescribed by the Secretary. The annual registration form shall provide--

`(1) the name of each family member who shared the qualified family's residence on the family determination date,

`(2) the social security number of each family member on the family determination date who shared the qualified family's residence on the family determination date,

`(3) the family member or family members to whom the family consumption allowance should be paid,

`(4) a certification that all listed family members are lawful residents of the United States,

`(5) a certification that all family members sharing the common residence are listed,

`(6) a certification that no family members were incarcerated on the family determination date (within the meaning of subsection (l)), and

`(7) the address of the qualified family.

Said registration shall be signed by all members of the qualified family that have attained the age of 21 years as of the date of filing.

`(e) REGISTRATION NOT MANDATORY- Registration is not mandatory for any qualified family.

`(f) EFFECT OF FAILURE TO PROVIDE ANNUAL REGISTRATION- Any qualified family that fails to register in accordance with this section within 30 days of the family determination date, shall cease receiving the monthly family consumption allowance in the month beginning 90 days after the family determination date.

`(g) EFFECT OF CURING FAILURE TO PROVIDE ANNUAL REGISTRATION- Any qualified family that failed to timely make its annual registration in accordance with this

section but subsequently cures its failure to register, shall be entitled to up to 6 months of lapsed sales tax rebate payments. No interest on lapsed payment amounts shall be paid.

`(h) EFFECTIVE DATE OF ANNUAL REGISTRATIONS- Annual registrations shall take effect for the month beginning 90 days after the family registration date.

`(i) EFFECTIVE DATE OF REVISED REGISTRATIONS- A revised registration made pursuant to section 305 shall take effect for the first month beginning 60 days after the revised registration was filed. The existing registration shall remain in effect until the effective date of the revised registration.

`(j) DETERMINATION OF REGISTRATION FILING DATE- An annual or revised registration shall be deemed filed when--

`(1) deposited in the United States mail, postage prepaid, to the address of the sales tax administering authority,

`(2) delivered and accepted at the offices of the sales tax administering authority, or

`(3) provided to a designated commercial private courier service for delivery within 2 days to the sales tax administering authority at the address of the sales tax administering authority.

`(k) PROPOSED REGISTRATION TO BE PROVIDED- 30 or more days before the family registration date, the sales tax administering authority shall mail to the address shown on the most recent rebate registration or change of address notice filed pursuant to section 305(d) a proposed registration that may be simply signed by the appropriate family members if family circumstances have not changed.

`(l) INCARCERATED INDIVIDUALS- An individual shall not be eligible under this chapter to be included as a member of any qualified family if that individual--

`(1) is incarcerated in a local, State, or Federal jail, prison, mental hospital, or other institution on the family determination date, and

`(2) is scheduled to be incarcerated for 6 months or more in the 12-month period following the effective date of the annual registration or the revised registration of said qualified family.

`(m) FAMILY DETERMINATION DATE- The family determination date is a date assigned to each family by the Secretary for purposes of determining qualified family size and other information necessary for the administration of this chapter. The Secretary shall promulgate regulations regarding the issuance of family determination dates. In the absence of any regulations, the family determination date for all families shall be October 1. The Secretary may assign family determination dates for administrative convenience. Permissible means of assigning family determination dates include a method based on the birthdates of family members.

`(n) Cross Reference-

`SEC. 303. MONTHLY POVERTY LEVEL.

`(a) IN GENERAL- The monthly poverty level for any particular month shall be one-twelfth of the `annual poverty level'. For purposes of this section the `annual poverty level' shall be the sum of--

`(1) the annual level determined by the Department of Health and Human Services poverty guidelines required by section 652 and 673(2) of the Omnibus Reconciliation Act of 1981 for a particular family size, and

`(2) in case of families that include a married couple, the `annual marriage penalty elimination amount'.

`(b) ANNUAL MARRIAGE PENALTY ELIMINATION AMOUNT- The annual marriage penalty elimination amount shall be the amount that is--

`(1) the amount that is two times the annual level determined by the Department of Health and Human Services poverty guidelines required by sections 652 and 673(2) of the Omnibus Reconciliation Act of 1981 for a family of one, less

`(2) the annual level determined by the Department of Health and Human Services poverty guidelines required by section 652 and 673(2) of the Omnibus Reconciliation Act of 1981 for a family of two.

`SEC. 304. REBATE MECHANISM.

`(a) GENERAL RULE- The Social Security Administration shall provide a monthly sales tax rebate to duly registered qualified families in an amount determined in accordance with section 301.

`(b) PERSONS RECEIVING REBATE- The payments shall be made to the persons designated by the qualifying family in the annual or revised registration for each qualified family in effect with respect to the month for which payment is being made. Payments may only be made to persons 18 years or older. If more than 1 person is designated in a registration to receive the rebate, then the rebate payment shall be divided evenly between or among those persons designated.

`(c) WHEN REBATES MAILED- Rebates shall be mailed on or before the first business day of the month for which the rebate is being provided.

`(d) SMARTCARDS AND DIRECT ELECTRONIC DEPOSIT PERMISSIBLE- The Social Security Administration may provide rebates in the form of smartcards that carry cash balances in their memory for use in making purchases at retail establishments or by direct electronic deposit.

`SEC. 305. CHANGE IN FAMILY CIRCUMSTANCES.

`(a) GENERAL RULE- In the absence of the filing of a revised registration in accordance with this chapter, the common residence of the qualified family, marital status and number of persons in a qualified family on the family registration date shall govern determinations required to be made under this chapter for purposes of the following calendar year.

`(b) NO DOUBLE COUNTING- In no event shall any person be considered part of more than 1 qualified family.

