LCO No. 6363 1 of 11 General Assembly Raised Bill No. 7264 January Session, 2025 LCO No. 6363 Referred to Committee on FINANCE, REVENUE AND BONDING Introduced by: (FIN) AN ACT CONCERNING INITIATIVES FOR THE COLLECTION OF UNPAID TAXES AND THE DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE SERVICES' RECOMMENDATIONS FOR REVISIONS TO THE TAX AND RELATED STATUTES. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Assembly convened: Section 1. Section 12-35c of the general statutes is repealed and the 1 following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage): 2 (a) At the request of the Commissioner of Revenue Services, the 3 Attorney General may bring suit in the name of this state in the 4 appropriate court of any other state or the District of Columbia to collect 5 any tax legally due this state; and any political subdivision of this state 6 or the appropriate officer thereof, acting in its behalf, may bring suit in 7 the appropriate court of any other state or the District of Columbia to 8 collect any tax legally due such political subdivision. 9 (b) The Commissioner of Revenue Services may enter into 10 agreements with collection agencies and attorneys for collection 11 services, for the purposes of collecting a taxpayer's unpaid taxes and 12 Raised Bill No. 7264 LCO No. 6363 2 of 11 penalties and interest thereon. Such collection services may be 13 performed both within and without this state and may include bringing 14 an action in the name of this state in the appropriate court of any other 15 state or the District of Columbia to collect any tax legally due this state. 16 [(b)] (c) The courts shall recognize and enforce liabilities for taxes 17 similar to the taxes imposed by this state and lawfully imposed by any 18 other state, the District of Columbia or any political subdivision of such 19 state or district, which extends a like comity to this state, and the duly 20 authorized officer of any other state, the District of Columbia or any 21 political subdivision of such state or district, may sue for the collection 22 of such taxes in the courts of this state. A certificate by the Secretary of 23 the State of such other state or the Secretary of the District of Columbia, 24 as applicable, that the officer suing for the collection of such a tax is duly 25 authorized to collect the same shall be conclusive proof of such 26 authority. A certificate by the Commissioner of Revenue Services that 27 the tax of such other state, the District of Columbia or a political 28 subdivision of such state or district is similar to a tax imposed by this 29 state shall be prima facie evidence of such similarity. 30 (d) For the purposes of this section, the words "tax" and "taxes" shall 31 include interest and penalties due under any taxing statute, and liability 32 for such interest or penalties, or both, due under a taxing statute of 33 another state, the District of Columbia or a political subdivision of such 34 state or district shall be recognized and enforced by the courts of this 35 state to the same extent that the laws of such other state or district, as 36 applicable, permit the enforcement in its courts of liability for such 37 interest or penalties, or both, due under the tax laws of this state or any 38 political subdivision thereof. 39 Sec. 2. Section 12-35h of the general statutes is repealed and the 40 following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage): 41 When an agreement has been entered into by the Commissioner of 42 Revenue Services under section 12-35c, as amended by this act, or by the 43 Raised Bill No. 7264 LCO No. 6363 3 of 11 state for the [Commissioner of Revenue Services] commissioner, with a 44 collection agency or attorney for the purpose of collecting a [taxpayer’s] 45 taxpayer's unpaid taxes and penalties and interest thereon, the account 46 of the taxpayer shall be credited with the amounts of such unpaid taxes, 47 penalties and interest actually collected by the collection agency or 48 attorney before such amounts are reduced by the compensation paid by 49 the commissioner to, or retained by, the collection agency or attorney 50 for collection services provided pursuant to such agreement. 51 Sec. 3. Section 12-39g of the general statutes is repealed and the 52 following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage): 53 (a) Upon notification to the Comptroller by the Commissioner of 54 Revenue Services that any taxes, including penalties and interest related 55 thereto, (1) are [(1)] due to the state from any person and unpaid and a 56 period in excess of thirty days has elapsed following the date on which 57 such taxes were due, and (2) are not the subject of a timely filed 58 administrative appeal to [said] the commissioner or of a timely filed 59 appeal pending before any court of competent jurisdiction, the 60 Comptroller shall withhold any order upon the Treasurer for payment 61 of any amount payable by the state to such person unless the amount so 62 payable is reduced by the amount of such taxes, penalties and interest, 63 provided any such amount payable by the state shall not be so reduced 64 if such amount payable is a payment of salary or wages, or any payment 65 in lieu of or in addition to such salary or wages, to a state employee. The 66 Comptroller shall promptly notify the Commissioner of Revenue 67 Services of any payment reduced under the provisions of this [section] 68 subsection. 