Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:
Section 1. Section 42-1101.01, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:
42-1101.01. Definitions
In this article, unless the context otherwise requires:
1. "Customer" means a person that purchases goods or services from any vendor.
1. 2. "Electronic return preparer" means a person who for compensation prepares an electronic return, statement or other document or prepares a substantial portion of an electronic return, statement or other document or transforms a paper version of a completed return, statement or other document to an electronic version of the same return, statement or other document for filing with the department. Electronic return preparer does not include a person who for compensation provides only computational and informational software used to prepare and file taxes.
2. 3. "Electronic return transmitter" means a person who receives the electronic return, statement or other document from a taxpayer or electronic return preparer for ultimate transmittal to the department.
3. 4. "Return preparer":
(a) Means any person that prepares a return, statement or other document or substantial portion of a return, statement or other document for compensation, regardless of the media used to prepare the return.
(b) Does not include a person because the person:
(i) Furnishes typing, reproducing or other mechanical assistance.
(ii) Prepares a return, statement or other document for an employer and is regularly and continuously employed by the employer.
(iii) Prepares as a fiduciary a return, statement or other document for any person.
(iv) Prepares a claim for refund or a return, statement or other document for a taxpayer in response to any notice of deficiency issued to the taxpayer or in response to any waiver of restriction after the commencement of an audit of the taxpayer.
(v) Furnishes computational and informational software used by the taxpayer to prepare the taxpayer's return, statement or other document.
(vi) Only prepares payment documents for payment made to the department pursuant to section 42‑1129.
4. 5. "Return, statement or other document" means any return, claim for refund, statement or other document that is required or authorized to be filed with the department pursuant to this title or title 43, including returns for any political subdivision of this state for which the department collects taxes.
6. "Vendor" means any taxpayer that either is liable for filing and remitting transaction privilege tax to the department under any tax classification pursuant to chapter 5, article 2 of this title or is registered with the department to remit use tax to the department on behalf of its purchasers.
Sec. 2. Section 42-1118, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:
42-1118. Refunds, credits, offsets and abatements
A. If the department determines that any amount of tax, penalty or interest has been paid in excess of the amount actually due, the department shall credit the excess amount against any tax administered pursuant to this article, including any penalty, interest or other amounts owed by the taxpayer to the department. If it is determined that the amount cannot be credited against a tax or installment of taxes due from the taxpayer, the department may:
1. Refund the entire amount of tax, interest and penalty, in a lump sum or in not more than five annual installments, to the taxpayer from whom it was collected.
2. Issue to the taxpayer a credit voucher for the entire amount of tax, interest and penalty collected, to be carried forward and applied against future tax liabilities until exhausted.
3. Refund part, and issue a credit voucher for the balance, of the tax, interest and penalties as provided in paragraphs 1 and 2 of this subsection.
B. In the case of a transaction privilege tax, a vendor may claim a refund under this chapter except as provided in section 42-1118.01 or subsection K of this section.
B. C. If the total amount withheld from income under section 43‑401 exceeds the amount of the tax on the employee's entire taxable income as computed under title 43, the department shall refund the amount of the excess deducted without requiring a filing of a refund claim as provided in this section. The failure of the department to make the refund does not limit the right of the taxpayer to file a claim for a refund pursuant to this section if the claim is not barred under section 42‑1106. The department shall not refund amounts less than one dollar unless specifically requested by the taxpayer at the time the return or claim for refund is filed.
C. D. Any overpayment that may result from withholdings or estimates pursuant to section 43‑401, 43‑581 or 43‑582 shall not be credited or refunded unless an Arizona income tax return has been filed for the tax year for which the withholdings or estimates were made.
D. E. The department shall give a vendor who has a duty to collect use tax pursuant to chapter 5, article 4 of this title and who has not collected that tax full credit or offset for any use tax, interest and penalty paid to the department by the purchaser when issuing a determination of a deficiency pursuant to section 42‑1108. This credit or offset shall be computed from the date of the use tax payment by the purchaser. If the purchaser has been audited by the department for use tax for the period of the purchase, the purchaser is considered to have paid the use tax to the department. For other purchases, the vendor may submit an affirmation by a purchaser on a form prescribed by the department that use tax was paid on the purchase. A fully completed certificate, taken in good faith by the vendor, constitutes proof that the vendor is entitled to this credit or offset. The department may require a purchaser who has submitted the certificate to establish the accuracy and completeness of the information contained in the certificate. If the purchaser cannot establish the accuracy and completeness of the information, the purchaser is liable for a penalty equal to the amount of tax and interest that would have been paid by the seller and for the additional penalties pursuant to section 42‑1125. Payment of the penalty relieves the purchaser of any responsibility for paying the use tax. The department may require this proof and may assess the purchaser within the later of the period of limitations set forth in section 42‑1104 or one year from the date the notice of proposed deficiency is issued to the vendor if the purchaser does not establish the accuracy of the information contained in the certificate.
E. F. Each claim for refund shall be filed with the department in writing and shall identify the claimant by name, address and tax identification number. Each claim shall provide the amount of refund requested, the specific tax period involved and the specific grounds on which the claim is founded. Refunds are subject to setoff for debts pursuant to section 42‑1122.
F. G. A motor vehicle manufacturer that repurchases a vehicle pursuant to section 44‑1263 or for reasons of consumer satisfaction may apply for a refund of the taxes paid under chapter 5 of this title if that manufacturer has refunded the amount of tax to the consumer. A refund is allowed under this subsection only if the manufacturer provides satisfactory proof to the department that tax amounts attributed to the sale of the vehicle were collected from the consumer and that the manufacturer refunded an amount of tax to the consumer. Any refund provided under this subsection is in lieu of any refund on the vehicle that the dealer may otherwise be entitled to receive. A manufacturer must apply for a refund under this subsection within four years after repurchasing the vehicle. For the purposes of this subsection:
1. "Consumer" has the same meaning prescribed in section 44‑1261.
