ARTICLE 1. Administration [60601. - 60611.4.]

Cal. Revenue and Taxation Code - RTC 1.
in effect

Cal. Revenue and Taxation Code - RTC § 60601. Section 60601.

The board shall enforce 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 § 60603. Section 60603.

(a) Officers or employees of the state, upon presenting appropriate credentials and a written notice to the owner, operator, or agent in charge, are authorized to enter any place and to conduct inspections in accordance with paragraphs (1) to (6), inclusive. (1) Inspections shall be performed in a reasonable manner and at times that are reasonable under the circumstances, taking into consideration the normal business hours of the place to be entered. (2) Inspections may be at any place at which taxable diesel fuel is or may be produced or stored or at any inspection site where evidence of activities involving evasion may be discovered. These places may include, but are not limited to, any terminal, any diesel fuel storage facility that is not a terminal, any retail diesel fuel facility, or any designated inspection site. (3) A designated inspection site is any state highway inspection station, weigh station, agricultural inspection station, mobile station, or other location designated by the state or the Internal Revenue Service to be used as a diesel fuel inspection site. A designated inspection site shall be identified as a diesel fuel inspection site. (4) Officers or employees may physically inspect, examine, or otherwise search any tank, reservoir, or other container that can or may be used for the production, storage, or transportation of diesel fuel, diesel fuel dyes, or diesel fuel markers. Inspection may also be made of any equipment used for, or in connection with, production, storage, or transportation of diesel fuel, diesel fuel dyes, or diesel fuel markers. This includes any equipment used for the dyeing or marking of diesel fuel. This includes the books and records kept to determine tax liability. (5) Officers or employees may detain any vehicle, train, or vessel for the purpose of inspecting its fuel tanks and storage tanks. Detainment will be either on the premises under inspection or at a designated inspection site. Detainment may continue for a reasonable period of time as is necessary to determine the amount and composition of the diesel fuel. (6) Officers or employees may take and remove samples of diesel fuel in reasonable quantities as necessary to determine its composition. (b) Any person that refuses to allow an inspection may be fined one thousand dollars ($1,000) for each refusal. This penalty is in addition to any other penalty or tax that may be imposed upon that person or any other person liable for tax or penalty.

Cal. Revenue and Taxation Code - RTC § 60604. Section 60604.

Every interstate user, supplier, exempt bus operator, government entity, ultimate vendor, qualified highway vehicle operator, highway vehicle operator/fueler, train operator, pipeline operator, vessel operator, and every person dealing in, removing, transporting, or storing diesel fuel in this state shall keep those records, receipts, invoices, and other pertinent papers with respect thereto in that form as the board may require. Failure to maintain records will constitute a misdemeanor punishable as provided in Section 60706.

Cal. Revenue and Taxation Code - RTC § 60605. Section 60605.

(a) Each terminal operator shall keep the following information with respect to each rack removal of diesel fuel at each terminal it operates: (1) The bill of lading or other shipping document. (2) The record of whether the diesel fuel was dyed in accordance with the United States Environmental Protection Agency or Internal Revenue Service requirements. (3) The volume and date of the removal. (4) The identity of the position holder or position holder’s customer. (5) The identity of the person, such as a common carrier, that physically received the fuel. (6) Any other information required by the Internal Revenue Service pursuant to Section 48.4101-1 of Title 26 of the Code of Federal Regulations. (b) The terminal operator shall maintain the information described in this section at the terminal from which the removal occurred for at least three months after the removal to which it relates. Thereafter, the terminal operator shall retain the information at a location controlled by the terminal operator for at least four more years.

Cal. Revenue and Taxation Code - RTC § 60606. Section 60606.

The board or its authorized representative may examine the books, records, and equipment of any interstate user, supplier, exempt bus operator, government entity, ultimate vendor, qualified highway vehicle operator, highway vehicle operator/fueler, train operator, pipeline operator, vessel operator, or person dealing in, removing, transporting, or storing diesel fuel and may investigate the character of the disposition that the interstate user, supplier, exempt bus operator, government entity, ultimate vendor, qualified highway vehicle operator, highway vehicle operator/fueler, train operator, pipeline operator, vessel operator, or person makes of the diesel fuel in order to ascertain whether all taxes due under this part are being properly reported and paid.

