7 | | - | ONCERNING LOCAL GOVERNMENT SALES OR USE TAX INVESTIGATIONS , |
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8 | | - | AND, IN CONNECTION THEREWITH , ESTABLISHING UNIFORM |
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9 | | - | CONFIDENTIALITY STANDARDS FOR THE PROTECTION OF TAXPAYER |
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10 | | - | INFORMATION |
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11 | | - | . |
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12 | | - | |
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13 | | - | Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado: |
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14 | | - | SECTION 1. In Colorado Revised Statutes, add 29-2-217 as |
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15 | | - | follows: |
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16 | | - | 29-2-217. Local taxing jurisdictions sales or use tax |
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17 | | - | investigations - confidentiality requirements - limitations - enforcement |
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18 | | - | - definitions. (1) A |
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19 | | - | S USED IN THIS SECTION, UNLESS THE CONTEXT |
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20 | | - | OTHERWISE REQUIRES |
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21 | | - | : |
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| 13 | + | ONCERNING LOCAL GOVERNMENT SALES OR USE TAX101 |
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| 14 | + | INVESTIGATIONS, AND, IN CONNECTION THEREWITH ,102 |
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| 15 | + | ESTABLISHING UNIFORM CONFIDENTIALITY STANDARDS FOR THE103 |
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| 16 | + | PROTECTION OF TAXPAYER INFORMATION .104 |
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| 17 | + | Bill Summary |
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| 18 | + | (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced and does |
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| 19 | + | not reflect any amendments that may be subsequently adopted. If this bill |
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| 20 | + | passes third reading in the house of introduction, a bill summary that |
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| 21 | + | applies to the reengrossed version of this bill will be available at |
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| 22 | + | http://leg.colorado.gov/ |
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| 23 | + | .) |
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| 24 | + | Sales and Use Tax Simplification Task Force. Section 1 of the |
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| 25 | + | bill establishes uniform confidentiality standards for the protection of |
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| 26 | + | taxpayer information used or obtained in connection with a sales or use |
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| 27 | + | HOUSE |
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| 28 | + | 3rd Reading Unamended |
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| 29 | + | March 4, 2025 |
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| 30 | + | HOUSE |
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| 31 | + | 2nd Reading Unamended |
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| 32 | + | February 28, 2025 |
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| 33 | + | SENATE |
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| 34 | + | 3rd Reading Unamended |
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| 35 | + | February 3, 2025 |
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| 36 | + | SENATE |
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| 37 | + | Amended 2nd Reading |
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| 38 | + | January 31, 2025 |
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| 39 | + | SENATE SPONSORSHIP |
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| 40 | + | Bridges and Kipp, Amabile, Coleman, Cutter, Exum, Jodeh, Michaelson Jenet, Snyder |
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| 41 | + | HOUSE SPONSORSHIP |
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| 42 | + | Taggart, Bird, Boesenecker, Duran, Lindstedt, McCluskie, Phillips, Titone |
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| 43 | + | Shading denotes HOUSE amendment. Double underlining denotes SENATE amendment. |
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| 44 | + | Capital letters or bold & italic numbers indicate new material to be added to existing law. |
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| 45 | + | Dashes through the words or numbers indicate deletions from existing law. tax investigation performed by a third-party auditor on behalf of a local |
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| 46 | + | taxing jurisdiction. Third-party auditors are generally prohibited from |
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| 47 | + | divulging or making known in any way to any person information that is |
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| 48 | + | obtained from a sales or use tax investigation on behalf of a local taxing |
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| 49 | + | jurisdiction or disclosed in any document, report, or return filed in |
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| 50 | + | connection with local sales or use taxes. Third-party auditors are |
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| 51 | + | permitted to disclose taxpayer information in certain limited |
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| 52 | + | circumstances, including disclosure to: |
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| 53 | + | ! An official, employee, hearing officer, attorney, or other |
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| 54 | + | public agent of the local taxing jurisdiction who is |
