ARTICLE 1. Administration [7051. - 7060.]

Cal. Revenue and Taxation Code - RTC 1.

in effect

Cal. Revenue and Taxation Code - RTC § 7051. Section 7051.

The board shall enforce the provisions of this part and may prescribe, adopt, and enforce rules and regulations relating to the administration and enforcement of this part. The board may prescribe the extent to which any ruling or regulation shall be applied without retroactive effect.

Cal. Revenue and Taxation Code - RTC § 7051.1. Section 7051.1.

The board may adopt rules and regulations which provide for the issuance of a permit to a person who holds a valid seller’s permit which allows the purchase of tangible personal property without payment by the retailer of the tax imposed under this part and any reimbursement of the sales tax to the retailer by that person, if all of the following conditions are met: (a) That person agrees to report and pay the retailer’s tax liability directly to the board. (b) The board determines that such a direct payment permit will facilitate the collection of the tax imposed under this part. (c) The board determines that the issuance of a direct payment permit is to the mutual convenience of the board, the person to whom the direct payment permit is issued, and the retailers whose tax liability will be reported and paid by that person. (d) The board determines that the issuance of a direct payment permit will not result in a tax loss either in total or on a cash flow basis. To ensure against a potential cash flow loss, the board may accelerate by not more than 10 days the prepayment due dates of a person. (e) Any person who is issued a direct payment permit shall include with each tax return required to be filed under this part a schedule upon which all local sales and use tax, and any applicable district transactions and use tax, reported on the return as provided in subdivision (a) is allocated to the cities, counties, city and county, redevelopment agencies, and districts to which the tax would have been allocated if it had been reported and paid by the retailers.

Cal. Revenue and Taxation Code - RTC § 7051.2. Section 7051.2.

(a) If a holder of a direct payment permit issued by the board pursuant to Section 7051.1 gives an exemption certificate to a retailer for the purpose of paying that retailer’s tax liability to the board, and fails or refuses to pay that retailer’s tax liability to the board on a timely basis, then in addition to that retailer’s tax liability, the direct payment permitholder shall be subject to the same penalty provisions that would apply if that permit holder was the retailer. (b) If a holder of a direct payment permit issued by the board pursuant to Section 7051.1 does not properly allocate a retailer’s local sales and use tax liability, or that retailer’s district transactions and use tax liability, if applicable, to the cities, counties, city and county, redevelopment agencies, and districts to which those taxes would have been allocated if properly reported by that retailer, then the direct payment permitholder shall be liable to the state for a penalty of 10 percent of the amount of that retailer’s tax liability not properly allocated by the direct payment permitholder for improper allocation due to negligence or intentional disregard of the law.

Cal. Revenue and Taxation Code - RTC § 7051.3. Section 7051.3.

