HB414ENROLLED Page 0 KJOTU5-2 By Representative Oliver (N & P) RFD: Local Legislation First Read: 02-May-23 2023 Regular Session 1 2 3 4 5 HB414 EnrolledHB414 Enrolled Page 1 Enrolled, An Act, Relating to Tallapoosa County; authorizing the levy of a lodging tax in the unincorporated area of the county; and providing for the distribution of the proceeds from the tax. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF ALABAMA: Section 1. In Tallapoosa County, in addition to all other taxes imposed by law, the Tallapoosa County Commission may levy a privilege or license tax in the amount prescribed in this section against every person within the unincorporated area of the county engaging in the business of renting or furnishing a room or rooms, lodging or accommodations, to a transient in a hotel, motel, inn, condominium, house, or another place in which rooms, lodgings, or accommodations are regularly furnished to transients for a consideration. The amount of the tax shall be equal to 10 percent of the charge for the rooms, lodgings, or accommodations, including the charge for use of rental or personal property and services furnished in the room or rooms within the unincorporated area of Tallapoosa County except in the unincorporated area of the county that is also in the police jurisdiction of a municipality that levies a lodging tax, the rate of lodging tax levied by the county shall be the difference in the rate of lodging tax levied by the municipality in the police jurisdiction and 10 percent. Section 2. (a) There are exempted from the provisions of the tax levied by this act and from the computation of the amount of the tax levied or payable all of the following: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 HB414 EnrolledHB414 Enrolled Page 2 Charges for property sold or services furnished which are required to be included in the tax levied by the state sales tax act; charges for the rental of rooms, lodgings, or accommodations to a person for a period of 30 continuous days or more pursuant to the exemption provision of Alabama's Transient Occupancy Tax, Section 40-26-1 of the Code of Alabama 1975. A subsequent amendment or change to the Alabama Transient Occupancy Tax shall also have the effect of similarly changing the exemption provision of this act. (b) Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, the tax shall not apply to the rental of living accommodations which are intended primarily for rental to persons as their principal or permanent place of residence. Section 3. (a) The tax levied by this act, except as otherwise provided, shall be due and payable to Tallapoosa County on or before the 20th day of the month next succeeding the month in which the tax accrues. Notwithstanding any provision of this act providing for the responsibility of the county to collect and administer the tax provided in this act, the county may contract with an agent to perform all or any part of its duties pursuant to this act. On or before the 20th day of each month, every person on whom the tax is levied by this act shall render to the county on a form prescribed by the department, a true and correct statement showing the gross proceeds of the business subject to the tax for the then preceding month, together with other information as the county requires. At the time of making the monthly report, the taxpayer shall compute and pay to the county the amount of tax 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 HB414 EnrolledHB414 Enrolled Page 3 shown due. A person subject to the tax who conducts business on a credit basis may defer reporting and paying the tax until after the person has received payment of the items, articles, or accommodations furnished. In the event the taxpayer defers reporting and paying the taxes, he or she shall thereafter include in each monthly report all credit collections made during the then preceding month and shall pay the amount of taxes computed thereon at the time of filing the report. (b) It shall be the duty of every person engaged or continuing in a business subject to the tax levied by this act to keep and preserve suitable records of the gross proceeds of the business and other books or accounts necessary to determine the amount of tax for which he or she is liable pursuant to this act. The records shall be kept and preserved for a period of two years and shall be open for examination at all times by the county or by a duly authorized agent, deputy, or employee of the county. (c) A person who fails to pay the tax levied by this act within the time required by this act shall pay in addition to the tax a penalty of 10 percent of the amount of tax due, together with interest from the date on which the tax became due and payable at the rate due and payable on the state lodging tax. The penalty and interest shall be assessed and collected as a part of the tax. The county may, if good and sufficient reason be shown, waive or remit the penalty or a portion of the penalty. Section 4. All provisions of the state lodging tax statutes with respect to payment, assessment, and collection 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 HB414 EnrolledHB414 Enrolled Page 4 of the state lodging tax, making of reports and keeping and preserving records, interest after due date of tax, or otherwise; the adoption of rules with respect to the state lodging tax; and the administration and enforcement of the state lodging tax statutes, which are not inconsistent with the provisions of this act when applied to the tax levied by this act, shall apply to the levied tax. The county shall have and exercise the same powers, duties, and obligations with respect to the district taxes levied as imposed on the Commissioner of the Department of Revenue and the department, respectively, by the state lodging tax statutes. All provisions of the state lodging tax statutes that are made applicable to this act, to the taxes levied, and to the administration of this act are incorporated herein by reference and made a part as if fully set forth. Section 5. The county shall contract with an agent for collection of the tax and the agent may deduct from the proceeds of the tax levied an amount equal to the contracted amount for the collections, provided the charge does not exceed five percent of the total amount of tax collected. Following that deduction, the agent shall pay the remainder of the tax proceeds to the county. Section 6. Except as otherwise provided in this act, the net proceeds from the tax levied by this act shall be deposited into the Tallapoosa County General Fund and may be used by the county for any lawful county purpose. Section 7. This act shall become effective immediately following its passage and approval by the Governor, or its 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 101 102 103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 111 112 HB414 EnrolledHB414 Enrolled Page 5 otherwise becoming law.113 HB414 EnrolledHB414 Enrolled Page 6 ________________________________________________ Speaker of the House of Representatives ________________________________________________ President and Presiding Officer of the Senate House of Representatives I hereby certify that the within Act originated in and was passed by the House 09-May-23. John Treadwell Clerk Senate 25-May-23 Passed 114 115 116 117 118 119 120 121 122 123 124 125 126 127 128 129 130 131 132 133 134 135 136 137 138 139 140 141 142