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| 55 | + | authorized to receive such information in connection with |
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| 56 | + | the local taxing jurisdiction's sales or use tax investigation |
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| 57 | + | performed by the third-party auditor; |
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| 58 | + | ! A requesting taxpayer, or the taxpayer's authorized agent, |
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| 59 | + | of the taxpayer's own tax filings; |
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| 60 | + | ! The department of revenue (department) for purposes of |
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| 61 | + | statistical analysis and publication as authorized by current |
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| 62 | + | law; and |
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| 63 | + | ! The department and the federal internal revenue service as |
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| 64 | + | necessary and pertinent to a taxpayer's compliance or |
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| 65 | + | failure to comply with state or federal tax law. |
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| 66 | + | Violation of the confidentiality provisions in section 1 is a misdemeanor |
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| 67 | + | punishable by a fine of not more than $1,000 per violation. |
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| 68 | + | Section 2 clarifies the authority of the executive director of the |
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| 69 | + | department to share taxpayer information with statutory local |
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| 70 | + | governments, special districts, and requesting home rule jurisdictions as |
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| 71 | + | necessary to facilitate dispute resolution, coordination, intergovernmental |
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| 72 | + | agreements, and information sharing between the department and such |
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| 73 | + | local governments consistent with current law, which prohibits the |
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| 74 | + | disclosure of any such shared information to any third party. |
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| 75 | + | Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado:1 |
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| 76 | + | SECTION 1. In Colorado Revised Statutes, add 29-2-217 as2 |
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| 77 | + | follows:3 |
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| 78 | + | 29-2-217. Local taxing jurisdictions sales or use tax4 |
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| 79 | + | investigations - confidentiality requirements - limitations -5 |
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| 80 | + | enforcement - definitions. (1) A |
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| 81 | + | S USED IN THIS SECTION, UNLESS THE6 |
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| 82 | + | CONTEXT OTHERWISE REQUIRES :7 |
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48 | | - | AXPAYER" HAS THE SAME MEANING AS SET FORTH IN SECTION |
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49 | | - | 39-21-101 (4). "TAXPAYER" INCLUDES A "RETAILER" OR "VENDOR" AS |
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50 | | - | DEFINED IN SECTION |
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51 | | - | 39-26-102 (8). |
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52 | | - | (e) (I) "T |
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53 | | - | HIRD-PARTY AUDITOR" MEANS A PRIVATE INDIVIDUAL OR |
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54 | | - | ENTITY THAT IS NOT AN OFFICIAL |
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55 | | - | , EMPLOYEE, HEARING OFFICER, OR |
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56 | | - | ATTORNEY |
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57 | | - | , OR OTHERWISE A PUBLIC AGENT OF A LOCAL TAXING |
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58 | | - | JURISDICTION |
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59 | | - | , THAT CONDUCTS A SALES OR USE TAX INVESTIGATION OF A |
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60 | | - | TAXPAYER ON BEHALF OF A LOCAL TAXING JURISDICTION |
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61 | | - | . |
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| 101 | + | AXPAYER" HAS THE SAME MEANING AS SET FORTH IN10 |
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| 102 | + | SECTION 39-21-101 (4). "TAXPAYER" INCLUDES A "RETAILER" OR11 |
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| 103 | + | " |
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| 104 | + | VENDOR" AS DEFINED IN SECTION 39-26-102 (8).12 |
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| 105 | + | (e) (I) |
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| 106 | + | "THIRD-PARTY AUDITOR" MEANS A PRIVATE INDIVIDUAL OR13 |
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| 107 | + | ENTITY THAT IS NOT AN OFFICIAL , EMPLOYEE, HEARING OFFICER, OR14 |
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| 108 | + | ATTORNEY, OR OTHERWISE A PUBLIC AGENT OF A LOCAL TAXING15 |
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| 109 | + | JURISDICTION, THAT CONDUCTS A SALES OR USE TAX INVESTIGATION OF A16 |
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| 110 | + | TAXPAYER ON BEHALF OF A LOCAL TAXING JURISDICTION .17 |
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68 | | - | REVENUE WHO CONDUCTS A SALES OR USE TAX INVESTIGATION OF A |
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69 | | - | TAXPAYER ON BEHALF OF A LOCAL TAXING JURISDICTION IN ACCORDANCE |
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70 | | - | WITH THIS PART |
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71 | | - | 2 AND ARTICLE 21 OF TITLE 39; AND |