`(c) REVISED REGISTRATION PERMISSIBLE- A qualified family may file a revised registration for purposes of section 302(d) to reflect a change in family circumstances. A revised registration form shall provide--

`(1) the name of each family member who shared the qualified family's residence on the filing date of the revised registration,

`(2) the social security number of each family member 2 years of age or older who shared the qualified family's residence on the filing date of the revised registration,

`(3) the family member or family members to whom the family consumption allowance should be paid,

`(4) a certification that all listed family members are lawful residents of the United States,

`(5) a certification that all family members sharing the common residence are listed,

`(6) a certification that no family members were incarcerated on the family determination date (within the meaning of section 302(l)), and

`(7) the address of the qualified family.

Said revised registration shall be signed by all members of the qualified family that have attained the age of 21 years as of the filing date of the revised registration.

`(d) CHANGE OF ADDRESS- A change of address for a qualified family may be filed with the sales tax administering authority at any time and shall not constitute a revised registration.

`(e) REVISED REGISTRATION NOT MANDATORY- Revised registrations reflecting changes in family status are not mandatory.

`CHAPTER 4--FEDERAL AND STATE COOPERATIVE TAX ADMINISTRATION

`Sec. 401. Authority for States to collect tax.

`Sec. 402. Federal administrative support for States.

`Sec. 403. Federal-State tax conferences.

`Sec. 404. Federal administration in certain States.

`Sec. 405. Interstate allocation and destination determination.

`Sec. 406. General administrative matters.

`Sec. 407. Jurisdiction.

`SEC. 401. AUTHORITY FOR STATES TO COLLECT TAX.

`(a) IN GENERAL- The tax imposed by section 101 on gross payments for the use or consumption of taxable property or services within a State shall be administered, collected, and remitted to the United States Treasury by such State if the State is an administering State.

`(b) ADMINISTERING STATE- For purposes of this section, the term `administering State' means any State--

`(1) which maintains a sales tax, and

`(2) which enters into a cooperative agreement with the Secretary containing reasonable provisions governing the administration by such State of the taxes imposed by this subtitle and the remittance to the United States in a timely manner of taxes collected under this chapter.

`(c) COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS- The agreement under subsection (b)(2) shall include provisions for the expeditious transfer of funds, contact officers, dispute resolution, information exchange, confidentiality, taxpayer rights, and other matters of importance. The agreement shall not contain extraneous matters.

`(d) TIMELY REMITTANCE OF TAX-

`(1) IN GENERAL- Administering States shall remit and pay over taxes collected under this subtitle on behalf of the United States (less the administration fee allowable under paragraph (2)) not later than 5 days after receipt. Interest at 150 percent of the Federal short-term rate shall be paid with respect to amounts remitted after the due date.

`(2) ADMINISTRATION FEE- An administering State may retain an administration fee equal to one-quarter of 1 percent of the amounts otherwise required to be remitted to the United States under this chapter by the administering State.

`(e) LIMITATION ON ADMINISTRATION OF TAX BY UNITED STATES- The Secretary may administer the tax imposed by this subtitle in an administering State only if--

`(1)(A) such State has failed on a regular basis to timely remit to the United States taxes collected under this chapter on behalf of the United States, or

`(B) such State has on a regular basis otherwise materially breached the agreement referred to in subsection (b)(2);

`(2) the State has failed to cure such alleged failures and breaches within a reasonable time;

`(3) the Secretary provides such State with written notice of such alleged failures and breaches; and

`(4) a District Court of the United States within such State, upon application of the Secretary, has rendered a decision--

`(A) making findings of fact that--

`(i) such State has failed on a regular basis to timely remit to the United States taxes collected under this chapter on behalf of the United States, or such State has on a regular basis otherwise materially breached the agreement referred to in subsection (b)(2);

`(ii) the Secretary has provided such State with written notice of such alleged failures and breaches; and

`(iii) the State has failed to cure such alleged failures and breaches within a reasonable time; and

`(B) making a determination that it is in the best interest of the citizens of the United States that the administering State's authority to administer the tax imposed by this subtitle be revoked and said tax be administered directly by the Secretary.

The order of the District Court revoking the authority of an Administering State shall contain provisions governing the orderly transfer of authority to the Secretary.

`(f) REINSTITUTION- A State that has had its authority revoked pursuant to subsection (e) shall not be an administering State for a period of not less than 5 years after the date of the order of revocation. For the first calendar year commencing 8 years after the date of the order of revocation, the State shall be regarded without prejudice as eligible to become an administering State.

`(g) THIRD STATE ADMINISTRATION PERMISSIBLE- It shall be permissible for a State to contract with an administering State to administer the State's sales tax for an agreed fee. In this case, the agreement contemplated by subsection (c) shall have both the State and the Federal Government as parties.

`(h) INVESTIGATIONS AND AUDITS- Administering States shall not conduct investigations or audits at facilities in other administering States in connection with the tax imposed by section 101 or conforming State sales tax but shall instead cooperate with other administering States using the mechanisms established by section 402, by compact or by other agreement.

`SEC. 402. FEDERAL ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT FOR STATES.

`(a) IN GENERAL- The Secretary shall administer a program to facilitate information sharing among States.

`(b) STATE COMPACTS- The Secretary shall facilitate, and may be a party to a compact among States for purposes of facilitating the taxation of interstate purchases and for other purposes that may facilitate implementation of this subtitle.

`(c) AGREEMENT WITH CONFORMING STATES- The Secretary is authorized to enter into and shall enter into an agreement among conforming States enabling conforming States to collect conforming State sales tax on sales made by sellers without a particular conforming State to a destination within that particular conforming State.

`(d) SECRETARY'S AUTHORITY- The Secretary shall have the authority to promulgate regulations, to provide guidelines, to assist States in administering the national sales tax, to provide for uniformity in the administration of the tax and to provide guidance to the public.