69 (b) With respect to any payments a department or office of the state 70 is authorized to make by means other than through the Comptroller, no 71 such payment shall be made unless such department or office first 72 requests and obtains clearance from the commissioner that the person 73 to whom the payment is to be made owes no taxes, penalties or interest 74 to the state. The commissioner shall promptly notify such department 75 Raised Bill No. 7264 LCO No. 6363 4 of 11 or office whether such person owes any such taxes, penalties or interest. 76 If the commissioner notifies such department or office that any taxes, 77 including penalties and interest related thereto, (1) are due to the state 78 from such person and unpaid and a period in excess of thirty days has 79 elapsed following the date on which such taxes were due, and (2) are 80 not the subject of a timely filed administrative appeal to the 81 commissioner or of a timely filed appeal pending before any court of 82 competent jurisdiction, such department or office shall withhold 83 payment of any amount payable to such person unless the amount so 84 payable is reduced by the amount of such taxes, penalties and interest, 85 provided any such amount payable by the state shall not be so reduced 86 if such amount payable is a payment of salary or wages, or any payment 87 in lieu of or in addition to such salary or wages, to a state employee. The 88 department or office shall promptly notify the commissioner of any 89 payment reduced under the provisions of this subsection and remit the 90 amount withheld to the commissioner. 91 [(b)] (c) For purposes of [subsection (a)] subsections (a) and (b) of this 92 section, any taxes for general or special purposes levied by a 93 municipality, any taxes imposed under chapter 223 and payable to such 94 municipality, any fines, penalties, costs or fees payable to such 95 municipality for the violation of any lawful regulation or ordinance in 96 furtherance of any general powers as enumerated in section 7-148, or 97 any charge payable to such municipality for connection with or for the 98 use of a waterworks or sewerage system shall be treated as if they were 99 taxes due to the state, where, pursuant to section 12-2, an agreement 100 exists between the commissioner and the governing authority of such 101 municipality providing for the collection by the commissioner, on behalf 102 of such municipality, of such taxes, fines, penalties, costs or fees, or 103 charges, provided such taxes, fines, penalties, costs or fees, or charges 104 (1) are [(1)] unpaid and a period in excess of thirty days has elapsed 105 following the date on which they were due, and (2) are not the subject 106 of a timely filed administrative appeal or of a timely filed appeal 107 pending before any court of competent jurisdiction. 108 Raised Bill No. 7264 LCO No. 6363 5 of 11 Sec. 4. (NEW) (Effective from passage) (a) The Commissioners of 109 Revenue Services and Motor Vehicles may enter into an agreement 110 pursuant to which the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles shall not issue 111 or renew a motor vehicle operator's license or a motor vehicle certificate 112 of registration for any person from whom any taxes, including penalties 113 and interest related thereto, (1) are due to the state and unpaid and a 114 period in excess of thirty days has elapsed following the date on which 115 such taxes were due, and (2) are not the subject of a timely filed 116 administrative appeal to the Commissioner of Revenue Services or of a 117 timely filed appeal pending before any court of competent jurisdiction. 118 The agreement shall include the procedures by which the Commissioner 119 of Revenue Services will provide a list of such persons to the 120 Commissioner of Motor Vehicles, how frequently such list will be 121 updated and provided and any other provisions the commissioners 122 deem necessary to carry out the provisions of this section. 123 (b) At least sixty days prior to the provision of the list to the 124 Commissioner of Motor Vehicles, the Commissioner of Revenue 125 Services shall notify each person who owes taxes, penalties or interest 126 to the state as set forth in subsection (a) of this section of such person's 127 inclusion in the list and of such person's right to appeal such inclusion. 128 Such person may request, not later than sixty days after the date of such 129 notification, a hearing with the Commissioner of Revenue Services. Such 130 request shall be in writing and set forth the grounds on which such 131 person is contesting inclusion in such list. If such person does not 132 request a hearing or fails to request a hearing in accordance with the 133 provisions of this subsection, the Commissioner of Revenue Services 134 shall include such person in the list provided to the Commissioner of 135 Motor Vehicles. The action of the Commissioner of Revenue Services on 136 any request for a hearing shall not be subject to appeal. 137 (c) Upon receipt of the list pursuant to subsection (a) of this section, 138 the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles shall not issue or renew a motor 139 vehicle operator's license or a motor vehicle certificate of registration for 140 any person included in such list until such person has paid all such 141 Raised Bill No. 7264 LCO No. 6363 6 of 11 taxes, penalties and interest owed to the state or makes a payment 142 arrangement acceptable to the Commissioner of Revenue Services. 