2. "Motor vehicle manufacturer" means a corporation engaged in the business of producing passenger cars, trucks and multipurpose passenger vehicles as described in 49 Code of Federal Regulations section 571.3.
3. "Satisfactory proof" includes copies of checks and a purchase or lease agreement that lists the vehicle identification number and that itemizes the amount that was collected as tax from the consumer.
G. H. The department shall not imprint the full social security number or other taxpayer identifier used pursuant to section 42‑1105 on any taxpayer refund check, voucher or other credit documentation issued to the taxpayer under this section.
H. I. If any amount has been erroneously determined to be due from any person but not yet collected, the department shall cancel the amount or amounts on its records.
I. J. If, with or after the filing of a protest or an appeal with the department, the state board of tax appeals or the court, a taxpayer pays the tax protested or appealed before the department, board or court acts upon on the protest or the appeal, such body shall treat the protest or the appeal as a claim for refund or an appeal from the denial of a claim for refund filed under this section.
K. Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, the department may deny a claim for refund of transaction privilege tax filed by a vendor that arises from the same transaction or transactions for which the department has paid a claim filed under section 42‑1118.01.
Sec. 3. Title 42, chapter 1, article 3, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended by adding section 42-1118.01, to read:
42-1118.01. Customer refund claims; transaction privilege or use tax; assignment by vendor; payment or denial of claim
A. A customer who paid to a vendor an amount that the vendor passed on to the customer equal to the vendor's transaction privilege tax or who paid a use tax to a vendor may file a claim pursuant to this section if the vendor assigns under subsection B or C of this section to the customer its right to claim an amount equal to any tax and interest that the vendor could otherwise claim as a refund under section 42-1118.
B. Any claim by a customer under this section is in lieu of the vendor claiming a refund for the underlying tax under section 42-1118. If a claim is paid under this section, only the customer and not the vendor may be held liable for any amount erroneously paid or credited to the customer. a Customer may file a claim under this section as follows:
1. Through an affirmative assignment of rights by the vendor to the customer using a form and in the manner prescribed by the department. The form prescribed by the department shall require all of the following:
(a) The vendor's transaction privilege tax license number or use tax registration number.
(b) A description of transactions covered by the assignment and the total amount of transaction privilege or use tax paid by the vendor for those transactions.
(c) The tax periods for which the vendor reported and remitted the tax to the department.
(d) A list of any local jurisdictions to which the vendor reported and remitted local privilege taxes arising from the transactions covered by the assignment.
(e) The vendor's authorization for the department to amend the vendor's returns or account to reflect the amount paid to the customer pursuant to a claim filed under this section.
(f) A statement executed by the vendor affirming, under penalty of perjury, that the vendor has not requested or received a refund or credit and will not claim a refund or credit for the tax remitted on the transactions covered by the assignment. If the vendor is a legal entity, the statement shall be executed by a full-time officer, partner, member or manager of a limited liability company or an employee of the vendor who is authorized to execute the form on behalf of the vendor.
2. If the vendor fails or refuses to properly assign its right to a claim as provided in paragraph 1 of this subsection within sixty days after the date of the customer's written request to the vendor or if the vendor is no longer in business, the customer may provide the department with a statement on a form prescribed by the department explaining the efforts made to obtain an assignment from the vendor. The statement shall contain all of the following:
(a) The vendor's transaction privilege tax license number or use tax registration number, if known by the customer.
(b) A description of transactions sought to be covered by the assignment and either the total amount of transaction privilege tax due for the transactions or the total amount of use tax collected by the vendor for the transactions.
(c) The tax periods for which the vendor should have reported and remitted the tax to the department.
C. If a claim is filed with the department pursuant to subsection B, paragraph 2 of this section, the department shall attempt to notify the vendor of the claim at the vendor's last known address. The department shall continue processing the claim on receiving written acknowledgment from the vendor affirming the accuracy of the information regarding the transactions provided by the customer. On paying or crediting monies to the customer pursuant to the claim, the department shall amend the vendor's returns or account to reflect the amount paid or credited to the customer. If the vendor objects to the claim by the customer or fails to respond within thirty days after the date of the notice, the department may continue to process the claim and, on paying or crediting monies to the customer pursuant to the claim, the department shall amend the vendor's returns or account to reflect the amount paid or credited to the customer and notify the vendor of the adjustment. Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, the department and the vendor may communicate regarding the customer's claim.
d. A claim submitted by a customer under this section is subject to any offset, defense or other claim that the department would otherwise have against either the customer or the vendor.
e. The department may not require the vendor or the customer to submit amended returns for a claim submitted under this section.
f. Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, the department may disallow a claim filed by a customer for an amount under this section if the department already paid or credited a refund of transaction privilege or use tax arising from the same transaction or transactions pursuant to section 42‑1118.
Sec. 4. Section 42-1119, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:
42-1119. Denial of refund
A. If the department disallows any claim for refund, it shall notify the taxpayer accordingly. The department's action on the claim is final unless the taxpayer appeals to the department in writing within the time and in the manner prescribed by section 42‑1123. If the department disallows interest on any claim for refund, it shall notify the taxpayer accordingly and the claim shall be treated as a claim for refund.
B. If the department disallows any claim under section 42-1118.01, the department shall notify the customer and the vendor. The department's action on the claim is final unless the customer appeals to the department in writing within the time and in the manner prescribed by section 42-1251. If the department disallows interest on any claim under section 42-1123, the department shall notify the customer and the claim shall be treated as a claim under section 42-1118.01.
B. C. If the department fails to mail notice of action on any claim for refund of tax or interest within six months after the claim is filed, the taxpayer or a customer with rights to a claim under section 42‑1118.01, prior to mailing of notice of action on the refund claim, may consider the claim disallowed. The taxpayer or the customer may appeal to the department for a hearing pursuant to section 42‑1251.
Sec. 5. Section 42-1123, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:
42-1123. Interest
A. If it is provided by law that interest applies as determined pursuant to this section, the department shall apply interest, compounded annually, in the same manner and at the same times as prescribed by section 6621 of the United States internal revenue code, except that the rate of interest for both overpayments and underpayments for all taxpayers is the federal short‑term rate, determined pursuant to section 6621(b) of the internal revenue code, plus three percentage points.