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72 | | - | (B) AN OFFICIAL, EMPLOYEE, OR AGENT OF THE MULTISTATE TAX |
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73 | | - | COMMISSION |
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74 | | - | , ESTABLISHED IN SECTION 24-60-1301, WHO CONDUCTS A SALES |
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75 | | - | OR USE TAX INVESTIGATION OF A TAXPAYER ON BEHALF OF A LOCAL TAXING |
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76 | | - | JURISDICTION PURSUANT TO SECTION |
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77 | | - | 24-60-1306, AND IN ACCORDANCE |
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78 | | - | WITH THE MULTISTATE TAX COMPACT |
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79 | | - | , SET FORTH IN PART 13 OF ARTICLE 60 |
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80 | | - | OF TITLE 24. |
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81 | | - | PAGE 2-SENATE BILL 25-046 (2) (a) EXCEPT IN ACCORDANCE WITH A JUDICIAL ORDER OR AS |
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82 | | - | OTHERWISE PROVIDED IN SUBSECTIONS |
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83 | | - | (2)(b)(I) TO (2)(b)(IV) OR (3) OF THIS |
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84 | | - | SECTION |
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85 | | - | , A THIRD-PARTY AUDITOR SHALL NOT DIVULGE OR MAKE KNOWN IN |
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86 | | - | ANY WAY ANY INFORMATION OBTAINED FROM A SALES OR USE TAX |
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87 | | - | INVESTIGATION CONDUCTED BY THE THIRD |
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88 | | - | -PARTY AUDITOR ON BEHALF OF |
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89 | | - | A LOCAL TAXING JURISDICTION |
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90 | | - | , OR DISCLOSED IN ANY DOCUMENT, REPORT, |
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91 | | - | OR RETURN FILED IN CONNECTION WITH ANY OF THE TAXES OR FEES WITHIN |
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92 | | - | THE SCOPE OF THIS PART |
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93 | | - | 2. A THIRD-PARTY AUDITOR CHARGED WITH THE |
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94 | | - | CUSTODY OF SUCH INVESTIGATORY INFORMATION |
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95 | | - | , DOCUMENTS, REPORTS, |
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96 | | - | AND RETURNS SHALL NOT BE REQUIRED TO PRODUCE ANY SUCH |
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97 | | - | INFORMATION OR DOCUMENTATION IN ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING IN ANY |
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98 | | - | COURT EXCEPT IN AN ACTION OR PROCEEDING UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF |
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99 | | - | THIS PART |
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100 | | - | 2 OR PART 3 OF THIS ARTICLE 2 TO WHICH THE LOCAL TAXING |
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101 | | - | JURISDICTION AUTHORIZING THE SALES OR USE TAX INVESTIGATION IS A |
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102 | | - | PARTY |
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103 | | - | , IN WHICH EVENT THE COURT MAY REQUIRE THE PRODUCTION OF , AND |
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104 | | - | MAY ADMIT IN EVIDENCE |
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105 | | - | , SO MUCH OF THE INFORMATION AND |
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106 | | - | DOCUMENTATION AS IS PERTINENT TO THE ACTION OR PROCEEDING |
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107 | | - | . |
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| 117 | + | 20 |
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| 118 | + | REVENUE WHO CONDUCTS A SALES OR USE TAX INVESTIGATION OF A21 |
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| 119 | + | TAXPAYER ON BEHALF OF A LOCAL TAXING JURISDICTION IN ACCORDANCE22 |
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| 120 | + | WITH THIS PART 2 AND ARTICLE 21 OF TITLE 39; AND23 |
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| 121 | + | (B) A |
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| 122 | + | N OFFICIAL, EMPLOYEE, OR AGENT OF THE MULTISTATE TAX |
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| 123 | + | 24 |
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| 124 | + | COMMISSION, ESTABLISHED IN SECTION 24-60-1301, WHO CONDUCTS A25 |
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| 125 | + | SALES OR USE TAX INVESTIGATION OF A TAXPAYER ON BEHALF OF A LOCAL26 |
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| 126 | + | TAXING JURISDICTION PURSUANT TO SECTION 24-60-1306, AND IN27 |
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| 127 | + | 046 |
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| 128 | + | -3- ACCORDANCE WITH THE MULTISTATE TAX COMPACT , SET FORTH IN PART1 |
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| 129 | + | 13 |
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| 130 | + | OF ARTICLE 60 OF TITLE 24. |
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| 131 | + | 2 |
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| 132 | + | (2) (a) E |
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| 133 | + | XCEPT IN ACCORDANCE WITH A JUDICIAL ORDER OR AS3 |
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| 134 | + | OTHERWISE PROVIDED IN SUBSECTIONS (2)(b)(I) TO (2)(b)(IV) OR (3) OF4 |
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| 135 | + | THIS SECTION, A THIRD-PARTY AUDITOR SHALL NOT DIVULGE OR MAKE5 |
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| 136 | + | KNOWN IN ANY WAY ANY INFORMATION OBTAINED FROM A SALES OR USE6 |
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| 137 | + | TAX INVESTIGATION CONDUCTED BY THE THIRD -PARTY AUDITOR ON7 |
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| 138 | + | BEHALF OF A LOCAL TAXING JURISDICTION , OR DISCLOSED IN ANY8 |
