Seller to Collect Tax; Regulations; Penalty

Every seller making sales of utility services for storage, use, or other consumption in this state, not exempted under the provisions of Section 40-21-103, shall at the time of making such sales or, if the storage, use, or other consumption of the utility services is not then taxable hereunder, at the time such storage, use or other consumption becomes taxable hereunder, collect the tax imposed by this article from the purchaser and give to the purchaser a receipt therefor in the manner and form prescribed by the department. The tax required to be collected by the seller from the purchaser shall be displayed separately from the list, advertised in the premises, marked or other price on the sales check or other proof of sales. It shall be unlawful for any such seller to advertise or hold out or state to the public or to any customer, directly or indirectly, that the tax or any part thereof imposed by this article will be assumed or absorbed by the seller or that it will not be added to the selling price of the property sold or, if added, that it or any part thereof will be refunded. Any person violating any of the provisions of this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor. The tax herein required to be collected by the seller shall constitute a debt owed by the seller to this state.
In the event that a seller making sales of utility services for storage, use or other consumption in this state, not exempted under the provisions of Section 40-21-103, is exempted from collection of the tax herein levied by any provisions of the Constitution or laws of the United States of America, then the purchaser of such utility services shall pay the said tax directly to the department each month pursuant to such regulations as the department may prescribe from time to time.