B. On January 1 of each year the department shall add any interest outstanding as of that date to the principal amount of the tax. For purposes of this section, the amount added to the principal is thereafter considered a part of the principal amount of the tax and accrues interest pursuant to this section.
C. If the tax, whether determined by the department or the taxpayer, or any portion of the tax is not paid on or before the date prescribed for its payment, the department shall collect, as a part of the tax, interest on the unpaid amount at the rate determined pursuant to this section from the date prescribed for its payment until it is paid.
D. Interest on the amount assessed as a deficiency shall be assessed and paid at the same time as the deficiency at the rate determined pursuant to this section from the date prescribed for the payment of the tax to the date the deficiency is assessed. If any portion of the deficiency is paid before the date it is assessed, interest shall accrue on that portion only to the date paid.
E. If the time for filing a return is extended, the department shall collect, as part of such tax, interest on any unpaid balance at the rate determined pursuant to this section from the date on which the payment should have been made if no extension had been granted until the date the tax is paid.
F. Except in the case of a jeopardy assessment, collection of which has been stayed by the posting of a bond, if a deficiency or any interest is not paid in full within ten days from the date of notice and demand from the department, the department shall collect as a part of the tax interest on the unpaid tax or interest at the rate determined pursuant to this section from the date of the notice and demand until it is paid.
G. If an original return filed with the department shows that the taxpayer is entitled to a refund, interest is not allowed on the amount to be refunded if the refund is paid within sixty days of the last day for filing the return or sixty days from the filing of the return, whichever is later. If the department does not pay the amount of the refund due within sixty days after the date established in this subsection, the department shall pay the interest on the amount at the rate prescribed in this section from the sixty‑first day to the issued date of the refund warrant. The department's annual budget shall separately state the amount necessary to satisfy the requirements of this subsection.
H. In the case of an amended return, claim for refund or refund determined through audit, interest shall be allowed and paid, with respect to any tax, from the date prescribed for the payment of that tax to the issue date of the refund warrant, but in the case of an original return of tax which that is filed after the last date prescribed for filing the return and paying such tax, determined with regard to extensions, no interest may be allowed or paid for any day before the date on which the return is filed or the tax paid, whichever is later. A payment not made incident to a bona fide and orderly discharge of an actual liability or one reasonably assumed to be imposed by law is not an overpayment for the purposes of this subsection and interest is not payable on the payment.
I. In the case of a customer claim under section 42-1118.01, interest shall be allowed and paid with respect to any amount from the date prescribed for the payment of that amount to the date of the credit or payment of the claim to the customer. A payment not made incident to a bona fide and orderly discharge of an actual liability or one reasonably assumed to be imposed by law is not an overpayment for the purposes of this subsection, and interest is not payable on the payment.
I. J. If a credit or refund of any part of an overpayment would be barred under section 42‑1106, subsection A, except for the provisions of section 42‑1104, subsection B, paragraph 4, interest shall not be allowed or paid with respect to such part of the overpayment for any period beginning after the expiration of the period of limitation provided in section 42‑1106, subsection A for filing a claim for credit or refund of such part of the overpayment and ending at the expiration of six months after the date on which the claim was filed or, if no claim was filed and the overpayment was found by the department, ending at the time the appeal was filed with the board.
J. K. In any judgment of any court rendered for any overpayment, interest shall be allowed at the rate determined pursuant to this section on the amount of the overpayment from the date of the payment or collection to the date of allowance of credit on account of such judgment or to a date determined by the department preceding the date of the refund warrant by not more than thirty days.
Sec. 6. Section 42-1251, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:
42-1251. Appeal to the department; hearing
A. Except in the case of individual income taxes, a person from whom an amount is determined to be due under article 3 of this chapter may apply to the department by a petition in writing within forty‑five days after the notice of a proposed assessment made pursuant to section 42‑1109, subsection B or the notice required by section 42‑1108, subsection B is received, or within such additional time as the department may allow, for a hearing, correction or redetermination of the action taken by the department. In the case of individual income taxes, the period is ninety days from the date the notice is mailed. The petition shall set forth the reasons why the hearing, correction or redetermination should be granted and the amount in which any tax, interest and penalties should be reduced. If only a portion of the deficiency assessment is protested, all unprotested amounts of tax, interest and penalties must be paid at the time the protest is filed. The department shall consider the petition and grant a hearing, if requested. To represent the taxpayer person at the hearing or to appear on the taxpayer's person's behalf is deemed not to be the practice of law.
B. If the taxpayer person does not file a petition for hearing, correction or redetermination within the period provided by this section, the amount determined to be due becomes final at the expiration of the period. The taxpayer person is deemed to have waived and abandoned the right to question the amount determined to be due, unless the taxpayer person pays the total deficiency assessment, including interest and penalties. The taxpayer person may then file a claim for refund pursuant to section 42‑1118 within six months of payment of the deficiency assessment or within the time limits prescribed by section 42‑1106, whichever period expires later.
C. All orders or decisions made on the filing of a petition for a hearing, correction or redetermination become final thirty days after notice has been received by the petitioner, unless the petitioner appeals the order or decision to the state board of tax appeals.
Sec. 7. Section 42-1253, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:
42-1253. Appeal to state board of tax appeals; definition
A. Except as provided in section 42‑1254, subsection C, a person aggrieved by a final decision or order of the department under section 42‑1251, article 3 of this chapter or section 42‑2065, 42‑2068, 42‑2069, 42‑2074, 42‑2201 or 42‑2202 may appeal to the state board of tax appeals by filing a notice of appeal in writing within thirty days after the decision or order from which the appeal is taken has become final.
B. The board shall take testimony and examine documentary evidence as necessary to determine the appeal, all pursuant to administrative rules to govern such appeals.