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| 139 | + | DOCUMENT, REPORT, OR RETURN FILED IN CONNECTION WITH ANY OF THE9 |
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| 140 | + | TAXES OR FEES WITHIN THE SCOPE OF THIS PART 2. A THIRD-PARTY10 |
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| 141 | + | AUDITOR CHARGED WITH THE CUSTODY OF SUCH INVESTIGATORY11 |
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| 142 | + | INFORMATION, DOCUMENTS, REPORTS, AND RETURNS SHALL NOT BE12 |
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| 143 | + | REQUIRED TO PRODUCE ANY SUCH INFORMATION OR DOCUMENTATION IN13 |
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| 144 | + | ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING IN ANY COURT EXCEPT IN AN ACTION OR14 |
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| 145 | + | PROCEEDING UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF THIS PART 2 OR PART 3 OF THIS15 |
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| 146 | + | ARTICLE 2 TO WHICH THE LOCAL TAXING JURISDICTION AUTHORIZING THE16 |
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| 147 | + | SALES OR USE TAX INVESTIGATION IS A PARTY , IN WHICH EVENT THE17 |
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| 148 | + | COURT MAY REQUIRE THE PRODUCTION OF , AND MAY ADMIT IN EVIDENCE,18 |
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| 149 | + | SO MUCH OF THE INFORMATION AND DOCUMENTATION AS IS PERTINENT TO19 |
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| 150 | + | THE ACTION OR PROCEEDING.20 |
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113 | | - | ISCLOSE THE CONTENTS OF ANY REPORT PREPARED BY THE |
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114 | | - | THIRD |
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115 | | - | -PARTY AUDITOR, AND ANY INFORMATION, DOCUMENTS, REPORTS, AND |
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116 | | - | RETURNS RELIED UPON IN PREPARING THE REPORT |
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117 | | - | , TO AN OFFICIAL, |
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118 | | - | EMPLOYEE, HEARING OFFICER, ATTORNEY, OR OTHER PUBLIC AGENT OF THE |
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119 | | - | LOCAL TAXING JURISDICTION AUTHORIZED TO RECEIVE SUCH INFORMATION |
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120 | | - | IN CONNECTION WITH THE LOCAL TAXING JURISDICTION |
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121 | | - | 'S SALES OR USE TAX |
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122 | | - | INVESTIGATION PERFORMED BY THE THIRD |
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123 | | - | -PARTY AUDITOR; |
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| 155 | + | ISCLOSE THE CONTENTS OF ANY REPORT PREPARED BY THE23 |
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| 156 | + | THIRD-PARTY AUDITOR, AND ANY INFORMATION, DOCUMENTS, REPORTS,24 |
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| 157 | + | AND RETURNS RELIED UPON IN PREPARING THE REPORT , TO AN OFFICIAL,25 |
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| 158 | + | EMPLOYEE, HEARING OFFICER, ATTORNEY, OR OTHER PUBLIC AGENT OF26 |
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| 159 | + | THE LOCAL TAXING JURISDICTION AUTHORIZED TO RECEIVE SUCH27 |
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| 160 | + | 046 |
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| 161 | + | -4- INFORMATION IN CONNECTION WITH THE LOCAL TAXING JURISDICTION 'S1 |
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| 162 | + | SALES OR USE TAX INVESTIGATION PERFORMED BY THE THIRD -PARTY2 |
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| 163 | + | AUDITOR;3 |
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140 | | - | TAXPAYER WHO FILED A DOCUMENT , REPORT, OR RETURN WITH |
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141 | | - | THE STATE OR A LOCAL TAXING JURISDICTION MAY WAIVE THE |
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142 | | - | CONFIDENTIALITY PROTECTIONS SET FORTH IN SUBSECTION |
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143 | | - | (2)(a) OF THIS |
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144 | | - | SECTION AS TO SUCH DOCUMENT |
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145 | | - | , REPORT, OR RETURN. SUCH WAIVER MUST |
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146 | | - | BE VOLUNTARY |
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147 | | - | , IN WRITING, AND SIGNED BY THE TAXPAYER OR THE |
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148 | | - | TAXPAYER |
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149 | | - | 'S DULY AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE . |
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| 179 | + | TAXPAYER WHO FILED A DOCUMENT , REPORT, OR RETURN15 |
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| 180 | + | WITH THE STATE OR A LOCAL TAXING JURISDICTION MAY WAIVE THE16 |
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| 181 | + | CONFIDENTIALITY PROTECTIONS SET FORTH IN SUBSECTION (2)(a) OF THIS17 |
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| 182 | + | SECTION AS TO SUCH DOCUMENT , REPORT, OR RETURN. SUCH WAIVER18 |
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| 183 | + | MUST BE VOLUNTARY, IN WRITING, AND SIGNED BY THE TAXPAYER OR THE19 |
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| 184 | + | TAXPAYER'S DULY AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE .20 |
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151 | | - | NY THIRD-PARTY AUDITOR, INCLUDING ANY OFFICIAL , |
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152 | | - | EMPLOYEE, ATTORNEY, OR OTHER AGENT OF A THIRD-PARTY AUDITOR, WHO |
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153 | | - | WILLFULLY VIOLATES ANY OF THE PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION IS GUILTY OF |
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154 | | - | A MISDEMEANOR AND |