`SEC. 403. FEDERAL-STATE TAX CONFERENCES.

`Not less than once annually, the Secretary shall host a conference with the sales tax administrators from the various administering States to evaluate the state of the national sales tax system, to address issues of mutual concern and to develop and consider legislative, regulatory, and administrative proposals to improve the tax system.

`SEC. 404. FEDERAL ADMINISTRATION IN CERTAIN STATES.

`The Secretary shall administer the tax imposed by this subtitle in any State or other United States jurisdiction that--

`(1) is not an administering State, or

`(2) elected to have another State administer its tax in accordance with section 401(g).

`SEC. 405. INTERSTATE ALLOCATION AND DESTINATION DETERMINATION.

`(a) DESTINATION GENERALLY- The tax imposed by this subtitle is a destination principle tax. This section shall govern for purposes of determining--

`(1) whether the destination of taxable property and services is within or without the United States, and

`(2) which State or territory within the United States is the destination of taxable property and services.

`(b) TANGIBLE PERSONAL PROPERTY- Except as provided in subsection (f) (relating to certain leases), the destination of tangible personal property shall be the State or territory in which the property was first delivered to the purchaser (including agents and authorized representatives).

`(c) REAL PROPERTY- The destination of real property, or rents or leaseholds on real property, shall be the State or territory in which the real property is located.

`(d) OTHER PROPERTY- The destination of any other taxable property shall be the residence of the purchaser.

`(e) SERVICES-

`(1) GENERAL RULE- The destination of services shall be the State or territory in which the use or consumption of the services occurred. Allocation of service invoices relating to more than 1 jurisdiction shall be on the basis of time or another method determined by regulation.

`(2) TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICES- The destination of telecommunications services shall be the residence of the purchaser. Telecommunications services include telephone, telegraph, beeper, radio, cable television, satellite, and computer on-line or network services.

`(3) DOMESTIC TRANSPORTATION SERVICES- For transportation services where all of the final destinations are within the United States, the destination of transportation services shall be the final destination of the trip (in the case of round or multiple trip fares, the services amount shall be equally allocated among each final destination).

`(4) INTERNATIONAL TRANSPORTATION SERVICES- For transportation services where the final destination or origin of the trip is without the United States, the service amount shall be deemed 50 percent attributable to the United States destination or origin.

`(5) ELECTRICAL SERVICE- The destination of electrical services shall be the residence of the purchaser.

`(f) FINANCIAL INTERMEDIATION SERVICES- The destination of financial intermediation services shall be the residence of the purchaser.

`(g) RENTS PAID FOR THE LEASE OF TANGIBLE PROPERTY-

`(1) GENERAL RULE- Except as provided in paragraph (2), the destination of rents paid for the lease of tangible property and leaseholds on such property shall be where the property is located while in use.

`(2) LAND VEHICLES; AIRCRAFT, WATER CRAFT- The destination of rental and lease payments on land vehicles, aircraft and water craft shall be--

`(A) in the case of rentals and leases of a term of 1 month or less, the location where the land vehicle, aircraft, or water craft was originally delivered to the renter or lessee; and

`(B) in the case of rentals and leases of a term greater than 1 month, the residence of the renter or lessee.

`(h) ALLOCATION RULES- For purposes of allocating revenue--

`(1) between or among administering States from taxes imposed by this subtitle or from State sales taxes administered by third-party administering States, or

`(2) between or among States imposing conforming State sales taxes,

the revenue shall be allocated to those States that are the destination of the taxable property or service.

`(i) FEDERAL OFFICE OF REVENUE ALLOCATION- The Secretary shall establish an Office of Revenue Allocation to arbitrate any claims or disputes among administering States as to the destination of taxable property and services for purposes of allocating revenue between or among the States from taxes imposed by this subtitle. The determination of the Administrator of the Office of Revenue Allocation shall be subject to judicial review in any Federal court with competent jurisdiction. The standard of review shall be abuse of discretion.

`SEC. 406. GENERAL ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS.

`(a) IN GENERAL- The Secretary and each sales tax administering authority may employ such persons as may be necessary for the administration of this subtitle and may delegate to employees the authority to conduct interviews, hearings, prescribe rules, promulgate regulations, and perform such other duties as are required by this subtitle.

`(b) RESOLUTION OF ANY INCONSISTENT RULES AND REGULATIONS- In the event that the Secretary and any sales tax administering authority have issued inconsistent rules or regulations, any lawful rule or regulation issued by the Secretary shall govern.

`(c) ADEQUATE NOTICE TO BE PROVIDED- Except in the case of an emergency declared by the Secretary (and not his designee), no rule or regulation issued by the Secretary with respect to any internal revenue law shall take effect before 90 days have elapsed after its publication in the Federal Register. Upon issuance, the Secretary shall provide copies of all rules or regulations issued under this title to each sales tax administering authority.

`(d) NO RULES, RULINGS, OR REGULATIONS WITH RETROACTIVE EFFECT- No rule, ruling, or regulation issued or promulgated by the Secretary relating to any internal revenue law or by a sales tax administering authority shall apply to a period prior to its publication in the Federal Register (or State equivalent) except that a regulation may take retroactive effect to prevent abuse.

`(e) REVIEW OF IMPACT OF REGULATIONS, RULES, AND RULINGS ON SMALL BUSINESS-

`(1) SUBMISSION TO SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION- After publication of any proposed or temporary regulation by the Secretary relating to internal revenue laws, the Secretary shall submit such regulation to the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the Small Business Administration for comment on the

impact of such regulation on small businesses. Not later than the date 30 days after the date of such submission, the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the Small Business Administration shall submit comments on such regulation to the Secretary.