C. On determining the appeal the board shall issue a decision consistent with its determination. The board's decision is final on the expiration of thirty days from the date when notice of its action is received by the taxpayer person, unless either the department or the taxpayer person brings an action in tax court as provided in section 42‑1254.
D. If the amount in any single dispute before the board is less than twenty‑five thousand dollars, a taxpayer person may be represented in that dispute before the board by:
1. A certified public accountant.
2. A person who is enrolled to practice before the United States internal revenue service and is recognized as an enrolled agent.
3. Any other person individual who is authorized by the taxpayer person under a properly executed power of attorney and who was previously or is currently retained by the taxpayer person for purposes other than representation in a hearing before the board.
E. If a practitioner who represents a taxpayer person before the board pursuant to subsection D of this section fails to comply with an order or rule of the board, the board may impose sanctions including one or both of the following:
1. Order that the stipulation of the facts proposed by the department of revenue be accepted.
2. Suspend the practitioner from further practice before the board either for a specific period of time or until the board removes the suspension.
F. For the purposes of this section, "practitioner" means a person, other than a party, who files documents with or appears before the board in connection with a matter before the board.
Sec. 8. Section 42-1254, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:
42-1254. Appeal to tax court
A. The department or a taxpayer person aggrieved by a decision of the state board of tax appeals may bring an action in tax court.
B. If the department is aggrieved by a decision of the board and the amount in dispute is less than five thousand dollars, the department may not bring an action in tax court unless the department determines that the decision of the board involves an issue of substantial significance to the state. A taxpayer person aggrieved by a determination of the department that an issue is of substantial significance to the state may file a motion with the tax court to dismiss the action brought by the department on the grounds that the determination constitutes an abuse of discretion.
C. Except in the case of individual income tax cases in which the amount in dispute is less than five thousand dollars, a person who is aggrieved by a final decision or order of the department under section 42‑1251 or article 3 of this chapter may, in lieu of appealing to the state board of tax appeals under section 42‑1253, may bring an action in tax court by filing a notice of appeal in writing within thirty days after the decision or order from which the appeal is taken has become final.
D. Any appeal that is taken to tax court pursuant to this section is subject to the following provisions:
1. No injunction, writ of mandamus or other legal or equitable process may issue in an action in any court in this state against an officer of this state to prevent or enjoin the collection of any tax, penalty or interest.
2. The action shall not begin more than thirty days after the order or decision of the board or department becomes final. Failure to bring the action within thirty days after the order or decision of the board or department becomes final constitutes a waiver of the protest and a waiver of all claims against this state arising from or based on the illegality in the tax, penalties and interest at issue, except that within the time limits set forth in section 42‑1106, a taxpayer person who fails to bring an action within thirty days may pay the tax under protest stating the grounds of objection to the legality of the tax and then file a claim for refund of the taxes paid. The refund claim shall then be governed by section 42‑1119 and this section.
3. The tax court shall hear and determine the appeal as a trial de novo.
4. Either party to such action may appeal to the court of appeals or supreme court as provided by law.
5. If a final judgment is rendered in favor of the taxpayer person in the action, the amount or such portion of the judgment as may be necessary shall first be credited to any taxes, penalties and interest due from the plaintiff taxpayer person, and the amount of the balance remaining due the taxpayer person shall be certified by the department of revenue to the department of administration, with a certified copy of the final judgment and a claim for refund authenticated by the department of revenue. On receipt, the department of administration shall draw a warrant payable to the taxpayer person in an amount equal to the amount of the tax found by the judgment to be illegal, less the amount of any taxes, penalties and interest due from the taxpayer person. The department of administration shall draw a separate warrant payable to the taxpayer person in an amount equal to the interest and other costs recovered against the department of revenue by the judgment, which shall be paid from the appropriate tax account.
Sec. 9. Section 42-2003, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:
42-2003. Authorized disclosure of confidential information
A. Confidential information relating to:
1. A taxpayer may be disclosed to the taxpayer, its successor in interest or a designee of the taxpayer who is authorized in writing by the taxpayer. A principal corporate officer of a parent corporation may execute a written authorization for a controlled subsidiary.
2. A corporate taxpayer may be disclosed to any principal officer, any person designated by a principal officer or any person designated in a resolution by the corporate board of directors or other similar governing body.
3. A partnership may be disclosed to any partner of the partnership. This exception does not include disclosure of confidential information of a particular partner unless otherwise authorized.
4. An estate may be disclosed to the personal representative of the estate and to any heir, next of kin or beneficiary under the will of the decedent if the department finds that the heir, next of kin or beneficiary has a material interest which that will be affected by the confidential information.
5. A trust may be disclosed to the trustee or trustees, jointly or separately, and to the grantor or any beneficiary of the trust if the department finds that the grantor or beneficiary has a material interest that will be affected by the confidential information.
6. Any taxpayer may be disclosed if the taxpayer has waived any rights to confidentiality either in writing or on the record in any administrative or judicial proceeding.
7. The name and taxpayer identification numbers of persons issued direct payment permits may be publicly disclosed.
8. The vendor as defined in section 42-1101.01 of a customer as defined in section 42-1101.01 with rights to a claim under section 42‑1118.01 or 42‑1119 may be disclosed to the customer in order for the customer to pursue a claim in lieu of a claim for refund of transaction privilege tax or use tax reported and remitted by the customer's vendor.
B. Confidential information may be disclosed to:
1. Any employee of the department whose official duties involve tax administration.
2. The office of the attorney general solely for its use in preparation for, or in an investigation that may result in, any proceeding involving tax administration before the department or any other agency or board of this state, or before any grand jury or any state or federal court.
3. The department of liquor licenses and control for its use in determining whether a spirituous liquor licensee has paid all transaction privilege taxes and affiliated excise taxes incurred as a result of the sale of spirituous liquor, as defined in section 4‑101, at the licensed establishment and imposed on the licensed establishments by this state and its political subdivisions.
4. Other state tax officials whose official duties require the disclosure for proper tax administration purposes if the information is sought in connection with an investigation or any other proceeding conducted by the official. Any disclosure is limited to information of a taxpayer who is being investigated or who is a party to a proceeding conducted by the official.