(a) “Use tax direct payment permit” means a permit issued by the board that allows a taxpayer to self-assess and pay state and local use tax under Part 1 (commencing with Section 6001), Part 1.5 (commencing with Section 7200), and if otherwise applicable, Part 1.6 (commencing with Section 7251), and Part 1.7 (commencing with Section 7280) directly to the board. (b) Every person seeking to pay use taxes directly to the board shall file an application for a use tax direct payment permit. An application for a use tax direct payment permit shall be made upon a form prescribed by the board and shall set forth the name under which the applicant transacts or intends to transact business, the location of the place or places of business where the applicant intends to make direct payment of use tax, and any other information that the board may require. An applicant for a use tax direct payment permit may register as a place to make direct payment of use tax, any of the places of business in this state that the applicant expects to be a place of first use for purchases subject to use tax, in accordance with the requirements of subdivision (d). The application shall be signed by the owner, if a natural person; in the case of an association or partnership, by a member or partner; and in the case of a corporation, by an executive officer or some person specifically authorized by the corporation to sign the application. (c) Pursuant to an application, a use tax direct payment permit shall be issued to any person who meets all of the following conditions: (1) The applicant agrees to self-assess and pay directly to the board any use tax liability incurred under this section. (2) The applicant certifies to the board either of the following: (A) The applicant is the purchaser for its own use or is the lessee of tangible personal property at a cost of five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000) or more in the aggregate, during the calendar year immediately preceding the application for the permit. (B) The applicant is a county, city, city and county, or redevelopment agency. (d) Any person who holds a valid use tax direct payment permit shall self-assess and pay directly to the board use taxes due under this part, Part 1.5 (commencing with Section 7200), and if otherwise applicable, Part 1.6 (commencing with Section 7251), and Part 1.7 (commencing with Section 7280) for all purchases subject to use tax for which a use tax direct payment exemption certificate was issued, and shall report on the tax return required to be filed by Section 6452, the amount of local use tax applicable to each county, city, city and county, or redevelopment agency in which the first “use,” as defined in Section 6009, occurs. (e) The board shall allow any holder of a use tax direct payment permit to issue a use tax direct payment certificate to any registered retailer or seller subject to all of the following: (1) The use tax direct payment certificate shall be in a form prescribed by the board, and shall be signed by, and bear the name, address, and permit number of, the holder of the use tax direct payment permit. (2) Once a use tax direct payment certificate has been issued by a holder of a use tax direct payment permit, it shall remain effective until revised or withdrawn by the holder of the permit or until the retailer or seller has received actual notice that the permit has been revoked by the board. (3) A use tax direct payment certificate relieves a person selling property from the duty of collecting use tax only if taken in good faith from a person who holds a use tax direct payment permit. A purchaser who issues a use tax direct payment certificate that is accepted in good faith by a seller or retailer of tangible personal property shall be the sole person liable for any sales tax and related interest and penalties with respect to any transaction that is subsequently determined by the board to be subject to sales tax and not use tax. (4) Any person who holds a use tax direct payment permit and gives a use tax direct payment certificate to a seller or retailer shall, in addition to any applicable use tax liabilities, be subject to the same penalty provisions that apply to a seller or retailer. (f) It is the intent of the Legislature that the board administer this part in a manner which assures that local use tax be received by the county, city, city and county, or redevelopment agency where the first use occurs.

Cal. Revenue and Taxation Code - RTC § 7051.5. Section 7051.5.

The board shall prescribe rules and regulations respecting retail grocers who sell both taxable items and exempt food items to provide one or more methods whereby they may report their sales tax liabilities in as simplified a manner as is consistent with law. Such rules and regulations shall be applied equally to all grocers who report their sales tax liabilities thereunder.

Cal. Revenue and Taxation Code - RTC § 7052. Section 7052.

The board may employ accountants, auditors, investigators, assistants, and clerks necessary for the efficient administration of this part and may designate representatives to conduct hearings, prescribe regulations, or perform any other duties imposed by this part or other laws of this State upon the board.

Cal. Revenue and Taxation Code - RTC § 7053. Section 7053.

Every seller, every retailer as defined in subdivision (b) of Section 6015, and every person storing, using, or otherwise consuming in this State tangible personal property purchased from a retailer shall keep such records, receipts, invoices, and other pertinent papers in such form as the board may require.

Cal. Revenue and Taxation Code - RTC § 7054. Section 7054.

The board or any person authorized in writing by it may examine the books, papers, records, and equipment of any person selling tangible personal property and any person liable for the use tax and may investigate the character of the business of the person in order to verify the accuracy of any return made, or, if no return is made by the person, to ascertain and determine the amount required to be paid.

Cal. Revenue and Taxation Code - RTC § 7055. Section 7055.

In administration of the use tax the board may require the filing of reports by any person or class of persons having in his or their possession or custody information relating to sales of tangible personal property the storage, use, or other consumption of which is subject to the tax. The reports shall be filed when the board requires and shall set forth the names and addresses of purchasers of the tangible personal property, the sales price of the property, the date of sale, and such other information as the board may require.

Cal. Revenue and Taxation Code - RTC § 7056. Section 7056.

