Monthly returns and payment of tax by distributors and unclassified importers. Exemption from licensing requirements for retailers of taxed tobacco products and unclassified importers

# (a)

Except as otherwise provided in subsection (b) of this section, each licensed distributor and each licensed unclassified importer shall file with the commissioner, on or before the twenty-fifth day of each month, a report for the calendar month immediately preceding in such form and containing such information as the commissioner may prescribe. The return shall be accompanied by a payment of the amount of the tax shown to be due thereon. If any person fails to pay the amount of tax reported due on its report within the time specified under this section, there shall be imposed a penalty equal to ten per cent of such amount due and unpaid, or fifty dollars, whichever is greater. Such amount shall bear interest at the rate of one per cent per month or fraction thereof, from the due date of such tax until the date of payment. Subject to the provisions of section 12-3a, the commissioner may waive all or part of the penalties provided under this chapter when it is proven to the commissioner's satisfaction that the failure to pay any tax was due to reasonable cause and was not intentional or due to neglect.

# (b)

# (1)

Any person who does not acquire untaxed tobacco products, but acquires taxed tobacco products for sale at retail shall not be licensed as a distributor under this chapter, and shall be required, during the period that such person is a retailer of taxed tobacco products, to apply for and retain a dealer's license under chapter 214. Each such retailer shall maintain records that detail (A) the persons from whom, the quantities in which and the dates on which tobacco products were acquired by such retailer, and (B) any other information deemed necessary by the commissioner.

# (2)

If, in the commissioner's discretion, the enforcement of this chapter would not be adversely affected, the commissioner, by regulation adopted pursuant to this chapter, may exempt unclassified importers from the licensing requirements of section 12-330b and from the monthly reporting requirements of this section and, in lieu thereof, may require unclassified importers having untaxed tobacco products in their possession, not later than twenty-four hours after coming into possession of such untaxed tobacco products, (A) to file a report with the commissioner in such form as the commissioner prescribes and bearing notice to the effect that false statements made in such report are punishable, and (B) to pay the amount of tax shown to be due thereon. (P.A. 89-251, S. 27, 203; P.A. 95-26, S. 12, 52; P.A. 00-174, S. 30, 83; P.A. 05-260, S. 4; P.A. 06-194, S. 16.) History: P.A. 95-26 lowered the interest rate from 1.25% to 1%, effective July 1, 1995, and applicable to taxes due and owing on or after July 1, 1995, whether or not those taxes first became due before said date; P.A. 00-174 changed the filing date from the tenth to the twenty-fifth day of each month, eliminated a requirement for regulations re report form and information and made technical changes, effective May 26, 2000, and applicable to reports for periods commencing on or after July 1, 2000; P.A. 05-260 designated existing provisions as Subsec. (a) and amended same to add exception for Subsec. (b) and eliminate commissioner's authority to adopt regulations re names and addresses of customers, added Subsec. (b)(1) re annual report and added Subsec. (b)(2) re exemption through regulations of unclassified importers, effective October 1, 2005, and applicable to returns for periods commencing on or after October 1, 2005; P.A. 06-194 amended Subsec. (b)(1) to delete definitions and requirement that distributors make annual reports, to provide that persons retailing taxed tobacco products shall not be licensed as a distributor but shall apply for and retain a dealer's license under chapter 214 and to delete provision re records of sales of tobacco products, effective July 1, 2006. (Return to ChapterTable of Contents) (Return toList of Chapters) (Return toList of Titles)