5. The following agencies, officials and organizations, if they grant substantially similar privileges to the department for the type of information being sought, pursuant to statute and a written agreement between the department and the foreign country, agency, state, Indian tribe or organization:
(a) The United States internal revenue service, alcohol and tobacco tax and trade bureau of the United States treasury, United States bureau of alcohol, tobacco, firearms and explosives of the United States department of justice, United States drug enforcement agency and federal bureau of investigation.
(b) A state tax official of another state.
(c) An organization of states, federation of tax administrators or multistate tax commission that operates an information exchange for tax administration purposes.
(d) An agency, official or organization of a foreign country with responsibilities that are comparable to those listed in subdivision (a), (b) or (c) of this paragraph.
(e) An agency, official or organization of an Indian tribal government with responsibilities comparable to the responsibilities of the agencies, officials or organizations identified in subdivision (a), (b) or (c) of this paragraph.
6. The auditor general, in connection with any audit of the department subject to the restrictions in section 42‑2002, subsection D.
7. Any person to the extent necessary for effective tax administration in connection with:
(a) The processing, storage, transmission, destruction and reproduction of the information.
(b) The programming, maintenance, repair, testing and procurement of equipment for purposes of tax administration.
(c) The collection of the taxpayer's civil liability.
8. The office of administrative hearings relating to taxes administered by the department pursuant to section 42‑1101, but the department shall not disclose any confidential information:
(a) Regarding income tax or withholding tax.
(b) On any tax issue relating to information associated with the reporting of income tax or withholding tax.
9. The United States treasury inspector general for tax administration for the purpose of reporting a violation of internal revenue code section 7213A (26 United States Code section 7213A), unauthorized inspection of returns or return information.
10. The financial management service of the United States treasury department for use in the treasury offset program.
11. The United States treasury department or its authorized agent for use in the state income tax levy program and in the electronic federal tax payment system.
12. The Arizona commerce authority for its use in:
(a) Qualifying renewable energy operations for the tax incentives under sections 42‑12006, 43‑1083.01 and 43‑1164.01.
(b) Qualifying businesses with a qualified facility for income tax credits under sections 43‑1083.03 and 43‑1164.04.
(c) Fulfilling its annual reporting responsibility pursuant to section 41‑1511, subsections U and V and section 41‑1512, subsections U and V.
(d) Certifying computer data centers for tax relief under section 41‑1519.
13. A prosecutor for purposes of section 32‑1164, subsection C.
14. The state fire marshal for use in determining compliance with and enforcing title 41, chapter 16, article 3.1.
15. The department of transportation for its use in administering taxes, surcharges and penalties prescribed by title 28.
16. The Arizona health care cost containment system administration for its use in administering nursing facility provider assessments.
C. Confidential information may be disclosed in any state or federal judicial or administrative proceeding pertaining to tax administration pursuant to the following conditions:
1. One or more of the following circumstances must apply:
(a) The taxpayer is a party to the proceeding.
(b) The proceeding arose out of, or in connection with, determining the taxpayer's civil or criminal liability, or the collection of the taxpayer's civil liability, with respect to any tax imposed under this title or title 43.
(c) The treatment of an item reflected on the taxpayer's return is directly related to the resolution of an issue in the proceeding.
(d) Return information directly relates to a transactional relationship between a person who is a party to the proceeding and the taxpayer and directly affects the resolution of an issue in the proceeding.
2. Confidential information may not be disclosed under this subsection if the disclosure is prohibited by section 42‑2002, subsection C or D.
D. Identity information may be disclosed for purposes of notifying persons entitled to tax refunds if the department is unable to locate the persons after reasonable effort.
E. The department, on the request of any person, shall provide the names and addresses of bingo licensees as defined in section 5‑401, verify whether or not a person has a privilege license and number, a tobacco product distributor's license and number or a withholding license and number or disclose the information to be posted on the department's website or otherwise publicly accessible pursuant to section 42‑1124, subsection F and section 42‑3401.
F. A department employee, in connection with the official duties relating to any audit, collection activity or civil or criminal investigation, may disclose return information to the extent that disclosure is necessary to obtain information that is not otherwise reasonably available. These official duties include the correct determination of and liability for tax, the amount to be collected or the enforcement of other state tax revenue laws.
G. If an organization is exempt from this state's income tax as provided in section 43‑1201 for any taxable year, the name and address of the organization and the application filed by the organization on which the department made its determination for exemption together with any papers submitted in support of the application and any letter or document issued by the department concerning the application are open to public inspection.
H. Confidential information relating to transaction privilege tax, use tax, severance tax, jet fuel excise and use tax and any other tax collected by the department on behalf of any jurisdiction may be disclosed to any county, city or town tax official if the information relates to a taxpayer who is or may be taxable by a county, city or town or who may be subject to audit by the department pursuant to section 42‑6002. Any taxpayer information released by the department to the county, city or town:
1. May only be used for internal purposes, including audits.
2. May not be disclosed to the public in any manner that does not comply with confidentiality standards established by the department. The county, city or town shall agree in writing with the department that any release of confidential information that violates the confidentiality standards adopted by the department will result in the immediate suspension of any rights of the county, city or town to receive taxpayer information under this subsection.
I. The department may disclose statistical information gathered from confidential information if it does not disclose confidential information attributable to any one taxpayer. The department may disclose statistical information gathered from confidential information, even if it discloses confidential information attributable to a taxpayer, to:
1. The state treasurer in order to comply with the requirements of section 42‑5029, subsection A, paragraph 3.
2. The joint legislative income tax credit review committee, the joint legislative budget committee staff and the legislative staff in order to comply with the requirements of section 43‑221.
J. The department may disclose the aggregate amounts of any tax credit, tax deduction or tax exemption enacted after January 1, 1994. Information subject to disclosure under this subsection shall not be disclosed if a taxpayer demonstrates to the department that such information would give an unfair advantage to competitors.
