SB549 Alabama 2012 Session

Under existing law, the Alabama Taxpayers' Bill of Rights and Uniform Revenue Procedures Act governs the administrative procedures of the Department of Revenue and local governments relating to taxpayer's rights and responsibilities, refunds, penalties, assessments, and appeals

This bill would amend the act to conform in several respects to the federal Taxpayer's Bill of Rights, including broader "innocent spouse" type relief, and make technical corrections to remove ambiguities and conflicts. This bill would require certain state tax income returns to be filed as a result of IRS audit changes, consistent with the Multistate Tax Commission's model statute, and increase a taxpayer's penalties for fraud, negligence, and frivolous appeals or returns, consistent with federal law. This bill would increase the time period in which a taxpayer has to file an appeal of a preliminary or final assessment. This bill would establish a new procedure for seeking an expedited revenue ruling from the department

This bill would specifically state that it is the intent of this bill to adopt in large part the American Bar Association Model State Administrative Tax Tribunal Act

This bill would abolish the Administrative Law Division of the Department of Revenue, and provide for the creation and operation of a new, independent state agency, known as the Alabama Tax Appeals Commission, to hear appeals of tax and other matters administered by the Department of Revenue, and appeals related to certain local taxes levied by or on behalf of self-administered counties or municipalities, unless the governing body elects-out. The bill would transfer office furniture, equipment, computers and other property from the Department of Revenue to the Tax Appeals Commission, and also transfer from the Revenue Department Administrative Fund and from the State General Fund the necessary funds for the first year of operation of the Tax Appeals Commission

This bill would also amend portions of Chapters 2A and 18 of Title 40, Code of Alabama 1975, for purposes of conformity and to make technical corrections

To add Chapter 2B to Title 40 of the Code of Alabama 1975, to provide for the creation and operation of the Alabama Tax Appeals Commission, to state that the intent of this act is to adopt in large part the American Bar Association Model State Administrative Tax Tribunal Act; to hear appeals of tax and other matters administered by the Department of Revenue, and certain taxes levied by or on behalf of self-administered counties or municipalities that do not opt-out; to provide the necessary funding for the first year of operations of the Tax Appeals Commission; to amend Sections 40-2A-3, 40-2A-4, 40-2A-5, 40-2A-7, 40-2A-8, 40-2A-11, and 40-18-27, Code of Alabama 1975, for purposes of conformity to the federal Taxpayer's Bill of Rights, including broader "innocent spouse" type relief and increased penalties for negligence, fraud, and frivolous appeals or returns; to make technical corrections; to require amended state income tax returns as a result of IRS audit changes; to increase the amount of time a taxpayer has to file an appeal of a preliminary or final assessment; and to abolish the Administrative Law Division of the Department of Revenue, including repealing Section 40-2A-9, Code of Alabama 1975.