`(2) CONSIDERATION OF COMMENTS- In prescribing any final regulation which supersedes a proposed or temporary regulation which had been submitted under this subsection to the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the Small Business Administration, the Secretary shall--

`(A) consider the comments of the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the Small Business Administration on such proposed or temporary regulation, and

`(B) in promulgating such final regulation, include a narrative that describes the response to such comments.

`(3) SUBMISSION OF CERTAIN FINAL REGULATION- In the case of promulgation by the Secretary of any final regulations (other than a temporary regulation) which do not supersede a proposed regulation, the requirements of paragraphs (1) and (2) shall apply, except that the submission under paragraph (1) shall be made at least 30 days before the date of such promulgation, and the consideration and discussion required under paragraph (2) shall be made in connection with the promulgation of such final regulation.

`(f) SMALL BUSINESS REGULATORY SAFEGUARDS- The Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act (Public Law 104-121; 110 Stat. 857 (`SBREFA')) and the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601-612 (`RFA')) shall apply to regulations promulgated under this subtitle.

`SEC. 407. JURISDICTION.

`(a) STATE JURISDICTION- A sales tax administering authority shall have jurisdiction over any gross payments made which have a destination (as determined in accordance with section 405) within the State of said sales tax administering authority. This grant of jurisdiction is not exclusive of any other jurisdiction that such sales tax administering authority may have.

`(b) FEDERAL JURISDICTION- The grant of jurisdiction in subsection (a) shall not be in derogation of Federal jurisdiction over the same matter. The Federal Government shall have the right to exercise preemptive jurisdiction over matters relating to the taxes imposed by this subtitle.

`CHAPTER 5--OTHER ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS

`Sec. 501. Monthly reports and payments.

`Sec. 502. Registration.

`Sec. 503. Accounting.

`Sec. 504. Registration certificates.

`Sec. 505. Penalties.

`Sec. 506. Burden of persuasion and burden of production.

`Sec. 507. Attorneys' and accountancy fees.

`Sec. 508. Summons, examinations, audits, etc.

`Sec. 509. Records.

`Sec. 510. Tax to be separately stated and charged.

`Sec. 511. Coordination with title 11.

`Sec. 512. Applicable interest rate.

`SEC. 501. MONTHLY REPORTS AND PAYMENTS.

`(a) TAX REPORTS AND FILING DATES-

`(1) IN GENERAL- On or before the 15th day of each month, each person who is--

`(A) liable to collect and remit the tax imposed by this subtitle by reason of section 103(a), or

`(B) liable to pay tax imposed by this subtitle which is not collected pursuant to section 103(a),

shall submit to the appropriate sales tax administering authority (in a form prescribed by the Secretary) a report relating to the previous calendar month.

`(2) CONTENTS OF REPORT- The report required under paragraph (1) shall set forth--

`(A) the gross payments referred to in section 101,

`(B) the tax collected under chapter 4 in connection with such payments,

`(C) the amount and type of any credit claimed, and

`(D) other information reasonably required by the Secretary or the sales tax administering authority for the administration, collection, and remittance of the tax imposed by this subtitle.

`(b) TAX PAYMENTS DATE-

`(1) GENERAL RULE- The tax imposed by this subtitle during any calendar month is due and shall be paid to the appropriate sales tax administering authority on or before the 15th day of the succeeding month. Both Federal tax imposed by this subtitle and conforming State sales tax (if any) shall be paid in 1 aggregate payment.

`(2) Cross reference-

`(c) EXTENSIONS FOR FILING REPORTS-

`(1) AUTOMATIC EXTENSIONS FOR NOT MORE THAN 30 DAYS- On application, an extension of not more than 30 days to file reports under subsection (a) shall be automatically granted.

`(2) OTHER EXTENSIONS- On application, extensions of 30 to 60 days to file such reports shall be liberally granted by the sales tax administering authority for reasonable cause. Extensions greater than 60 days may be granted by the sales tax administering authority to avoid hardship.

`(3) NO EXTENSION FOR PAYMENT OF TAXES- Notwithstanding paragraphs (1) and (2), no extension shall be granted with respect to the time for paying or remitting the taxes under this subtitle.

`(d) TELEPHONE REPORTING OF VIOLATIONS- The Secretary shall establish a system under which a violation of this subtitle can be brought to the attention of the sales tax administering authority for investigation through the use of a toll-free telephone number and otherwise.

`(e) SEPARATE SEGREGATED ACCOUNTS-

`(1) IN GENERAL- Any registered seller that is not a small seller shall deposit all sales taxes collected pursuant to section 103 in a particular week in a separate segregated account maintained at a bank or other financial institution within 3 business days of the end of such week. Said registered seller shall also maintain in that account sufficient funds to meet the bank or financial institution minimum

balance requirements, if any, and to pay account fees and costs.

`(2) SMALL SELLER- For purposes of this subsection, a small seller is any person that has not collected $20,000 or more of the taxes imposed by this subtitle in any of the previous 12 months.

`(3) LARGE SELLERS- Any seller that has collected $100,000 or more of the taxes imposed by this subtitle in any of the previous 12 months is a large seller. A large seller shall remit to the sales tax administering authority the entire balance of deposited taxes in its separate segregated account on the first business day following the end of the calendar week. The Secretary may by regulation require the electronic transfer of funds due from large sellers.

`(4) WEEK- For purposes of this subsection, the term `week' shall mean the 7-day period ending on a Friday.

`(f) DETERMINATION OF REPORT FILING DATE- A report filed pursuant to subsection (a) shall be deemed filed when--

`(1) deposited in the United States mail, postage prepaid, addressed to the sales tax administering authority,

`(2) delivered and accepted at the offices of the sales tax administering authority,

`(3) provided to a designated commercial private courier service for delivery within 2 days to the sales tax administering authority at the address of the sales tax administering authority, or

`(4) by other means permitted by the Secretary.