K. Except as provided in section 42‑2002, subsection C, confidential information, described in section 42‑2001, paragraph 1, subdivision (a), item (ii), may be disclosed to law enforcement agencies for law enforcement purposes.
L. The department may provide transaction privilege tax license information to property tax officials in a county for the purpose of identification and verification of the tax status of commercial property.
M. The department may provide transaction privilege tax, luxury tax, use tax, property tax and severance tax information to the ombudsman‑citizens aide pursuant to title 41, chapter 8, article 5.
N. Except as provided in section 42‑2002, subsection D, a court may order the department to disclose confidential information pertaining to a party to an action. An order shall be made only upon on a showing of good cause and that the party seeking the information has made demand upon on the taxpayer for the information.
O. This section does not prohibit the disclosure by the department of any information or documents submitted to the department by a bingo licensee. Before disclosing the information the department shall obtain the name and address of the person requesting the information.
P. If the department is required or permitted to disclose confidential information, it may charge the person or agency requesting the information for the reasonable cost of its services.
Q. Except as provided in section 42‑2002, subsection D, the department of revenue shall release confidential information as requested by the department of economic security pursuant to section 42‑1122 or 46‑291. Information disclosed under this subsection is limited to the same type of information that the United States internal revenue service is authorized to disclose under section 6103(l)(6) of the internal revenue code.
R. Except as provided in section 42‑2002, subsection D, the department of revenue shall release confidential information as requested by the courts and clerks of the court pursuant to section 42‑1122.
S. To comply with the requirements of section 42‑5031, the department may disclose to the state treasurer, to the county stadium district board of directors and to any city or town tax official that is part of the county stadium district confidential information attributable to a taxpayer's business activity conducted in the county stadium district.
T. The department shall release to the attorney general confidential information as requested by the attorney general for purposes of determining compliance with or enforcing any of the following:
1. Any public health control law relating to tobacco sales as provided under title 36, chapter 6, article 14.
2. Any law relating to reduced cigarette ignition propensity standards as provided under title 41, chapter 16, article 3.1.
3. Sections 44‑7101 and 44‑7111, the master settlement agreement referred to in those sections and all agreements regarding disputes under the master settlement agreement.
U. For proceedings before the department, the office of administrative hearings, the board of tax appeals or any state or federal court involving penalties that were assessed against a return preparer, an electronic return preparer or a payroll service company pursuant to section 42‑1103.02, 42‑1125.01 or 43‑419, confidential information may be disclosed only before the judge or administrative law judge adjudicating the proceeding, the parties to the proceeding and the parties' representatives in the proceeding prior to its introduction into evidence in the proceeding. The confidential information may be introduced as evidence in the proceeding only if the taxpayer's name, the names of any dependents listed on the return, all social security numbers, the taxpayer's address, the taxpayer's signature and any attachments containing any of the foregoing information are redacted and if either:
1. The treatment of an item reflected on such return is or may be related to the resolution of an issue in the proceeding.
2. Such a return or the return information relates or may relate to a transactional relationship between a person who is a party to the proceeding and the taxpayer which that directly affects the resolution of an issue in the proceeding.
3. The method of payment of the taxpayer's withholding tax liability or the method of filing the taxpayer's withholding tax return is an issue for the period.
V. The department and
attorney general may share the information specified in subsection T of this
section with any of the following:
1. Federal, state or local agencies for the purposes of enforcement of corresponding laws of other states.
2. A court, arbitrator, data clearinghouse or similar entity for the purpose of assessing compliance with or making calculations required by the master settlement agreement or agreements regarding disputes under the master settlement agreement, and with counsel for the parties or expert witnesses in any such proceeding, if the information otherwise remains confidential.
W. The department may provide the name and address of qualifying hospitals and qualifying health care organizations, as defined in section 42‑5001, to a business classified and reporting transaction privilege tax under the utilities classification.
X. The department may disclose to an official of any city, town or county in a current agreement or considering a prospective agreement with the department as described in section 42‑5032.02, subsection F any information relating to amounts subject to distribution required by section 42‑5032.02. Information disclosed by the department under this subsection:
1. May only be used by the city, town or county for internal purposes.
2. May not be disclosed to the public in any manner that does not comply with confidentiality standards established by the department. The city, town or county must agree with the department in writing that any release of confidential information that violates the confidentiality standards will result in the immediate suspension of any rights of the city, town or county to receive information under this subsection.
Sec. 10. Section 42-2064, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:
42-2064. Reimbursement of fees and other costs; definitions
A. A taxpayer person who is a prevailing party may be reimbursed for reasonable fees and other costs related to an administrative proceeding that is brought by or against the department in connection with an assessment, determination, collection or refund of any tax listed in section 42‑1101 or in connection with a claim under section 42-1118.01. For the purposes of this subsection, a taxpayer person is considered to be a prevailing party only if both of the following are true:
1. The department's position was not substantially justified.
2. The taxpayer person prevails as to the most significant issue or set of issues.
B. Reimbursement under this section may be denied if any either of the following circumstances apply applies:
1. During the course of the proceeding the taxpayer person unduly and unreasonably protracted the final resolution of the matter.
2. The reason that the taxpayer person prevailed is due to an intervening change in the applicable law.
C. The taxpayer person shall present an itemization of the reasonable fees and other costs to the taxpayer problem resolution officer within thirty days after the conclusion of the administrative proceedings. The taxpayer problem resolution officer shall determine the validity of the fees and other costs within thirty days after receiving the itemization. The taxpayer problem resolution officer's decision is considered the department's final decision or order and is subject to appeal to the state board under section 42‑1253.
D. The department of revenue shall pay the fees and other costs awarded as provided in this section from any monies appropriated for such purpose. If the department of revenue does not pay the fees and other costs within thirty days after demand by a person who has received an award pursuant to this section, and if no further review or appeals of the award are pending, the person may file a claim for the fees and other costs with the department of administration, which shall pay the claim within thirty days, in the same manner as an uninsured property loss under title 41, chapter 3.1, article 1. If, at the time the department of revenue failed to pay the award, it had appropriated monies either designated or assignable for the purpose of paying such awards, the legislature shall reduce the department of revenue's operating appropriation for the following year by the amount of the award and appropriate the amount of the reduction to the department of administration, risk management division, as reimbursement for the loss.
