Sales and Use TaxesViolations

Section § 7152

Explanation

This law states that if someone is required to file a report and intentionally files a false one to avoid paying what's owed, they're committing a misdemeanor. Additionally, anyone who helps or advises in filing a false report is also committing a misdemeanor, even if the person filing wasn't aware of the fraud. Penalties for these offenses are outlined in another section, Section 7153.

(a)CA Revenue & Taxation Code § 7152(a) Any person required to make, render, sign, or verify any report who makes any false or fraudulent return, with intent to defeat or evade the determination of an amount due required by law to be made is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable as provided in Section 7153.
(b)CA Revenue & Taxation Code § 7152(b) Any person who willfully aids or assists in, or procures, counsels, or advises in, the preparation or presentation, in connection with any matter arising under this part, of a return, affidavit, claim, or other document that is fraudulent or false as to any material matter, whether or not the falsity or fraud is with the knowledge or consent of the person authorized or required to present the return, affidavit, claim, or document, is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable as provided in Section 7153.
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Section § 7153

Explanation

If someone breaks the rules in this section, it's considered a misdemeanor. The penalty could be a fine ranging from $1,000 to $5,000, up to a year in county jail, or both, depending on what the court decides.

Any violation of this part by any person, except as otherwise provided, is a misdemeanor. Each offense shall be punished by a fine of not less than one thousand dollars ($1,000) and not more than five thousand dollars ($5,000), or imprisonment not exceeding one year in the county jail, or both the fine and imprisonment in the discretion of the court.
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Section § 7153.5

Explanation

This law section states that if someone intentionally avoids reporting, assessing, or paying taxes, and the unpaid taxes total $25,000 or more in a year, they are guilty of a felony. The punishment can be a fine ranging from $5,000 to $20,000, imprisonment for 16 months, 2 years, or 3 years, or both as decided by the court.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this part, any person who violates this part with intent to defeat or evade the reporting, assessment, or payment of a tax or an amount due required by law to be made is guilty of a felony when the amount of unreported tax liability aggregates twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000) or more in any 12-consecutive-month period. Each offense shall be punished by a fine of not less than five thousand dollars ($5,000) and not more than twenty thousand dollars ($20,000), or imprisonment for 16 months, two years, or three years, or both the fine and imprisonment in the discretion of the court.
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Section § 7153.6

Explanation

This law section makes it illegal to use, buy, sell, or possess devices known as automated sales suppression devices (zappers) or phantom-ware to avoid paying taxes in California. These devices alter sales data to falsely report business transactions and evade taxes. Anyone caught using these devices with this intent will be guilty of a misdemeanor and face penalties, including fines and possible jail time. The law specifies fines based on the number of devices involved, up to $5,000 for three or fewer devices, and up to $10,000 for more than three. Corporations that possess these devices solely for developing technology to combat tax evasion are not penalized under this section. Additionally, the section defines key terms like 'zapper', 'electronic cash register', and 'phantom-ware' to clarify what constitutes these devices. It also states that a person can be prosecuted under other laws besides this one.