`(g) SECURITY REQUIREMENTS- A large seller (within the meaning of subsection (e)(3)) shall be required to provide security in an amount equal to the greater of $100,000 or one and one-half times the seller's average monthly tax liability during the previous 6 calendar months. Security may be a cash bond, a bond from a surety company approved by the Secretary, a certificate of deposit, or a State or United States Treasury bond. A bond qualifying under this subsection must be a continuing instrument for each calendar year (or portion thereof) that the bond is in effect. The bond must remain in effect until the surety or sureties are released and discharged. Failure to provide security in accordance with this section shall result in revocation of the seller's section 502 registration. If a person who has provided security pursuant to this subsection--

`(1) fails to pay an amount indicated in a final notice of amount due under this subtitle (within the meaning of section 605(d)),

`(2) no Taxpayer Assistance Order is in effect relating to the amount due,

`(3) either the time for filing an appeal pursuant to section 604 has passed or the appeal was denied, and

`(4) the amount due is not being litigated in any judicial forum,

then the security or part of the security, as the case may be, may be forfeited in favor of the Secretary to the extent of such tax due (plus interest if any).

`(h) REWARDS PROGRAM- The Secretary is authorized to maintain a program of awards wherein individuals that assist the Secretary or sales tax administering authorities in discovering or prosecuting tax fraud may be remunerated.

`(i) Cross Reference-

`SEC. 502. REGISTRATION.

`(a) IN GENERAL- Any person liable to collect and remit taxes pursuant to section 103(a) who is engaged in a trade or business shall register as a seller with the sales tax administering authority administering the taxes imposed by this subtitle.

`(b) AFFILIATED FIRMS- Affiliated firms shall be treated as 1 person for purposes of this section. Affiliated firms may elect, upon giving notice to the Secretary in a form prescribed by the Secretary, to treat separate firms as separate persons for purposes of this subtitle.

`(c) DESIGNATION OF TAX MATTERS PERSON- Every person registered pursuant to subsection (a) shall designate a tax matters person who shall be an individual whom the sales tax administering authority may contact regarding tax matters. Each person registered must provide notice of a change in the identity of the tax matters person within 30 days of said change.

`(d) CERTIFICATES OF REGISTRATION- The sales tax administering authority shall provide certificates of registration to registered sellers.

`(e) EFFECT OF FAILURE TO REGISTER- Any person that is required to register and who fails to do so is prohibited from selling taxable property or services. The Secretary or a sales tax administering authority may bring an action seeking a temporary restraining order, an injunction, or such other order as may be appropriate to enforce this section.

`SEC. 503. ACCOUNTING.

`(a) CASH METHOD TO BE USED GENERALLY- Registered sellers and other persons shall report transactions using the cash method of accounting unless an election to use the accrual method of accounting is made pursuant to subsection (b).

`(b) ELECTION TO USE ACCRUAL METHOD- A person may elect with respect to a calendar year to remit taxes and report transactions with respect to the month where a sale was invoiced and accrued.

`(c) Cross Reference-

`SEC. 504. REGISTRATION CERTIFICATES.

`The sales tax administering authority shall issue certificates of registration to registered sellers and such other certificates as are necessary or may prove useful in the administration of the taxes imposed by this subtitle.

`SEC. 505. PENALTIES.

`(a) FAILURE TO REGISTER- Each person who is required to register pursuant to section 502 but fails to do so prior to notification by the sales tax administering authority shall be liable for a penalty of $500.

`(b) RECKLESS OR WILLFUL FAILURE TO COLLECT TAX-

`(1) CIVIL PENALTY; FRAUD- Each person who is required to and recklessly or willfully fails to collect taxes imposed by this subtitle shall be liable for a penalty equal to the greater of $500 or 20 percent of the tax not collected.

`(2) CRIMINAL PENALTY- Each person who is required to and willfully fails as part of a trade or business to collect taxes imposed by this subtitle may be fined an amount up to the amount determined in accordance with paragraph (1) or imprisoned for a period of not more than 1 year or both.

`(c) RECKLESS OR WILLFUL ASSERTION OF INVALID EXEMPTION-

`(1) CIVIL PENALTY; FRAUD- Each person who recklessly or willfully asserts an invalid intermediate or export sales exemption from the taxes imposed by this subtitle shall be liable for a penalty equal to the greater of $500 or 20 percent of the tax not collected or remitted.

`(2) CRIMINAL PENALTY- Each person who willfully asserts an invalid intermediate or export sales exemption from the taxes imposed by this subtitle may be fined an amount up to the amount determined in accordance with paragraph (1) or imprisoned for a period of not more than 1 year or both.

`(d) RECKLESS OR WILLFUL FAILURE TO REMIT TAX COLLECTED-

`(1) CIVIL PENALTY; FRAUD- Each person who is required to and recklessly or willfully fails to remit taxes imposed by this subtitle and collected from purchasers shall be liable for a penalty equal to the greater of $1,000 or 50 percent of the tax not remitted.

`(2) CRIMINAL PENALTY- Each person who willfully fails to remit taxes imposed by this subtitle and collected from purchasers may be fined an amount up to the amount determined in accordance with paragraph (1) or imprisoned for a period of not more than 2 years or both.

`(e) RECKLESS OR WILLFUL FAILURE TO PAY TAX- Each person who is required to and recklessly or willfully fails to pay taxes imposed by this subtitle shall be liable for a penalty equal to the greater of $500 or 20 percent of the tax not paid.