(a) (1) Excepting the information set forth on permits issued under Article 2 (commencing with Section 6066) of Chapter 2, the information set forth on certificates of registration issued pursuant to Section 6226, and the terms of any settlement made pursuant to Section 19442 (as amended by Chapter 138 of the Statutes of 1994), it is unlawful for the board, any person having an administrative duty under this part or any person who obtains access to information contained in, or derived from, sales or transactions and use tax records of the board pursuant to subdivision (b), to make known in any manner whatever the business affairs, operations, or any other information pertaining to any retailer or any other person required to report to the board or pay a tax pursuant to this part, or the amount or source of income, profits, losses, expenditures, or any particular thereof, set forth or disclosed in any return, or to permit any return or copy thereof or any book containing any abstract or particulars thereof to be seen or examined by any person. (2) It is also unlawful for any person, other than an officer or employee of a county, city and county, city, or district, who obtains access to information contained in, or derived from, sales or transactions and use tax records of the board pursuant to subdivision (b), to retain that information after that person’s contract with the county, city and county, city, or district has expired. (3) Notwithstanding paragraphs (1) and (2), the Governor may, by general or special order, authorize examination by other state officers, by tax officers of another state, by the federal government, if a reciprocal arrangement exists, by the tax officials of Mexico, if a reciprocal agreement exists, or by any other person of the records maintained by the board under this part. The information so obtained pursuant to the order of the Governor shall not be made public except to the extent and in the manner that the order may authorize that it be made public. (b) When requested by resolution of the legislative body of any county, city and county, city, or district, the board shall permit any duly authorized officer or employee of the county, city and county, city, or district, or other person designated by that resolution, to examine all of the sales or transactions and use tax records of the board pertaining to the ascertainment of those sales or transactions and use taxes to be collected for the county, city and county, city, or district by the board pursuant to contract entered into between the board and the county, city and county, city, or district under the Bradley-Burns Uniform Local Sales and Use Tax Law (Part 1.5 (commencing with Section 7200)) or the Transactions and Use Tax Law (Part 1.6 (commencing with Section 7251)). Except as otherwise provided herein, this subdivision shall not be construed to allow any officer, employee, or other person authorized or designated by a county, city and county, city, or district to examine any sales or transactions and use tax records of any taxpayer. The costs that are incurred by the board in complying with a request made pursuant to this subdivision shall be deducted by the board from those revenues collected by the board on behalf of the county, city and county, city, or district making the request. (1) The resolution shall certify that any person designated by the resolution, other than an officer or employee, meets all of the following conditions: (A) Has an existing contract with the county, city and county, city, or district to examine those sales and use tax records. (B) Is required by that contract to disclose information contained in, or derived from, those sales or transactions and use tax records only to an officer or employee of the county, city and county, city, or district who is authorized by the resolution to examine the information. (C) Is prohibited by that contract from performing consulting services for a retailer during the term of that contract. (D) Is prohibited by that contract from retaining the information contained in, or derived from, those sales or transactions and use tax records, after that contract has expired. (2) Information obtained by examination of board records as permitted in this subdivision shall be used only for purposes related to the collection of local sales or transactions and use taxes by the board pursuant to the contract, or for purposes related to other governmental functions of the county, city and county, city, or district set forth in the resolution. (c) If the board believes that any information obtained pursuant to subdivision (b) has been disclosed to any person not authorized or designated by the resolution of the legislative body of the county, city and county, city, or district, or has been used for purposes not permitted by subdivision (b), then notwithstanding subdivision (b), the board may impose conditions on access to its sales and use tax records which the board considers reasonable, in order to protect the confidentiality of those records. (d) Predecessors, successors, receivers, trustees, executors, administrators, assignees, and guarantors, if directly interested, may be given information as to the items included in the measure and amounts of any unpaid tax or amounts of tax required to be collected, interest, and penalties. (e) For purposes of this section, “reciprocal agreement” means a formal agreement to exchange information between national taxing officials of Mexico and taxing authorities of the State Board of Equalization, the Franchise Tax Board, and the Employment Development Department. Furthermore, the reciprocal agreement shall be limited to the exchange of information which is essential for tax administration purposes only. Taxing authorities of the State of California shall be granted tax information only on California residents. Taxing authorities of Mexico shall be granted tax information only on Mexican nationals.

Cal. Revenue and Taxation Code - RTC § 7056.5. Section 7056.5.

(a) Except as otherwise provided by this article or other express provision of law, the information furnished or secured pursuant to this part shall be used solely for the purpose of administering the tax laws or other laws administered by the person or agency obtaining it. Any willful unauthorized inspection or unwarranted disclosure or use of the information by the person or agency, or the employees and officers thereof, is a misdemeanor. For purposes of this section, “inspection” means any examination of confidential information furnished or secured pursuant to this part. (b) The board shall notify a taxpayer of any known incidents of willful unauthorized inspection or unwarranted disclosure or use of the taxpayer’s confidential tax records, but only if criminal charges have been filed for the willful unauthorized inspection or unwarranted disclosure.