E. Reimbursement to a taxpayer person under this section shall not exceed seventy‑five thousand dollars or actual monies spent, whichever is less. The reimbursable attorney or other representative fees shall not exceed three hundred fifty dollars per hour or actual monies spent, whichever is less, unless the state board of tax appeals determines that an increase in the cost of living or a special factor such as the limited availability of qualified attorneys for the proceeding involved justifies a higher fee.
F. For each calendar year beginning from and after December 31, 2015, the income dollar amounts for maximum awards made pursuant to subsection E of this section shall be adjusted by the attorney general according to the average annual change in the metropolitan phoenix consumer price index published by the United States bureau of labor statistics. The revised dollar amounts shall be raised to the nearest whole dollar. The income dollar amounts may not be revised below the amounts prescribed in the prior calendar year.
G. The department shall adopt administrative rules to implement this section.
H. Notwithstanding any provision of title 12, chapter 3, article 5, a taxpayer person who is a prevailing party may only be reimbursed pursuant to this section.
I. For the purposes of this section:
1. "Administrative proceeding" means any review proceeding or appeal pursuant to section 42‑1251 that is conducted under the authority of section 42‑1003 and an appeal to the state board of tax appeals pursuant to section 42‑1253.
2. "Reasonable fees and other costs" means fees and other costs that are based on prevailing market rates for the kind and quality of the furnished services, but not exceeding the amounts actually spent for expert witnesses, the cost of any study, analysis, report, test or project that is found to be necessary to prepare the party's case and necessary fees for attorneys or other representatives.
Sec. 11. Section 42-5008, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:
42-5008. Levy of tax; purposes; distribution
A. There is levied and there shall be collected by the department, for the purpose of raising public money, privilege taxes measured by the amount or volume of business transacted by persons on account of their business activities, and in the amounts to be determined by the application of rates against values, gross proceeds of sales or gross income, as the case may be, as prescribed by this article and article 2 of this chapter.
B. If any monies remain after the payments are made for state purposes, as provided for by subsection A of this section, the remainder of the monies shall be paid into the state school fund for educational purposes.
C. The tax levied by and collected pursuant to this article and article 2 of this chapter is designated as the "transaction privilege tax".
D. Vendors as defined in section 42-1101.01 are responsible for payment of transaction privilege tax to the department and, except as provided in sections 42‑1118.01 and 42‑1119, only vendors may pursue a refund of transaction privilege tax paid to the department.
Sec. 12. Title 42, chapter 6, article 1, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended by adding section 42-6009, to read:
42-6009. Municipal refund claims; valid claim; notice of denial; limitations period; conditions or requirements; interest; recovery of fees; definitions
A. A customer who paid to a vendor an amount that the vendor passed on to the customer equal to the vendor's municipal transaction privilege tax or who paid a use tax to a vendor may file a claim pursuant to this section if the vendor assigns to the customer its right to claim an amount equal to any tax and interest that the vendor could otherwise claim.
B. Claims under this section shall be made to the tax collector of the city or town to which the tax was originally paid.
C. Any claim by a customer under this section is in lieu of the vendor claiming a refund for the underlying tax. If a claim is paid under this section, only the customer and not the vendor may be held liable for any amount erroneously paid or credited to the customer. A customer may file a claim under this section as follows:
1. Through an affirmative assignment of rights by the vendor to the customer using a form and in the manner prescribed by the department. The form prescribed by the department shall require all of the following:
(a) The vendor's municipal transaction privilege tax license number or use tax registration number.
(b) A description of transactions covered by the assignment and the total amount of municipal transaction privilege or use tax paid by the vendor for such transactions.
(c) The tax periods for which the vendor reported and remitted the tax to the tax collector.
(d) The vendor's authorization for the tax collector to amend the vendor's returns or account to reflect the amount paid to the customer pursuant to a claim filed under this section.
(e) A statement executed by the vendor affirming, under penalty of perjury, that the vendor has not requested or received a refund or credit and will not claim a refund or credit for the tax remitted on the transactions covered by the assignment. If the vendor is a legal entity, the statement shall be executed by a full‑time officer, partner, member or manager of a limited liability company or an employee of the vendor who is authorized to execute the form on behalf of the vendor.
2. If the vendor fails or refuses to properly assign its right to a claim under this section within sixty days after the date of the customer's written request to the vendor or if a vendor is no longer in business, the customer may provide the tax collector with a statement on a form prescribed by the department explaining the efforts made to obtain an assignment from the vendor. The statement shall contain all of the following:
(a) The vendor's municipal transaction privilege tax license number or use tax registration number, if known by the customer.
(b) A description of transactions sought to be covered by the assignment and either the total amount of municipal transaction privilege tax due for the transactions or the total amount of use tax collected by the vendor for the transactions.
(c) The tax periods for which the vendor should have reported and remitted the tax to the tax collector.
D. If a claim is filed with the tax collector pursuant to subsection C, paragraph 2 of this section, the tax collector shall attempt to notify the vendor of the claim at the vendor's last known address. The tax collector shall continue processing the claim on receiving written acknowledgment from the vendor affirming the accuracy of the information regarding the transactions provided by the customer. On paying or crediting monies to the customer pursuant to the claim, the tax collector shall amend the vendor's returns or account to reflect the amount paid or credited to the customer. If the vendor objects to the claim by the customer or fails to respond within thirty days after the date of the notice, the tax collector may continue to process the claim and, on paying or crediting monies to the customer pursuant to the claim, the tax collector shall amend the vendor's returns or account to reflect the amount paid or credited to the customer and notify the vendor of the adjustment. Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, the tax collector and the vendor may communicate regarding the customer's claim.
E. A claim submitted by a customer under this section is subject to any offset, defense or other claim that the tax collector would otherwise have against either the customer or the vendor.