`(f) PENALTY FOR LATE FILING-

`(1) IN GENERAL- In the case of a failure by any person who is required to and fails to file a report required by section 501 on or before the due date (determined with regard to any extension) for such report, such person shall pay a penalty for each month or fraction thereof that said report is late equal to the greater of--

`(A) $50, or

`(B) 0.5 percent of the gross payments required to be shown on the report.

`(2) INCREASED PENALTY ON RETURNS FILED AFTER WRITTEN INQUIRY- The amount of the penalty under paragraph (1) shall be doubled with respect to any report filed after a written inquiry with respect to such report is received by the taxpayer from the sales tax administering authority.

`(3) LIMITATION- The penalty imposed under this subsection shall not exceed 12 percent.

`(4) EXCEPTIONS-

`(A) REASONABLE CAUSE- No penalty shall be imposed under this subsection with respect to any failure if it is shown that such failure is due to reasonable cause.

`(B) OTHER WAIVER AUTHORITY- In addition to penalties not imposed by reason of subparagraph (A), the sales tax administering authority, on application, shall waive the penalty imposed by paragraph (1) once per registered person per 24-month period. The preceding sentence shall not apply to a penalty determined under paragraph (2).

`(g) PENALTY FOR WILLFULLY OR RECKLESSLY ACCEPTING A FALSE INTERMEDIATE OR EXPORT SALES CERTIFICATE- A person who willingly or recklessly accepts a false intermediate or export sales certificate shall pay a penalty equal to 20 percent of the tax not collected by reason of said acceptance.

`(h) PENALTY FOR LATE REMITTANCE OF TAXES-

`(1) IN GENERAL- A person who is required to timely remit taxes imposed by this subtitle and remits taxes more than 1 month after such taxes are due shall pay a penalty equal to 1 percent per month (or fraction thereof) from the due date.

`(2) LIMITATION- The penalty imposed under this subsection shall not exceed 24 percent.

`(3) EXCEPTIONS FOR REASONABLE CAUSE- No penalty shall be imposed under paragraph (1) with respect to any late remittance if it is shown that such late remittance is due to reasonable cause.

`(i) PENALTY FOR FILING FALSE REBATE CLAIM-

`(1) CIVIL PENALTY; FRAUD- A person who willingly or recklessly files a false claim for a family

consumption allowance rebate (within the meaning of chapter 3) shall--

`(A) pay a penalty equal to the greater of $500 or 50 percent of the claimed annual rebate amount not actually due, and

`(B) repay any rebates received as a result of the false rebate claim (together with interest).

`(2) CRIMINAL PENALTY- A person who willingly files a false claim for a family consumption allowance rebate (within the meaning of chapter 3) may be fined an amount up to the amount determined in accordance with paragraph (1) or imprisoned for a period not more than 1 year or both.

`(j) PENALTY FOR BAD CHECK- If any check or money order in payment of any amount receivable under this subtitle is not duly paid, in addition to other penalties provided by law, the person who tendered such check shall pay a penalty equal to the greater of--

`(1) $25, or

`(2) two percent of the amount of such check.

`(k) PENALTY FOR FAILURE TO MAINTAIN A SEPARATE SEGREGATED ACCOUNT- Any person required to maintain a separate segregated account pursuant to section 501(e) that fails to maintain such a separate segregated account shall pay a penalty of $1,000.

`(l) PENALTY FOR FAILURE TO DEPOSIT COLLECTED TAXES IN A SEPARATE SEGREGATED ACCOUNT- Any person required to deposit collected taxes into a separate segregated account maintained pursuant to section 501(e) that fails to timely deposit said taxes into the separate segregated account shall pay a penalty equal to 1 percent of the amount required to be deposited. The penalty imposed by the previous sentence shall be tripled unless said taxes have been deposited in the separate segregated account or remitted to the sales tax administering authority within 16 days of the date said deposit was due.

`(m) JOINT AND SEVERAL LIABILITY FOR TAX MATTERS PERSON AND RESPONSIBLE OFFICERS- The tax matters person (designated pursuant to section 502(c)) and responsible officers or partners of a firm shall be jointly and severally liable for the tax imposed by this subtitle and penalties imposed by this subtitle.

`(n) RIGHT OF CONTRIBUTION- If more than 1 person is liable with respect to any tax or penalty imposed by this subtitle, each person who paid such tax or penalty shall be entitled to recover from other persons who are liable for such tax or penalty an amount equal to the excess of the amount paid by such person over such person's proportionate share of the tax or penalty.

`(o) CIVIL PENALTIES AND CRIMINAL FINES NOT EXCLUSIVE-

`(1) CIVIL PENALTY- The fact that a civil penalty has been imposed shall not prevent the imposition of a criminal fine.

`(2) CRIMINAL FINE- The fact that a criminal fine has been imposed shall not prevent the imposition of a civil penalty.

`(p) CONFIDENTIALITY- Any person who violates the requirements relating to confidentiality of tax information (as provided in section 605(e)) may be fined up to $10,000 or imprisoned for a period of not more than 1 year, or both.

`(q) Cross Reference-

`SEC. 506. BURDEN OF PERSUASION AND BURDEN OF PRODUCTION.

`In all disputes concerning taxes imposed by this subtitle, the person engaged in a dispute with the sales tax administering authority or the Secretary, as the case may be, shall have the burden of production of documents and records but the sales tax administering authority or the Secretary shall have the burden of persuasion. In all disputes concerning an exemption claimed by a purchaser, if the seller has on file an intermediate sale or export sale certificate from the purchaser and did not have reasonable cause to believe that the certificate was improperly provided by the purchaser with respect to such purchase (within the meaning of section 103), then the burden of production of documents and records relating to that exemption shall rest with the purchaser and not with the seller.

`SEC. 507. ATTORNEYS' AND ACCOUNTANCY FEES.

