19730-19738

REVENUE AND TAXATION CODE
SECTION 19730-19738




19730.  The Franchise Tax Board shall administer a tax amnesty
program for taxpayers subject to Part 10 (commencing with Section
17001) and Part 11 (commencing with Section 23001), as provided in
this chapter.


19731.  The tax amnesty program shall be conducted during a
two-month period beginning February 1, 2005, and ending March 31,
2005, inclusive, or during a timeframe ending no later than June 30,
2005, pursuant to Section 19733. The program shall apply to tax
liabilities for taxable years beginning before January 1, 2003.




19732.  (a) For any taxpayer who meets each of the requirements of
Section 19733 both of the following apply:
   (1) The Franchise Tax Board shall waive all unpaid penalties and
fees imposed by this part for each taxable year for which tax amnesty
is allowed, but only to the extent of the amount of any penalty or
fee that is owed as a result of previous nonreporting or
underreporting of tax liabilities or prior nonpayment of any taxes
previously assessed or proposed to be assessed for that taxable year.
   (2) Except as provided in subdivision (b), no criminal action
shall be brought against the taxpayer for the taxable years for which
tax amnesty is allowed for the nonreporting or underreporting of tax
liabilities or the nonpayment of any taxes previously assessed or
proposed to be assessed.
   (b) This chapter shall not apply to violations of this part, for
which, as of February 1, 2005, any of the following applies:
   (1) The taxpayer is on notice of a criminal investigation by a
complaint having been filed against the taxpayer.
   (2) The taxpayer is under criminal investigation.
   (3) A court proceeding has already been initiated.
   (c) This section shall not apply to any nonreported or
underreported tax liability amounts attributable to tax shelter items
that could have been reported under either the voluntary compliance
initiative under Chapter 9.5 (commencing with Section 19751) or the
Internal Revenue Service's Offshore Voluntary Compliance Initiative
described in Revenue Procedure 2003-11.
   (d) No refund or credit shall be granted with respect to any
penalty or fee paid with respect to a taxable year prior to the time
the taxpayer makes a request for tax amnesty for that taxable year
pursuant to Section 19733.
   (e) Notwithstanding Chapter 6 (commencing with Section 19301), a
taxpayer may not file a claim for refund or credit for any amounts
paid in connection with the tax amnesty program under this chapter.