143 (d) Nothing in this section shall be construed to create any cause of 144 action to challenge the taxes, penalties or interest owed to the state by a 145 person included in such list. 146 (e) Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit any person 147 whose motor vehicle operator's license is not issued or renewed 148 pursuant to this section from applying to the Commissioner of Motor 149 Vehicles for a special operator's permit in accordance with the 150 provisions of section 14-37a of the general statutes. 151 Sec. 5. Subsection (k) of section 8-395 of the general statutes is 152 repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from 153 passage): 154 (k) The Connecticut Housing Finance Authority [, with the approval 155 of the Commissioner of Revenue Services,] shall adopt written 156 procedures in accordance with section 1-121 to implement the 157 provisions of this section. Such procedures shall include provisions for 158 issuing tax credit vouchers for cash contributions to housing programs 159 or projects based on a system of ranking housing programs. In 160 establishing such ranking system, the authority shall consider the 161 following: (1) The readiness of the project to be built; (2) use of the funds 162 to build or rehabilitate a specific housing project or to capitalize a 163 revolving loan fund providing low-cost loans for housing construction, 164 repair or rehabilitation to benefit persons of very low, low and moderate 165 income; (3) the extent the project will benefit families at or below 166 twenty-five per cent of the area median income and families with 167 incomes between twenty-five per cent and fifty per cent of the area 168 median income, as defined by the United States Department of Housing 169 and Urban Development; (4) evidence of the general administrative 170 capability of the nonprofit corporation to build or rehabilitate housing; 171 (5) evidence that any funds received by the nonprofit corporation for 172 Raised Bill No. 7264 LCO No. 6363 7 of 11 which a voucher was issued were used to accomplish the goals set forth 173 in the application; and (6) with respect to any income year commencing 174 on or after January 1, 1998: (A) Use of the funds to provide housing 175 opportunities in urban areas and the impact of such funds on 176 neighborhood revitalization; and (B) the extent to which tax credit funds 177 are leveraged by other funds. 178 Sec. 6. Subsections (a) and (b) of section 12-586f of the general statutes 179 are repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective 180 from passage): 181 (a) For the purposes of this section, "tribe" means the Mashantucket 182 Pequot Tribe and "compact" means the Tribal-State Compact between 183 the tribe and the state of Connecticut, as incorporated and amended in 184 the Final Mashantucket Pequot Gaming Procedures prescribed by the 185 Secretary of the United States Department of the Interior pursuant to 186 Section 2710(d)(7)(B)(vii) of Title 25 of the United States Code and 187 published in 56 Federal Register 24996 (May 31, 1991), as amended from 188 time to time, and includes any new compact entered into between the 189 state and the tribe pursuant to section 12-851. 190 (b) The expenses of administering the provisions of the compact shall 191 be financed as provided in this section. Assessments for regulatory costs 192 incurred by any state agency [which] that are subject to reimbursement 193 by the tribe in accordance with the provisions of the compact shall be 194 made by the Commissioner of [Revenue Services] Consumer Protection 195 in accordance with the provisions of the compact, including provisions 196 respecting adjustment of excess assessments. Any underassessment for 197 a prior fiscal year may be included in a subsequent assessment but shall 198 be specified as such. Payments made by the tribe in accordance with the 199 provisions of the compact shall be deposited in the General Fund and 200 shall be credited to the appropriation for the state agency incurring such 201 costs. 202 Sec. 7. Subsections (a) and (b) of section 12-586g of the general statutes 203 Raised Bill No. 7264 LCO No. 6363 8 of 11 are repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective 204 from passage): 205 (a) For the purposes of this section, "tribe" means the Mohegan Tribe 206 of Indians of Connecticut and "compact" means the Tribal-State 207 Compact between the tribe and the state of Connecticut, dated May 17, 208 1994, as amended from time to time, and includes any new compact 209 entered into between the state and the tribe pursuant to section 12-851. 210 (b) The expenses of administering the provisions of the compact shall 211 be financed as provided in this section. Assessments for regulatory costs 212 incurred by any state agency [which] that are subject to reimbursement 213 by the tribe in accordance with the provisions of the compact shall be 214 made by the Commissioner of [Revenue Services] Consumer Protection 215 in accordance with the provisions of the compact, including provisions 216 respecting adjustment of excess assessments. Any underassessment for 217 a prior fiscal year may be included in a subsequent assessment but shall 218 be specified as such. Payments made by the tribe in accordance with the 219 provisions of the compact shall be deposited in the General Fund and 220 shall be credited to the appropriation for the state agency incurring such 221 costs. 