(a)CA Revenue & Taxation Code § 7153.6(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of this part, any person who purchases, installs, or uses in this state any automated sales suppression device or zapper or phantom-ware with the intent to defeat or evade the determination of an amount due pursuant to this part is guilty of a misdemeanor.
(b)Copy CA Revenue & Taxation Code § 7153.6(b)
(1)Copy CA Revenue & Taxation Code § 7153.6(b)(1) Any person who, for commercial gain, sells, purchases, installs, transfers, or possesses in this state any automated sales suppression device or zapper or phantom-ware with the knowledge that the sole purpose of the device is to defeat or evade the determination of an amount due pursuant to this part is guilty of an offense punishable by a fine as specified in paragraph (2), by imprisonment in a county jail for not more than one year, or, pursuant to subdivision (h) of Section 1170 of the Penal Code, for 16 months, or two or three years, or by both that fine and imprisonment. In addition, any person who uses an automated sales suppression device or zapper or phantom-ware shall be liable for all taxes, interest, and penalties due as a result of the use of that device.
(2)Copy CA Revenue & Taxation Code § 7153.6(b)(2)
(A)Copy CA Revenue & Taxation Code § 7153.6(b)(2)(A) Where a person is guilty of the offense described in paragraph (1) and the person sold, installed, transferred, or possessed three or fewer automated sales suppression devices or zappers or phantom-ware, that person shall be guilty of an offense punishable by a fine of not more than five thousand dollars ($5,000).
(B)CA Revenue & Taxation Code § 7153.6(b)(2)(A)(B) Where a person is guilty of the offense described in paragraph (1) and the person sold, installed, transferred, or possessed more than three automated sales suppression devices or zappers or phantom-ware, that person shall be guilty of an offense punishable by a fine of not more than ten thousand dollars ($10,000).
(3)CA Revenue & Taxation Code § 7153.6(b)(3) This subdivision shall not apply to a person that is a corporation that possesses any automated sales suppression device or zapper or phantom-ware for the sole purpose of developing hardware or software to combat the evasion of taxes by use of automated sales suppression devices or zappers or phantom-ware.
(c)CA Revenue & Taxation Code § 7153.6(c) For purposes of this section:
(1)CA Revenue & Taxation Code § 7153.6(c)(1) “Automated sales suppression device” or “zapper” means a software program carried on a memory stick or removable compact disc, accessed through an Internet link, or accessed through any other means, that falsifies the electronic records of electronic cash registers and other point-of-sale systems, including, but not limited to, transaction data and transaction reports.
(2)CA Revenue & Taxation Code § 7153.6(c)(2) “Electronic cash register” means a device that keeps a register or supporting documents through the means of an electronic device or computer system designed to record transaction data for the purpose of computing, compiling, or processing retail sales transaction data in whatever manner.
(3)CA Revenue & Taxation Code § 7153.6(c)(3) “Phantom-ware” means a hidden, preinstalled, or installed at a later time programming option embedded in the operating system of an electronic cash register or hardwired into the electronic cash register that can be used to create a virtual second till or may eliminate or manipulate transaction records that may or may not be preserved in digital formats to represent the true or manipulated record of transactions in the electronic cash register.
(4)CA Revenue & Taxation Code § 7153.6(c)(4) “Transaction data” includes information regarding items purchased by a customer, the price for each item, a taxability determination for each item, a segregated tax amount for each of the taxed items, the amount of cash or credit tendered, the net amount returned to the customer in change, the date and time of the purchase, the name, address, and identification number of the vendor, and the receipt or invoice number of the transaction.
(d)CA Revenue & Taxation Code § 7153.6(d) This section shall not preclude prosecution under any other law.
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Section § 7154

Explanation

This law section states that you have five years from when a crime is committed, or two years from when it's discovered, to start legal proceedings against someone who violates these particular rules—whichever gives you more time.

Any prosecution for violation of any of the penal provisions of this part shall be instituted within five years after the commission of the offense, or within two years after the violation is discovered, whichever is later.
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Section § 7155

Explanation

If someone tries to avoid paying taxes by not getting the necessary tax permit on time, they can be fined 50% of the taxes owed for the time they operated without a permit. However, if their tax liability was $1,000 or less per month, this penalty won’t apply to them.

This rule also doesn't cover taxes on vehicles, vessels, or aircraft if they fall under different penalty rules.

(a)CA Revenue & Taxation Code § 7155(a) Any person who, for the purpose of evading the payment of taxes due under this part, knowingly fails to obtain a valid permit prior to the date on which the first tax return is due shall be liable for a penalty of 50 percent of any tax determined to be due for the period during which the person engaged in business in this state as a seller without a valid permit.
(b)CA Revenue & Taxation Code § 7155(b) This section shall not apply to any person whose measure of tax liability over the period during which he or she was engaged in business in this state as a seller without a valid permit averaged one thousand dollars ($1,000) or less per month.
(c)CA Revenue & Taxation Code § 7155(c) This section shall not apply to the amount of taxes due on the sale or use of a vehicle, vessel, or aircraft, if the amount is subject to the penalty imposed by Section 6485.1 or Section 6514.1.
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Section § 7156

Explanation

This law says that if you win a tax-related court case against the State of California, you might get your legal costs covered. However, this only applies if you've already tried to resolve the issue through administrative channels first. Also, the costs can't be connected to any other parties involved and you can't stretch out the case unnecessarily. Legal costs might include court fees, costs for expert witnesses, and lawyer fees, but there are limits to how much you can claim for each.

