Chapter 227 - Sale of Petroleum Products Gross Earnings Tax

Sec. 12-587a. Tax credit for company liable for tax on sale of petroleum products to purchaser who sells the products outside the state. Purchaser reimbursed by company for tax in purchase price of such products. (a)(1) Any company, as such term is used in section 12-587, liable for the tax imposed under subsection (b) of section 12-587 on gross earnings from the first sale of petroleum products within this state, which products the purchaser thereof subsequently sells for exportation and sale or use outside this state, shall be allowed a credit against any tax for which such company is liable in accordance with subsection (b) of section 12-587, in the amount of tax paid to the state with respect to the sale of such products, provided (A) such purchaser has submitted certification to such company, in such form as prescribed by the Commissioner of Revenue Services, that such products were sold or used outside this state, (B) such certification and any additional information related to such sale or use by such purchaser, which said commissioner may request, have been submitted to said commissioner, and (C) such company makes a payment to such purchaser, related to such products sold or used outside this state, in the amount equal to the tax imposed under section 12-587 on gross earnings from the first sale to such purchaser within the state.

(2) The credit allowed pursuant to subdivision (1) of this subsection may also be claimed, in the same manner as provided in said subdivision, by any such company when the petroleum products sold in a first sale within this state by such company are incorporated by the purchaser thereof into a material that is included in U.S. industry group 3255 in the North American Industrial Classification System United States Manual, United States Office of Management and Budget, 2007 edition, and such products are subsequently exported for sale or use outside this state. Such company shall be allowed such credit in the amount of tax paid to the state with respect to the sale of such products.

(3) In addition, such company shall be allowed such credit when there has been any sale of such products subsequent to the sale by such company but prior to sale or use outside this state, provided (A) each purchaser receives payment, related to such products sold or used outside this state, equal to the tax imposed under section 12-587, on gross earnings from the first sale of such products within this state, and (B) the purchaser selling or using such products outside this state complies with the requirements in this section related to a purchaser of such products from the company liable for such tax.

(b) (1) Any company liable for the tax imposed under subsection (c) of section 12-587 on the consideration given or contracted to be given for petroleum products which it imports or causes to be imported into this state for sale, use or consumption in this state, shall be allowed a credit against tax under subsection (c) of section 12-587 if the company subsequently exports such petroleum products for sale or use outside this state, in the amount of tax paid to the state with respect to the sale, use or consumption in this state of such products.

(2) The credit allowed pursuant to subdivision (1) of this subsection may also be claimed, in the same manner as provided in said subdivision (1), by any such company when the petroleum products which such company imports or causes to be imported into this state are incorporated by such company into a material that is included in U.S. industry group 3255 in the North American Industrial Classification System United States Manual, United States Office of Management and Budget, 2007 edition, and such company subsequently exports such products for sale or use outside this state. Such company shall be allowed said credit in the amount of tax paid to the state with respect to the sale, use or consumption in this state of such products.

(P.A. 82-157, S. 2, 3; P.A. 98-244, S. 26, 35; P.A. 03-225, S. 12; P.A. 13-232, S. 4; P.A. 22-110, S. 25.)

History: P.A. 82-157 effective May 3, 1982, and applicable to gross earnings on or after May 1, 1982; P.A. 98-244 made technical changes and lettered existing text as Subsec. (a) and added new Subsec. (b) re imported petroleum products, effective June 8, 1998, and applicable to calendar quarters commencing on or after October 1, 1998; P.A. 03-225 made technical changes to conform this section with changes previously made to Sec. 12-587, effective July 9, 2003; P.A. 13-232 added Subsecs. (a)(2) and (b)(2) re credit when petroleum products incorporated into certain materials, redesignated existing Subsec. (a)(2) as Subsec. (a)(3) and redesignated existing Subsec. (b) as Subsec. (b)(1), effective July 1, 2015, and applicable to quarterly periods commencing on or after that date; P.A. 22-110 made technical changes in Subsec. (a).

Cited. 215 C. 134.

Sec. 12-588. Conduct of business subject to tax by fiduciary. Any fiduciary who conducts or is liquidating the business or is selling the assets of any company subject to tax under section 12-587 shall be subject to requirements related to filing returns and to payment of taxes imposed under said section in the same manner and to the same extent as if the business were being conducted or liquidated or assets sold by agents or officers of such company. The return of any fiduciary who has been appointed during a taxable quarter or following such quarter but on or before the last day upon which a return may be filed for such quarter without penalty, shall include complete information with respect to that part of such quarter during which the company conducted the business as well as that part of such quarter in which such fiduciary was acting and taxes shall be paid by such fiduciary for both parts of such quarter.

(P.A. 80-71, S. 2, 30.)

History: P.A. 80-71 effective July 1, 1980, and applicable to calendar quarters commencing on or after that date.

Sec. 12-589. Refunds of overpayment of tax. Interest. (a)(1) Any company believing that it has overpaid any taxes imposed under section 12-587 may file a claim for refund in writing with the commissioner within three years from the due date for which such overpayment was made, stating the specific grounds upon which the claim is founded. Failure to file a claim within the time prescribed in this section constitutes a waiver of any demand against the state on account of overpayment. Not later than ninety days following receipt of such claim for refund the commissioner shall determine whether such claim is valid and if so, said commissioner shall notify the State Comptroller of the amount of such refund and the State Comptroller shall draw an order on the State Treasurer in the amount thereof for payment to such company. If the commissioner determines that such claim is not valid, either in whole or in part, he shall mail notice of the proposed disallowance to the claimant, which notice shall set forth briefly the commissioner's findings of fact and the basis of disallowance in each case decided in whole or in part adversely to the claimant. Sixty days after the date on which it is mailed, a notice of proposed disallowance shall constitute a final disallowance except only for such amounts as to which the claimant has filed, as provided in subdivision (2) of this subsection, a written protest with the commissioner.