`In all disputes concerning taxes imposed by this subtitle, the person engaged in a dispute with the sales tax administering authority or the Secretary, as the case may be, shall be entitled to reasonable attorneys' fees, accountancy fees, and other reasonable professional fees incurred in direct relation to the dispute unless the sales tax administering authority or the Secretary establishes that its position was substantially justified.

`SEC. 508. SUMMONS, EXAMINATIONS, AUDITS, ETC.

`(a) SUMMONS- Persons are subject to administrative summons by the sales tax administering authority for records, documents, and testimony required by the sales tax administering authority to accurately determine liability for tax under this subtitle. A summons shall be served by the sales tax administering authority by an attested copy delivered in hand to the person to whom it is directed or left at his last known address. The summons shall describe with reasonable certainty what is sought.

`(b) EXAMINATIONS AND AUDITS- The sales tax administering authority has the authority to conduct at a reasonable time and place examinations and audits of persons who are or may be liable to collect and remit tax imposed by this subtitle and to examine the books, papers, records, or other data of such persons which may be relevant or material to the determination of tax due.

`(c) LIMITATION ON AUTHORITY IN CASE OF REFERRAL- No administrative summons may be issued by the sales tax administering authority and no action be commenced to enforce an administrative summons with respect to any person if a Justice Department referral or referral to a State Attorney General's Office is in effect with respect to such person relating to a tax imposed by this subtitle. Such referral is in effect with respect to any person if the sales tax administering authority or the Secretary has recommended to the Justice Department or a State Attorney General's Office a grand jury investigation of such person or a criminal prosecution of such person that contemplates criminal sanctions under this title. A referral shall be terminated when--

`(1) the Justice Department or a State Attorney General's Office notifies the sales tax administering authority or the Secretary that he will not--

`(A) prosecute such person for any offense connected with the internal revenue laws,

`(B) authorize a grand jury investigation of such person with respect to such offense, or

`(C) continue such a grand jury investigation, or

`(2) a final disposition has been made of any criminal proceeding connected with the internal revenue laws, or conforming State sales tax, against such person.

`SEC. 509. RECORDS.

`Any person liable to remit taxes pursuant to this subtitle shall keep records (including a record of all section 510 receipts provided, complete records of intermediate and export sales, including purchaser's intermediate and export sales certificates and tax number and the net of tax amount of purchase) sufficient to determine the amounts reported, collected, and remitted for a period of 6 years after the latter of the filing of the report for which the records formed the basis or when the report was due to be filed. Any purchaser who purchased taxable property or services but did not pay tax by reason of asserting an intermediate and export sales exemption shall keep records sufficient to determine whether said exemption was valid for a period of 7 years after the purchase of taxable property or services.

`SEC. 510. TAX TO BE SEPARATELY STATED AND CHARGED.

`(a) IN GENERAL- For each purchase of taxable property or services for which a tax is imposed by section 101, the seller shall charge the tax imposed by section 101 separately from the purchase. For purchase of taxable property or services for which a tax is imposed by section 101, the seller shall provide to the purchaser a receipt for each transaction that includes--

`(1) the property or services price exclusive of tax;

`(2) the amount of tax paid;

`(3) the property or service price inclusive of tax;

`(4) the tax rate (the amount of tax paid (per paragraph (2)) divided by the property or service price inclusive of tax (per paragraph (3));

`(5) the date that the good or service was sold;

`(6) the name of the vendor; and

`(7) the vendor registration number.

`(b) VENDING MACHINE EXCEPTION- The requirements of subsection (a) shall be inapplicable in the case of sales by vending machines. Vending machines for purposes of this subsection are machines--

`(1) that dispense taxable property in exchange for coins or currency; and

`(2) that sell no single item exceeding $10 per unit in price.

`(c) FINANCIAL INTERMEDIATION SERVICES EXCEPTION- The requirements of subsection (a) shall be inapplicable in the case of sales financial intermediation service. Receipts shall be issued when the tax is imposed (in accordance with section 803 (relating to timing of tax on financial intermediation services)).

`SEC. 511. COORDINATION WITH TITLE 11.

`No addition to tax shall be made under section 505 with respect to a period during which a case is pending under title 11, United States Code--

`(1) if such tax was incurred by the estate and the failure occurred pursuant to an order of the court finding probable insufficiency of funds of the estate to pay administrative expenses; or

`(2) if--

`(A) such tax was incurred by the debtor before the earlier of the order for relief or (in the involuntary case) the appointment of a trustee; and

`(B) the petition was filed before the due date prescribed by law (including extensions) for filing a return of such tax, or the date for making the addition to tax occurs on or after the date the petition was filed.

`SEC. 512. APPLICABLE INTEREST RATE.

`(a) IN GENERAL-

`(1) FEDERAL SHORT-TERM RATE- In the case of a debt instrument, investment, financing lease, or account with a term of not over 3 years, the applicable interest rate is the Federal short-term rate.

`(2) FEDERAL MID-TERM RATE- In the case of a debt instrument, investment, financing lease, or account with a term of over 3 years but not over 9 years, the applicable interest rate is the Federal mid-term rate.

`(3) FEDERAL LONG-TERM RATE- In the case of a debt instrument, investment, financing lease, or account with a term of over 9 years, the applicable interest rate is the Federal long-term rate.

`(b) FEDERAL SHORT-TERM RATE- The Federal short-term rate shall be the rate determined by the Secretary based on the average market yield (selected by the Secretary and ending in the calendar month in which the determination is made during any one month) on outstanding marketable obligations of the United States with remaining periods to maturity of 3 years or fewer.