F. The tax collector may not require the vendor or the customer to submit amended returns for a claim submitted under this section.
G. Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, the tax collector may deny a claim filed by a customer for an amount under this section if the tax collector already paid or credited a refund of municipal transaction privilege tax arising from the same transaction or transactions.
H. If a claim is valid under this section, the tax collector may not refuse to process the claim or require the customer to refile the claim. If the tax collector refuses to process or requires the refiling of a claim that is valid under this section:
1. For the purposes of the limitations period, the claim is deemed received on the date the original filing was received by the tax collector notwithstanding the tax collector's refusal to process the claim or requirement to refile the claim.
2. The customer may treat the tax collector's refusal to process or requirement to refile the claim as a denial of the claim and the customer may file a petition for hearing regarding the refusal to process or requirement to refile under the administrative review provisions of the model city tax code or state law, as applicable. The customer may file a petition for hearing at any time after the refusal to process or requirement to refile the claim.
I. Except as provided in subsection H, paragraph 2 of this section, a denial of a claim does not occur until the tax collector notifies the customer in writing that:
1. The claim has been denied and provides the reasoning for the denial.
2. The notice constitutes a denial of the claim that triggers the deadline for filing a petition for hearing under the administrative review provisions of the model city tax code or state law, as applicable.
J. The time limitation for filing an administrative appeal does not begin until the tax collector issues the notifications required by subsection I of this section.
K. Any request by the tax collector for additional information to process the claim shall be reasonably related to the claim. The tax collector may not require a customer making a claim under this section to provide any report or information that is not required to be maintained in the normal course of business under the recordkeeping requirements of the model city tax code. The tax collector may not impose unreasonable time limits for a customer making a claim under this section to respond to any valid request for a report or information. The tax collector shall grant a customer's reasonable request for one or more extensions to provide any requested report or information.
L. Any denial of a request for claim under this section shall state in writing that:
1. The claim has been denied and provide the reason for the denial.
2. The notice constitutes a denial of the claim that triggers the deadline for filing a petition for hearing under the administrative review provisions of the model city tax code or state law, as applicable.
M. Tax paid on an activity that is not subject to tax or that qualifies for an exemption, deduction, exclusion or credit is not excess collected tax.
N. Interest on a claim shall be paid to the customer making a claim under this section at the rate and in the manner prescribed by section 42‑1123, subsection A. Interest on a claim shall be computed from the date the claim is filed.
O. A customer that is ultimately determined to be entitled to a claim may be awarded, by order of a court, board or hearing officer, reasonable fees and other costs relating to the administrative processing or administrative appeal of the claim, if the tax collector's position was not substantially justified or was brought for the purpose of harassing the customer, frustrating the claim process or delaying the claim.
P. If a discrepancy occurs between this section and any provision of the model city tax code, this section applies.
Q. For the purposes of this section:
1. "Customer" means a person that purchases goods or services from any vendor.
2. "Model city tax code" means the model city tax code as defined in section 42‑6051, and its appendices and regulations, as adopted in the city or town, and includes the specific state law incorporated in the model city tax code and the interpretation of state law.
3. "Municipal transaction privilege tax" means a municipal transaction privilege tax, municipal privilege license tax or municipal transaction privilege license tax, municipal use tax or similar excise tax that is imposed by the tax collector.
4. "Reasonable fees and other costs" means fees and other costs that are based on prevailing market rates for the kind and quality of the furnished services and that do not exceed the amounts actually paid for expert witnesses, the cost of any study, analysis, report, test, project or computer program found to be necessary to prepare the claimant's case and necessary fees for attorneys or other representatives.
5. "Tax collector" means the municipal tax collector or the department when it is acting as the tax collector for those cities and towns in the state collection program, as applicable under the model city tax code and its appendices.
6. "Vendor" means any taxpayer that either is liable for filing and remitting municipal transaction privilege tax to the tax collector or that is registered with the tax collector to remit use tax to the tax collector on behalf of its purchasers.
Sec. 13. Section 44-1263, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:
44-1263. Inability to conform motor vehicle to express warranty; replacement of vehicle or refund of monies; affirmative defenses; tax refund
A. If the manufacturer, its agents or its authorized dealers are unable to conform the motor vehicle to any applicable express warranty by repairing or correcting any defect or condition which that substantially impairs the use and value of the motor vehicle to the consumer after a reasonable number of attempts, the manufacturer shall replace the motor vehicle with a new motor vehicle or accept the return of the motor vehicle from the consumer and refund to the consumer the full purchase price, including all collateral charges, less a reasonable allowance for the consumer's use of the vehicle. The manufacturer shall make refunds to the consumer and lienholder, if any, as their interests appear. A reasonable allowance for use is that amount directly attributable to use by the consumer before his the consumer's first written report of the nonconformity to the manufacturer, agent or dealer and during any subsequent period when the vehicle is not out of service by reason of repair.
B. It is an affirmative defense to any claim under this article that either:
1. An alleged nonconformity does not substantially impair the use and market value of the motor vehicle.
2. A nonconformity is the result of abuse, neglect or unauthorized modifications or alterations of the motor vehicle.
C. In the case of taxes paid pursuant to title 42, chapter 5, if the manufacturer:
1. Accepts the return of a motor vehicle from a consumer without replacing the motor vehicle, the manufacturer shall refund the amount of tax attributed to the sale of the vehicle to that consumer.
2. Replaces a motor vehicle with a new motor vehicle of lesser value, the manufacturer shall refund the difference between the original amount of tax attributed to the sale of that vehicle and the amount of tax attributed to the sale of the replacement vehicle, excluding the value of the motor vehicle being replaced.
3. Replaces a motor vehicle with a new motor vehicle of greater value, the manufacturer shall calculate the gross proceeds of sales pursuant to section 42‑5001, paragraph 6.
D. Pursuant to section 42‑1118, subsection F g, the manufacturer may apply to the department of revenue for a refund for the amount of tax that the manufacturer properly refunds to the consumer.