222 Sec. 8. Section 12-431 of the general statutes is repealed and the 223 following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage): 224 (a) (1) Except as otherwise provided in subdivision (2) or (3) of this 225 subsection, in case of the purchase of any motor vehicle, snowmobile, 226 vessel or aircraft other than from a licensed motor vehicle dealer or 227 licensed motor vehicle lessor, a snowmobile dealer, a licensed marine 228 dealer or a retailer of aircraft, respectively, the receipts therefrom shall 229 not be included in the measure of the sales tax, but the purchaser thereof 230 shall pay a use tax on the total purchase price thereof to the 231 Commissioner of Revenue Services, as provided in section 12-411, in the 232 case of tangible personal property purchased from a retailer, and, in the 233 case of motor vehicles, vessels and snowmobiles, before obtaining an 234 Raised Bill No. 7264 LCO No. 6363 9 of 11 original or transferal registration, in accordance with regulations 235 prescribed by the Commissioner of Revenue Services and on forms 236 approved by the Commissioner of Revenue Services and the 237 Commissioner of Motor Vehicles, and, in the case of aircraft, before 238 obtaining an original or transferal registration, in accordance with 239 regulations prescribed by the Commissioner of Revenue Services and 240 on forms approved by the Commissioner of Revenue Services and the 241 Commissioner of Transportation. 242 (2) No use tax shall be payable in cases of purchase (A) when the 243 purchaser is the spouse, mother, father, brother, sister or child of the 244 seller, (B) when a motor vehicle or vessel is sold in connection with the 245 organization, reorganization or liquidation of an incorporated business, 246 provided the last taxable sale or use of the motor vehicle or vessel was 247 subjected to a tax imposed by this chapter and the purchaser is the 248 incorporated business or a stockholder thereof, (C) when a motor 249 vehicle is sold in connection with the organization or termination of a 250 partnership or limited liability company, provided the last taxable sale 251 or use of the motor vehicle was subjected to a tax imposed by this 252 chapter and the purchaser is the partnership or limited liability 253 company, as the case may be, or a partner or member thereof as the case 254 may be, or (D) when a motor vehicle which has been declared a total 255 loss pursuant to the provisions of section 14-16c is rebuilt for sale or use, 256 provided the purchaser was subjected to the tax imposed by this chapter 257 for the last taxable sale of said vehicle. 258 (3) When a motor vehicle in which special equipment has previously 259 been installed exclusively for the use of a person with physical 260 disabilities is sold for use by a person with physical disabilities, the 261 purchaser shall pay a use tax on the total purchase price of the vehicle, 262 less the portion of such price attributable to such special equipment. 263 Unless established otherwise, the portion of the purchase price 264 attributable to the motor vehicle shall be deemed to be the value 265 determined pursuant to subsection (b) of this section. 266 Raised Bill No. 7264 LCO No. 6363 10 of 11 (b) In order to determine the total purchase price of a motor vehicle 267 or an aircraft for the purposes of this section, the commissioner shall, by 268 regulation, adopt by reference a book of valuations, for various 269 purposes, of motor vehicles and of aircraft, published by [a] an 270 applicable nationally recognized organization. The commissioner shall, 271 by regulation, determine which of the various valuations of motor 272 vehicles or aircraft contained in any such applicable book is appropriate 273 for the purposes of this section and such value shall, regardless of the 274 value placed on the motor vehicle or aircraft at the time of the purchase 275 by the parties to such transaction, be presumed to be the total purchase 276 price of such motor vehicle or aircraft for the purposes of this section 277 unless the purchaser can prove to the satisfaction of the commissioner 278 that such value is incorrect. 279 This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following sections: Section 1 from passage 12-35c Sec. 2 from passage 12-35h Sec. 3 from passage 12-39g Sec. 4 from passage New section Sec. 5 from passage 8-395(k) Sec. 6 from passage 12-586f(a) and (b) Sec. 7 from passage 12-586g(a) and (b) Sec. 8 from passage 12-431 Statement of Purpose: To (1) authorize the Commissioner of Revenue Services to enter into agreements with collection agencies and attorneys to collect unpaid taxes, (2) require departments and offices of the state to withhold amounts of unpaid taxes, penalties and interest from payments payable to persons owing such taxes, penalties and interest, (3) authorize the Commissioners of Revenue Services and Motor Vehicles to enter into an agreement to not issue or renew motor vehicle operator's licenses or motor vehicle certificates of registration for persons who owe taxes, penalties or interest to the state until such amounts are paid, and (4) implement the Department of Revenue Services' recommendations for revisions to the tax and related statutes. Raised Bill No. 7264 LCO No. 6363 11 of 11 [Proposed deletions are enclosed in brackets. Proposed additions are indicated by underline, except that when the entire text of a bill or resolution or a section of a bill or resolution is new, it is not underlined.]