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155 | | - | , UPON CONVICTION THEREOF, SHALL BE PUNISHED BY |
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156 | | - | A FINE OF NOT MORE THAN ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS PER VIOLATION |
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157 | | - | . |
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158 | | - | SECTION 2. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 39-21-113, amend as |
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159 | | - | it will become effective July 1, 2025, (35) as follows: |
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160 | | - | 39-21-113. Reports and returns - rule - repeal. |
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161 | | - | (35) Notwithstanding the confidentiality requirements in this section, the |
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162 | | - | executive director has the authority to share taxpayer information as |
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163 | | - | necessary pursuant to section 29-2-208 |
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164 | | - | SECTIONS 29-2-208 AND 29-2-213 |
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165 | | - | TO 29-2-215. |
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166 | | - | SECTION 3. Effective date. This act takes effect July 1, 2025. |
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167 | | - | SECTION 4. Safety clause. The general assembly finds, |
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168 | | - | determines, and declares that this act is necessary for the immediate |
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169 | | - | preservation of the public peace, health, or safety or for appropriations for |
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170 | | - | PAGE 4-SENATE BILL 25-046 the support and maintenance of the departments of the state and state |
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171 | | - | institutions. |
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172 | | - | ____________________________ ____________________________ |
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173 | | - | James Rashad Coleman, Sr. Julie McCluskie |
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174 | | - | PRESIDENT OF SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE |
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175 | | - | THE SENATE OF REPRESENTATIVES |
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176 | | - | ____________________________ ____________________________ |
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177 | | - | Esther van Mourik Vanessa Reilly |
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178 | | - | SECRETARY OF CHIEF CLERK OF THE HOUSE |
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179 | | - | THE SENATE OF REPRESENTATIVES |
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180 | | - | APPROVED________________________________________ |
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181 | | - | (Date and Time) |
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182 | | - | _________________________________________ |
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183 | | - | Jared S. Polis |
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184 | | - | GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF COLORADO |
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185 | | - | PAGE 5-SENATE BILL 25-046 |
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| 186 | + | NY THIRD-PARTY AUDITOR, INCLUDING ANY OFFICIAL ,21 |
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| 187 | + | EMPLOYEE, ATTORNEY, OR OTHER AGENT OF A THIRD-PARTY AUDITOR,22 |
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| 188 | + | WHO WILLFULLY VIOLATES ANY OF THE PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION IS23 |
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| 189 | + | GUILTY OF A MISDEMEANOR AND , UPON CONVICTION THEREOF, SHALL BE24 |
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| 190 | + | PUNISHED BY A FINE OF NOT MORE THAN ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS PER25 |
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| 191 | + | VIOLATION.26 |
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| 192 | + | SECTION 2. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 39-21-113, amend27 |
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| 193 | + | 046 |
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| 194 | + | -5- as it will become effective July 1, 2025, (35) as follows:1 |
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| 195 | + | 39-21-113. Reports and returns - rule - repeal.2 |
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| 196 | + | (35) Notwithstanding the confidentiality requirements in this section, the3 |
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| 197 | + | executive director has the authority to share taxpayer information as4 |
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| 198 | + | necessary pursuant to section 29-2-208 SECTIONS 29-2-208 AND 29-2-2135 |
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| 199 | + | TO 29-2-215.6 |
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| 200 | + | SECTION 3. Effective date. This act takes effect July 1, 2025.7 |
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| 201 | + | SECTION 4. Safety clause. The general assembly finds,8 |
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| 202 | + | determines, and declares that this act is necessary for the immediate9 |
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| 203 | + | preservation of the public peace, health, or safety or for appropriations for10 |
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| 204 | + | the support and maintenance of the departments of the state and state11 |
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| 205 | + | institutions.12 |
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| 206 | + | 046 |
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| 207 | + | -6- |
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