South Carolina General Assembly

119th Session, 2011-2012

H. 3419

STATUS INFORMATION

General Bill

Sponsors: Reps. Merrill, Bingham, Young, Taylor, Hixon, J.R.Smith, Clemmons, Stavrinakis, Bowers, Edge, Ballentine and Knight

Document Path: l:\council\bills\nbd\11138dg11.docx

Companion/Similar bill(s): 11

Introduced in the House on January 25, 2011

Introduced in the Senate on March 15, 2011

Currently residing in the Senate Committee on Finance

Summary: Taxpayer Fairness Act

HISTORY OF LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS

Date Body Action Description with journal page number

1/25/2011 House Introduced and read first time (House Journalpage25)

1/25/2011 House Referred to Committee on Ways and Means (House Journalpage25)

2/22/2011 House Committee report: Favorable Ways and Means (House Journalpage8)

2/23/2011 House Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Young, Taylor, Hixon, J.R.Smith

2/24/2011 House Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Clemmons, Stavrinakis

2/24/2011 House Debate adjourned until Tuesday, March 1, 2011 (House Journalpage25)

3/2/2011 House Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Bowers, Edge

3/2/2011 House Requests for debateRep(s).Ott, Jefferson, King, Cooper, Brantley, G Brown, Anderson, Bales, Herbkersman, White, RL Brown, Hosey, JR Smith, and Taylor (House Journalpage38)

3/8/2011 House Debate adjourned until Wednesday, March 9, 2011 (House Journalpage79)

3/9/2011 House Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Ballentine, Knight

3/9/2011 House Read second time (House Journalpage37)

3/9/2011 House Roll call Yeas110 Nays0 (House Journalpage37)

3/10/2011 House Read third time and sent to Senate (House Journalpage34)

3/15/2011 Senate Introduced and read first time (Senate Journalpage12)

3/15/2011 Senate Referred to Committee on Finance (Senate Journalpage12)

VERSIONS OF THIS BILL

1/25/2011

2/22/2011

COMMITTEE REPORT

February 22, 2011

H.3419

Introduced by Reps. Merrill and Bingham

S. Printed 2/22/11--H.

Read the first time January 25, 2011.

THE COMMITTEE ON WAYS AND MEANS

To whom was referred a Bill (H.3419) to amend the Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, to enact the “Taxpayer Fairness Act” by adding Section 12-4-397 so as to provide the, etc., respectfully

REPORT:

That they have duly and carefully considered the same and recommend that the same do pass:

DANIEL T. COOPER for Committee.

[3419-1]

A BILL

TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, TO ENACT THE “TAXPAYER FAIRNESS ACT” BY ADDING SECTION 12-4-397 SO AS TO PROVIDE THE MANNER IN WHICH THE SOUTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE MUST INTERPRET TAX STATUTES OF THIS STATE, TO PROVIDE THAT TERMS IN THE TAX STATUTES OF THIS STATE MAY NOT BE GIVEN BROADER MEANING THAN INTENDED BY POLICY DOCUMENTS AND REGULATIONS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE, TO PROVIDE THAT AMBIGUITY IN TAX STATUTES MUST BE RESOLVED IN FAVOR OF THE TAXPAYER, TO REQUIRE THE DEPARTMENT TO REPORT AMBIGUITIES TO CERTAIN MEMBERS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, AND TO DEFINE “TAX STATUTES OF THIS STATE”.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

SECTION 1. This act may be cited as the “Taxpayer Fairness Act”.

SECTION 2. Article 3, Chapter 4, Title 12 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:

“Section 124397. (A) For purposes of this section, a ‘tax statute of this State’ means a statute imposing or relating to the imposition or nonimposition of a tax or fee administrated by the South Carolina Department of Revenue.

(B) In applying the revenue statutes of this State, the department’s interpretation of those statutes must be based solely on the plain meaning of the statute’s text and the legislative intent giving rise to the statute’s enactment.

(C) Terms contained in the tax statutes of this State may not be given broader meaning in policy documents or regulations of the department beyond the meaning of the statute.

(D) If the application of subsection (B) of this section results in ambiguity with respect to the correct application of the statute, then that ambiguity must be resolved in favor of the taxpayer. The department shall report any ambiguity to the Governor, the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the respective Chairmen of the Senate Finance Committee and the House Ways and Means Committee.”

SECTION 3. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.

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