Cal. Revenue and Taxation Code - RTC § 7056.6. Section 7056.6.

(a) Except as otherwise provided by law, any person who is engaged in the business of preparing, or providing services in connection with the preparation of, returns under Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 6451), or any person who for compensation prepares any such return for any other person, and who knowingly or recklessly does either of the following, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000) or imprisoned no more than one year, or both, together with the costs of prosecution: (1) Discloses any information furnished to him or her for, or in connection with, the preparation of the return. (2) Uses that information for any purpose other than to prepare, or assist in preparing, the return. (b) Subdivision (a) shall not apply to disclosure of information if that disclosure is made pursuant to the person’s consent or pursuant to a subpoena, court order, or other compulsory legal process.

Cal. Revenue and Taxation Code - RTC § 7057. Section 7057.

(a) The board may disclose to state governmental licensing entities identifying information of persons appearing on the list of the 500 largest tax delinquencies pursuant to Section 7063 for purposes of administering Section 494.5 of the Business and Professions Code. “Identifying information” means the name, social security number or taxpayer identification number, and the last known address of the persons appearing on the list of the 500 largest tax delinquencies. (b) Neither the state governmental licensing entity, nor any officer, employee, or agent, or former officer, employee, or agent of a state governmental licensing entity, may disclose or use any information obtained from the board pursuant to this section, except to administer Section 494.5 of the Business and Professions Code or to inform the public of the denial, refusal to renew, or suspension of a license or the issuance of a temporary license pursuant to Section 494.5 of the Business and Professions Code. (c) For purposes of this section, state governmental licensing entity means a state governmental licensing entity as defined in Section 494.5 of the Business and Professions Code.

Cal. Revenue and Taxation Code - RTC § 7057.5. Section 7057.5.

(a) The board may disclose to state agencies identifying information of persons appearing on the list of the 500 largest tax delinquencies pursuant to Section 7063 for purposes of administering Section 10295.4 of the Public Contract Code. “Identifying information” means the name, social security number or taxpayer identification number, and the last known address of the persons appearing on the list of the 500 largest tax delinquencies. (b) A state agency, and any officer, employee, or agent, or former officer, employee, or agent of a state agency, shall not disclose or use any information obtained from the board, pursuant to this section, except to administer Section 10295.4 of the Public Contract Code.

Cal. Revenue and Taxation Code - RTC § 7058. Section 7058.

A certificate by the board or an employee of the board stating that a notice required by this part was given by mailing or personal service shall be prima facie evidence in any administrative or judicial proceeding of the fact and regularity of the mailing or personal service in accordance with any requirement of this part for the giving of a notice. Unless otherwise specifically required, any notice provided by this part to be mailed or served may be given either by mailing or by personal service in the manner provided for giving notice of a deficiency determination.

Cal. Revenue and Taxation Code - RTC § 7060. Section 7060.

(a) The board, under regulations prescribed by the board, may establish a reward program for information resulting in the identification of underreported or unreported taxes due under this part. Any reward may not exceed 10 percent of the taxes collected as a result of the information provided. Any person employed by or under contract with any state or federal tax collection agency shall not be eligible for a reward provided pursuant to this section. (b) Within 2 1 2 years of the effective date of the act adding this subdivision or within 2 1 2 years of the commencement of a program pursuant to subdivision (a), whichever is later, the board shall report to the Legislature on all of the following: (1) The number of informant letters and telephone calls received during the 2-year period following the effective date of the act adding this subdivision or following the commencement of a program pursuant to subdivision (a), whichever is later. (2) The amount of additional taxes and penalties assessed and collected as a result of this program and the amount of rewards distributed. (3) The administrative costs incurred in implementing and operating this program. (c) Rewards paid pursuant to this section shall be paid from amounts appropriated by the Legislature for that purpose.

Source: CA Legislative Counsel Bulk DataURL: https://downloads.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/pubinfo_2025.zipFetched: 6/27/2026