19733.  (a) This chapter shall apply to any taxpayer who
satisfiesall of the following requirements:
   (1) During the tax amnesty program period specified in Section
19731, is eligible to participate in the tax amnesty program.
   (2) During the tax amnesty program period specified in Section
19731, files a completed amnesty application with the Franchise Tax
Board, signed under penalty of perjury, electing to participate in
the tax amnesty program.
   (3) Within 60 days after the conclusion of the tax amnesty period,
does the following:
   (A) (i) For any taxable year eligible for the tax amnesty program
where the taxpayer has not filed any required return, files a
completed original tax return for that year, or
   (ii) For any taxable year eligible for the tax amnesty program
where the taxpayer filed a return but underreported tax liability on
that return, files an amended return for that year.
   (B) Pays in full any taxes and interest due for each taxable year
described in clauses (i) and (ii) of subparagraph (A), as applicable,
for which amnesty is requested, or applies for an installment
payment agreement under subdivision (b). For taxpayers who have not
paid in full any taxes previously proposed to be assessed, pays in
full the taxes and interest due for that portion of the proposed
assessment for each taxable year for which amnesty is requested or
applies for an installment payment agreement under subdivision (b).
   (4) For purposes of complying with the full payment provisions of
paragraph (3) of subdivision (a), if the full amount due is paid
within the period set forth in paragraph (3) of subdivision (c) of
Section 19101 after the date the Franchise Tax Board mails a notice
resulting from the filing of an amnesty application or the full
amount is paid within 60 days after the conclusion of the tax amnesty
period, the full amount due shall be treated as paid during the
amnesty period.
   (5) In the case of any taxpayer that has filed for bankruptcy
protection under Title 11 of the United States Code, submits an order
from a Federal Bankruptcy Court allowing the taxpayer to participate
in the amnesty program.
   (b) (1) For purposes of complying with the full payment provisions
of subparagraph (B) of paragraph (3) of subdivision (a), the
Franchise Tax Board may enter into an installment payment agreement,
but only if final payment under the terms of that installment payment
agreement is due and is paid no later than June 30, 2006.
   (2) Any installment payment agreement authorized by this
subdivision shall include interest on the outstanding amount due at
the rate prescribed in Section 19521.
   (3) Failure by the taxpayer to fully comply with the terms of an
installment payment agreement under this subdivision shall render the
waiver of penalties and fees under Section 19732 null and void,
unless the Franchise Tax Board determines that the failure was due to
reasonable cause and not due to willful neglect.
   (4) In the case of any failure described under paragraph (3), the
total amount of tax, interest, fees, and all penalties shall become
immediately due and payable.
   (c) (1) The application required under paragraph (2) of
subdivision (a) shall be in the form and manner specified by the
Franchise Tax Board, but in no case shall a mere payment of any taxes
and interest due, in whole or in part, for any taxable year
otherwise eligible for amnesty under this part, be deemed to
constitute an acceptable amnesty application under this part. For
purposes of the prior sentence, the application of a refund from one
taxable year to offset a tax liability from another taxable year
otherwise eligible for amnesty shall not, without the filing of an
amnesty application, be deemed to constitute an acceptable amnesty
application under this part.
   (2) The Legislature specifically intends that the Franchise Tax
Board, in administering the amnesty application requirement under
this part, make the amnesty application process as streamlined as
possible to ensure participation in the amnesty program will be
available to as many taxpayers as possible without otherwise
compromising the Franchise Tax Board's ability to enforce and collect
the taxes imposed under Part 10 (commencing with Section 17001) and
Part 11 (commencing with Section 23001).
   (d) Upon the conclusion of the tax amnesty program period, the
Franchise Tax Board may propose a deficiency upon any return filed
pursuant to subparagraph (A) of paragraph (3) of subdivision (a),
impose penalties and fees, or initiate criminal action under this
part with respect to the difference between the amount shown on that
return and the correct amount of tax. This action shall not
invalidate any waivers previously granted under Section 19732.
   (e) All revenues derived pursuant to subdivision (c) shall be
subject to Sections 19602 and 19604.


19734.  Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, if any
overpayment of tax shown on an original or amended return filed under
this article is refunded or credited within 180 days after the
return is filed, no interest shall be allowed under Section 19340 on
that overpayment.



19735.  (a) The Franchise Tax Board may issue forms, instructions,
notices, rules, or guidelines, and take any other necessary actions,
needed to implement this chapter, specifically including any forms,
instructions, notices, rules, or guidelines that specify the form and
manner of any acceptable form of amnesty application described in
Section 19733.
   (b) Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of
Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code does not apply to any
standard, criterion, procedure, determination, rule, notice, or
guideline established or issued by the Franchise Tax Board pursuant
to this chapter.


19736.  (a) The Franchise Tax Board shall conduct a public outreach
program and adequately publicize the tax amnesty program so as to
maximize public awareness and to make taxpayers aware of the program.
In addition, the Franchise Tax Board shall make taxpayers aware of
the new and increased penalties associated with taxpayer failure to
participate in the tax amnesty program.
   (b) The Franchise Tax Board shall make reasonable efforts to
identify taxpayer liabilities and, to the extent practicable, will
send written notice to taxpayers of their eligibility for the tax
amnesty program. However, failure of the Franchise Tax Board to
notify a taxpayer of the existence or correct amount of a tax
liability eligible for amnesty shall not preclude the taxpayer from
participating in the tax amnesty program, nor shall such failure be
grounds for abating the penalty imposed under Section 19777.5.




19738.  Any taxpayer who has an existing installment payment
agreement under Section 19008 as of the start of the amnesty program,
and who does not participate in the amnesty program, may not be
subject to the penalty imposed under Section 19777.5 with respect to
amounts payable under that agreement.