Cal. Revenue and Taxation Code - RTC § 60607. Section 60607.

As this state is the source of petroleum products for other states, if the examination or investigation necessitates collaboration or conference with motor vehicle fuel tax officials of other states, at places inside or outside this state, the collaboration or conference is declared to be a necessary function in the administration of this part.

Cal. Revenue and Taxation Code - RTC § 60608. Section 60608.

(a) Upon request from the officials to whom is entrusted the enforcement of the motor fuel tax laws of another government, the board may furnish to those officials the information in the possession of the board that is deemed essential to the enforcement of the motor fuel tax laws. Any information so furnished shall not be used for any purpose other than that for which it was furnished. (b) The board may furnish to any state or federal agency investigating violations of or enforcing any state or federal law related to motor fuels any motor fuel information in the possession of the board that is deemed necessary for the enforcement of those laws. (c) The board may furnish any interstate user information obtained by the board under this part to any state or federal agency for use by that agency in the enforcement of interstate user registration or licensing laws, or interstate vehicle registration or licensing laws.

Cal. Revenue and Taxation Code - RTC § 60609. Section 60609.

It is unlawful for the board or any person having an administrative duty under this part to make known in any manner whatever the business affairs, operations, or information obtained by an investigation of records and equipment of any person visited or examined in the discharge of official duty, 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 except to another government, state agency, or federal agency as specified in Section 60608. Information respecting the tax due from a person may be furnished, however, to any person owning or having an interest in a qualified motor vehicle or property subject to the lien of the tax. 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, 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. 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.

Cal. Revenue and Taxation Code - RTC § 60609.5. Section 60609.5.

(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 6 (commencing with Section 60201), 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 § 60610. Section 60610.

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 § 60611. Section 60611.

(a) The board shall determine which taxpayer’s accounts are eligible for the managed audit program in a manner that is consistent with the efficient use of its auditing resources and the maximum effectiveness of the program. (b) A taxpayer is not required to participate in the managed audit program.

Cal. Revenue and Taxation Code - RTC § 60611.1. Section 60611.1.

A taxpayer’s account is eligible for the managed audit program only if the taxpayer meets all of the following criteria: (a) The taxpayer’s business involves few or no statutory exemptions. (b) The taxpayer’s business involves a single or a small number of clearly defined taxability issues. (c) The taxpayer is taxed pursuant to this part and agrees to participate in the managed audit program. (d) The taxpayer has the resources to comply with the managed audit instructions provided by the board.

Cal. Revenue and Taxation Code - RTC § 60611.2. Section 60611.2.

(a) If the board selects a taxpayer’s account for a managed audit, all of the following apply: (1) The board shall identify all of the following: (A) The audit period covered by the managed audit. (B) The types of transactions covered by the managed audit. (C) The specific procedures that the taxpayer is to follow in determining any liability. (D) The records to be reviewed by the taxpayer. (E) The manner in which the types of transactions are to be scheduled for review. (F) The time period for completion of the managed audit. (G) The time period for the payment of the liability and interest. (H) Any other criteria that the board may require for completion of the managed audit. (2) The taxpayer shall: (A) Examine its books, records, and equipment to determine if it has any unreported tax liability for the audit period. (B) Make available to the board for verification all computations and books, records, and equipment examined pursuant to subparagraph (A). (b) The information provided by the taxpayer pursuant to paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) is the same information that is required for the completion of any other audit that the board may conduct.

Cal. Revenue and Taxation Code - RTC § 60611.4. Section 60611.4.

Upon completion of the managed audit and verification by the board, interest on any unpaid liability shall be computed at one-half the rate that would otherwise be imposed for liabilities covered by the audit period. Payment of the liabilities and interest shall be made within the time period specified by the board. If the requirements for the managed audit are not satisfied, the board may proceed to examine the records of the taxpayer in a manner to be determined by the board under law.
Source: CA Legislative Counsel Bulk DataURL: https://downloads.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/pubinfo_2025.zipFetched: 6/27/2026

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