To be a 'prevailing party', you must show that California's position wasn't justified and that you won significantly on either the amount disputed or the main issues. Multiple cases can be treated as one to keep things simple, unless the court says otherwise. Decisions on cost awards can be appealed like regular case judgments. Lastly, California's 'position' also includes any actions or lack of actions by their administrative bodies that led to the case.

(a)CA Revenue & Taxation Code § 7156(a) In the case of any civil proceeding which is—
(1)CA Revenue & Taxation Code § 7156(1) Brought by or against the State of California in connection with the determination, collection, or refund of any tax, interest, or penalty under this part, and
(2)CA Revenue & Taxation Code § 7156(2) Brought in a court of record of this state,
the prevailing party may be awarded a judgment for reasonable litigation costs incurred in that proceeding.
(b)Copy CA Revenue & Taxation Code § 7156(b)
(1)Copy CA Revenue & Taxation Code § 7156(b)(1) A judgment for reasonable litigation costs shall not be awarded under subdivision (a) unless the court determines that the prevailing party has exhausted the administrative remedies available to that party under this part.
(2)CA Revenue & Taxation Code § 7156(b)(2) An award under subdivision (a) shall be made only for reasonable litigation costs which are allocable to the State of California and not to any other party to the action or proceeding.
(3)CA Revenue & Taxation Code § 7156(b)(3) No award for reasonable litigation costs may be made under subdivision (a) with respect to any declaratory judgment proceeding.
(4)CA Revenue & Taxation Code § 7156(b)(4) No award for reasonable litigation costs may be made under subdivision (a) with respect to any portion of the civil proceeding during which the prevailing party has unreasonably protracted that proceeding.
(c)CA Revenue & Taxation Code § 7156(c) For purposes of this section—
(1)CA Revenue & Taxation Code § 7156(c)(1)  The term “reasonable litigation costs” includes any of the following:
(A)CA Revenue & Taxation Code § 7156(c)(1)(A) Reasonable court costs.
(B)CA Revenue & Taxation Code § 7156(c)(1)(B) Based upon prevailing market rates for the kind or quality of services furnished any of the following:
(i)CA Revenue & Taxation Code § 7156(c)(1)(B)(i) The reasonable expenses of expert witnesses in connection with the civil proceeding, except that no expert witness shall be compensated at a rate in excess of the highest rate of compensation for expert witnesses paid by the State of California.
(ii)CA Revenue & Taxation Code § 7156(c)(1)(B)(ii) The reasonable cost of any study, analysis, engineering report, test, or project which is found by the court to be necessary for the preparation of the party’s case.
(iii)CA Revenue & Taxation Code § 7156(c)(1)(B)(iii) Reasonable fees paid or incurred for the services of attorneys in connection with the civil proceeding, except that those fees shall not be in excess of seventy-five dollars ($75) per hour unless the court determines that an increase in the cost of living or a special factor, such as the limited availability of qualified attorneys for the proceeding, justifies a higher rate.
(2)Copy CA Revenue & Taxation Code § 7156(c)(2)
(A)Copy CA Revenue & Taxation Code § 7156(c)(2)(A) The term “prevailing party” means any party to any proceeding described in subdivision (a) (other than the State of California or any creditor of the taxpayer involved) which—
(i)CA Revenue & Taxation Code § 7156(c)(2)(A)(i) Establishes that the position of the State of California in the civil proceeding was not substantially justified, and
(ii)Copy CA Revenue & Taxation Code § 7156(c)(2)(A)(ii)
(I)Copy CA Revenue & Taxation Code § 7156(c)(2)(A)(ii)(I) Has substantially prevailed with respect to the amount in controversy, or
(II) Has substantially prevailed with respect to the most significant issue or set of issues presented.
(B)CA Revenue & Taxation Code § 7156(c)(2)(A)(B) Any determination under subparagraph (A) as to whether a party is a prevailing party shall be made—
(i)CA Revenue & Taxation Code § 7156(c)(2)(A)(B)(i) By the court, or
(ii)CA Revenue & Taxation Code § 7156(c)(2)(A)(B)(ii) By agreement of the parties.
(3)CA Revenue & Taxation Code § 7156(c)(3) The term “civil proceeding” includes a civil action.
(d)CA Revenue & Taxation Code § 7156(d) For purposes of this section, in the case of—
(1)CA Revenue & Taxation Code § 7156(1) Multiple actions which could have been joined or consolidated, or
(2)CA Revenue & Taxation Code § 7156(2) A case or cases involving a return or returns of the same taxpayer which could have been joined in a single proceeding in the same court,