`(c) FEDERAL MID-TERM RATE- The Federal mid-term rate shall be the rate determined by the Secretary based on the average market yield (selected by the Secretary and ending in the calendar month in which the determination is made during any 1 month) on outstanding marketable obligations of the United States with remaining periods to maturity of more than 3 years and not over 9 years.

`(d) FEDERAL LONG-TERM RATE- The Federal long-term rate shall be the rate determined by the Secretary based on the average market yield (selected by the Secretary and ending in the calendar month in which the determination is made during any 1 month) on outstanding marketable obligations of the United States with remaining periods to maturity of over 9 years.

`(e) DETERMINATION OF RATES- During each calendar month, the Secretary shall determine the Federal short-term rate, the Federal mid-term rate and the Federal long-term rate which shall apply during the following calendar month.

`CHAPTER 6--COLLECTIONS; APPEALS; TAXPAYER RIGHTS

`Sec. 601. Collections.

`Sec. 602. Power to levy, etc.

`Sec. 603. Problem resolution offices.

`Sec. 604. Appeals.

`Sec. 605. Taxpayer rights.

`Sec. 606. Installment agreements; compromises.

`SEC. 601. COLLECTIONS.

`The sales tax administering authority shall collect the taxes imposed by this subtitle, except as provided in section 404 (relating to Federal administration in certain States).

`SEC. 602. POWER TO LEVY, ETC.

`(a) IN GENERAL- The sales tax administering authority may levy and seize property, garnish wages or salary and file liens to collect amounts due under this subtitle, pursuant to enforcement of--

`(1) a judgment duly rendered by a court of law;

`(2) an amount due if the taxpayer has failed to exercise his appeals rights under section 604; or

`(3) an amount due if the appeals process determined that an amount remained due and the taxpayer has failed to timely petition the Tax Court for relief.

`(b) EXEMPTION FROM LEVY, SEIZURE, AND GARNISHMENT- There shall be exempt from levy, seizure, and garnishment or penalty in connection with any tax imposed by this subtitle--

`(1) wearing apparel, school books, fuel, provisions, furniture, personal effects, tools of a trade or profession, livestock in a household up to an aggregate value of $15,000; and

`(2) monthly money income equal to 150 percent of the monthly poverty level (as defined in section 303).

`(c) LIENS TO BE TIMELY RELEASED- Subject to such reasonable regulations as the Secretary may provide, any lien imposed with respect to a tax imposed by this title shall be released not later than 30 days after--

`(1) the liability was satisfied or became unenforceable; or

`(2) a bond was accepted as security.

`SEC. 603. PROBLEM RESOLUTION OFFICES.

`(a) PROBLEM RESOLUTION OFFICE TO BE ESTABLISHED- Each sales tax administering authority shall establish an independent Problem Resolution Office and appoint an adequate number of problem resolution officers. The head of the problem resolution office must be appointed by, and serve at the pleasure of, either the State Governor (in the case of an administering State) or the President of the United States.

`(b) AUTHORITY OF PROBLEM RESOLUTION OFFICERS- Problem resolution officers shall have the authority to investigate complaints and issue a Taxpayer Assistance Order to administratively enjoin any collection activity if, in the opinion of the problem resolution officer, said collection activity is reasonably likely to not be in compliance with law or to prevent hardship (other than by reason of having to pay taxes lawfully due). Problem resolution officers shall also have the authority to issue Taxpayer Assistance Orders releasing or returning property that has been levied upon or seized, ordering that a lien be released and that garnished wages be returned. A Taxpayer Assistance Order may only be rescinded or modified by the problem resolution officer that issued it, by the highest official in the relevant sales tax administering authority or by its general counsel upon a finding that the collection activity is justified by clear and convincing evidence. The authority to reverse this Taxpayer Assistance Order may not be delegated.

`(c) FORM OF REQUEST FOR TAXPAYER ASSISTANCE ORDER- The Secretary shall establish a form and procedure to aid persons requesting the assistance of the Problem Resolution Office and to aid the Problem Resolution Office in understanding the needs of the person seeking assistance. The use of this form, however, shall not be a prerequisite to a problem resolution officer taking action, including issuing a Taxpayer Assistance Order.

`(d) CONTENT OF TAXPAYER ASSISTANCE ORDER- A Taxpayer Assistance Order shall contain the name of the problem resolution officer, any provision relating to the running of any applicable period of limitation, the name of the person that the Taxpayer Assistance Order assists, the government office (or employee or officer of said government office) to whom it is directed and the action or cessation of action that the Taxpayer Assistance Order requires of said government office (or employee or officer of said government office). The Taxpayer Assistance Order need not contain findings of fact or its legal basis; however, the problem resolution officer must provide findings of fact and the legal basis for the issuance of the Taxpayer Assistance Order to the sales tax administering authority upon the request of an officer of said authority within 2 weeks of the receipt of such request.

`(e) INDEPENDENCE PROTECTED- Problem resolution officers shall not be disciplined or adversely affected for the issuance of administrative injunctions unless a pattern of issuing injunctions that are manifestly unreasonable is proven in an administrative hearing by a preponderance of the evidence.

`(f) OTHER RIGHTS NOT LIMITED- Nothing in this section shall limit the authority of the sales tax administering authority, the registered person or other person from pursuing any legal remedy in any court with jurisdiction over the dispute at issue.

`(g) LIMITATIONS- The running of any applicable period of limitation shall be suspended for a period of 8 weeks following the issuance of a Taxpayer Assistance Order or, if specified, for a longer period set forth in the Taxpayer Assistance Order provided the suspension does not exceed 6 months.

`SEC. 604. APPEALS.

`(a) ADMINISTRATIVE APPEALS- The sales tax administering authority shall establish an administrative appeals process wherein the registered person or other person in disagreement with a decision of the sales tax administering authority asserting liability for tax is p