LAC 61:III.2115 — Abatement and Compromise of Interest

A. Abatement of Interest under R.S. 47:1601(A)(2)(c)
1. The following definitions apply when determining whether interest may be abated under R.S. 47:1601(A)(2)(c).
a. Managerial Act—an administrative act that occurs during the processing of a taxpayer's case involving the temporary or permanent loss of records or the exercise of judgment or discretion relating to management of personnel. A decision concerning the proper application of the law is not a managerial act. Further, a general administrative decision, such as the department's decision on how to organize the processing of tax returns or its delay in implementing an improved computer system, is not a managerial act for which interest can be abated under this Section.
b. Ministerial Act—a procedural or mechanical act that does not involve the exercise of judgment or discretion, and that occurs during the processing of a taxpayer's case after all prerequisites, such as conferences and review by supervisors, have taken place. A decision concerning the proper application of the law is not a ministerial act.
2. The following circumstances are examples of situations that do not constitute an unreasonable error or delay by the department.
a. Interest accrues as a result of the taxpayer's failure to pay the tax liability he calculates for each period when due.
b. Interest accrues as a result of the taxpayer's failure to pay the entire balance owed once he and the department are in agreement as to the amount of the balance.
c. Interest accrues while the taxpayer waits for a determination of his refund claim in order to offset prior period underpayments.
d. Interest accrues as a result of the taxpayer's failure to cooperate with department personnel. Examples include but are not limited to:
i. the taxpayer does not timely furnish information to the department;
ii. the taxpayer delays meetings or appointments with department personnel.
B. Compromise of Interest under R.S. 47:1601(A)(2)(d)
1. Before the secretary may consider compromising any amount of interest, the taxpayer must have paid all outstanding taxes.
2. When determining whether or not to compromise interest for a taxpayer, the secretary will examine the taxpayer's filing and compliance history, any special circumstances that may exist, and the hazards of litigation. This list is not all-inclusive.
3. Interest may be compromised when the department and the taxpayer interpret the law differently and there is no binding judicial decision regarding the issue. If interest is compromised with regard to an unresolved issue, the taxpayer will agree to thereafter operate under the department's interpretation of the law.
4. Interest may only be compromised for a specific taxpayer if the taxpayer has not had any interest compromised within the past five years.
5. Interest may only be compromised for a specific taxpayer if neither the taxpayer, his affiliates, nor his related entities have ever had any interest compromised that arose from the same issue.
6. The secretary may compromise any portion of the total interest for which compromise is requested.
7. Following is a partial list of circumstances in which interest will not be compromised.
a. Taxpayer is party to a voluntary disclosure agreement for the period in which the interest accrued.
b. Interest accrues as a result of participation in an abusive tax avoidance transaction.
c. Interest that accrues on trust taxes that the taxpayer has collected but not remitted.