these actions or cases shall be treated as one civil proceeding regardless of whether the joinder or consolidation actually occurs, unless the court in which the action is brought determines, in its discretion, that it would be inappropriate to treat these actions or cases as joined or consolidated for purposes of this section.
(e)CA Revenue & Taxation Code § 7156(e) An order granting or denying an award for reasonable litigation costs under subdivision (a), in whole or in part, shall be incorporated as a part of the decision or judgment in the case and shall be subject to appeal in the same manner as the decision or judgment.
(f)CA Revenue & Taxation Code § 7156(f) For purposes of this section, “position of the State of California” includes either of the following:
(1)CA Revenue & Taxation Code § 7156(f)(1) The position taken by the State of California in the civil proceeding.
(2)CA Revenue & Taxation Code § 7156(f)(2) Any administrative action or inaction by the State Board of Equalization (and all subsequent administrative action or inaction) upon which that proceeding is based.
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Section § 7157

Explanation

This law explains how the California tax board can collect money a court orders someone to pay—like restitution for criminal offenses. The board can use all the same methods it uses to collect delinquent sales taxes, including wage garnishment. Once the amount is recorded, it's considered final, and the rules governing other tax areas also apply. You can't get a refund once you've made payments under this law, and interest can be charged on unpaid amounts. There's no time limit (statute of limitations) for collecting these debts, and the state can put a tax lien on unpaid amounts. This applies to amounts due on or after January 1, 2012, even if they were due before then.

(a)Copy CA Revenue & Taxation Code § 7157(a)
(1)Copy CA Revenue & Taxation Code § 7157(a)(1) Restitution orders or any other amounts imposed by a court of competent jurisdiction for criminal offenses upon a person or any other entity that are due and payable to the board may be collected by the board in any manner provided by law for collection of a delinquent sales and use tax liability, including, but not limited to, issuance of an order and levy under Article 4 (commencing with Section 706.070) of Chapter 5 of Division 2 of Title 9 of Part 2 of the Code of Civil Procedure in the manner provided for earnings withholding orders for taxes.
(2)CA Revenue & Taxation Code § 7157(a)(2) Amounts imposed by a court of competent jurisdiction as an order of restitution for criminal offenses shall be treated as final and due and payable to the State of California on the date that amount is established on the records of the board.
(b)CA Revenue & Taxation Code § 7157(b) Part 1 (commencing with Section 6001), Part 1.5 (commencing with Section 7200), Part 1.6 (commencing with Section 7251), and Part 1.7 (commencing with Section 7285) shall apply to amounts collected under this section in the same manner and with the same force and effect and to the full extent as if the language of those laws had been incorporated in full into this section, except to the extent that any provision is either inconsistent with this section or is not relevant to this section.
(c)CA Revenue & Taxation Code § 7157(c) Notwithstanding Chapter 7 (commencing with Section 6901), a refund or credit shall not be allowed for any amounts paid or payments applied under this section.
(d)CA Revenue & Taxation Code § 7157(d) Amounts authorized to be collected pursuant to this section may accrue interest at the greater of the rate applicable to the amounts being collected or the rate provided under Section 6591.5 from and after the date the amounts are established on the records of the board.
(e)CA Revenue & Taxation Code § 7157(e) Amounts authorized to be collected pursuant to this section shall not be subject to any statute of limitations set forth in Chapter 6 (commencing with Section 6701).
(f)CA Revenue & Taxation Code § 7157(f) Notwithstanding Section 6738 or Chapter 14 (commencing with Section 7150) of Division 7 of Title 1 of the Government Code, any portion of the amounts authorized to be collected under this section that remain unsatisfied may be collected by the recording of a notice of state tax lien. The board may record or extend a recorded notice of state tax lien at any time until the amount due, including any accrued interest, is paid in full.
(g)CA Revenue & Taxation Code § 7157(g) This section shall apply on and after January 1, 2012, to amounts authorized to be collected pursuant to this section that are due and payable to the board before, on, or after January 1, 2012.
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