(2) On or before the sixtieth day after the mailing of the proposed disallowance, the claimant may file with the commissioner a written protest against the proposed disallowance in which the claimant sets forth the grounds on which the protest is based. If a protest is filed, the commissioner shall reconsider the proposed disallowance and, if the claimant has so requested, may grant or deny the claimant or the claimant's authorized representatives an oral hearing.

(3) The commissioner shall mail notice of his determination to the claimant, which notice shall set forth briefly the commissioner's findings of fact and the basis of decision in each case decided in whole or in part adversely to the claimant.

(4) The action of the commissioner on the claimant's protest shall be final upon the expiration of one month from the date on which he mails notice of his action to the claimant unless within such period the claimant seeks judicial review of the commissioner's determination pursuant to section 12-597.

(b) (1) To any refund granted as a result of overpayments of any taxes imposed under section 12-587, except refunds due because of any intentional overpayment, there shall be added interest at the rate of two-thirds of one per cent for each month or fraction of a month, as provided in subdivisions (2) and (3) of this subsection.

(2) In case of such overpayment pursuant to a tax return, no interest shall be allowed or paid under this subsection on such overpayment for any month or fraction thereof prior to (A) the ninety-first day after the last day prescribed for filing the tax return associated with such overpayment, or (B) the ninety-first day after the date such return was filed, whichever is later.

(3) In case of such overpayment pursuant to an amended tax return, no interest shall be allowed or paid under this subsection on such overpayment for any month or fraction thereof prior to the ninety-first day after the date such amended tax return was filed.

(P.A. 80-71, S. 3, 30; P.A. 89-343, S. 4, 17; P.A. 93-361, S. 6; P.A. 95-26, S. 29, 52; P.A. 97-243, S. 61, 67; P.A. 13-232, S. 5.)

History: P.A. 80-71 effective July 1, 1980, and applicable to calendar quarters commencing on or after that date; P.A. 89-343 increased the rate of interest from 0.5% to 0.75% per month or fraction thereof; P.A. 93-361 made existing section Subsec. (b) and inserted a new Subsec. (a) providing for claims for refund of taxes upon overpayment; P.A. 95-26 amended Subsec. (b) to lower interest rate from 0.75% to 0.66%, 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. 97-243 amended Subsec. (a) to provide for an administrative hearing with the department before taking an appeal to the Superior Court, establish the time for filing a claim and that failure to file within the time prescribed constitutes a waiver of any demand against the state on account of overpayment and made technical changes, effective July 1, 1997, and applicable to claims for refund filed on or after said date; P.A. 13-232 amended Subsec. (b) to designate existing provisions re interest on overpayments as new Subdiv. (1), delete former Subdivs. (1) and (2) re time period which elapses and add new Subdivs. (2) and (3) re timing of interest payment, effective July 1, 2013, and applicable to refunds issued on or after that date.

Sec. 12-590. Penalty for failure to pay tax when due. Waiver of penalty. (a) If any company fails to pay the tax reported to be due on its return within the time specified under the provisions of this chapter, there shall be imposed a penalty equal to ten per cent of such tax due and unpaid or fifty dollars, whichever is greater. Such tax shall bear interest at the rate of one per cent per month or a fraction thereof, from the due date of such tax until the date of payment.

(b) If any company has not made its return within one month after the time specified under the provisions of this chapter, the commissioner may make such return at any time thereafter according to the best information obtainable and according to the form prescribed. To the tax imposed upon the basis of such return, there shall be added an amount equal to ten per cent of such tax, or fifty dollars, whichever is greater. No taxpayer shall be subject to a penalty under both subsections (a) and (b) of this section in relation to the same tax period. The tax 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.

(c) 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 his satisfaction that the failure to pay any tax was due to reasonable cause and was not intentional or due to neglect.

(P.A. 80-71, S. 4, 30; P.A. 81-64, S. 21, 23; P.A. 88-314, S. 49, 54; May Sp. Sess. P.A. 94-4, S. 64, 85; P.A. 95-26, S. 30, 52; 95-160, S. 64, 69.)

History: P.A. 80-71 effective July 1, 1980, and applicable to calendar quarters commencing on or after that date; P.A. 81-64 amended penalty provisions to require 10% of the tax or $50 if greater, and to include the waiver of penalty provisions applicable to other state taxes, replacing $25 penalty for failure to file return and penalty of 25% or $50 for failure to pay within three months; P.A. 88-314 restated the penalty provision in Subsec. (a) applicable for failure to pay the tax reported to be due within the time specified and revised the language in Subsec. (b) related to the commissioner's power to prepare a return when not filed within one month after the time specified, adding specific penalties for such case, effective July 1, 1988, and applicable to any tax which first becomes due and payable on or after said date, to any return or report due on or after said date, or in the case of any ongoing obligation imposed in accordance with said act, to the tax period next beginning on or after said date; May Sp. Sess. P.A. 94-4 in Subsec. (b) reduced interest rate from 1.66% to 1% and provided that such interest may only be applied on the tax rather than on the tax and any penalty, effective July 1, 1995, and applicable to taxes due and owing on or after said date; P.A. 95-26 amended Subsec. (a) to lower interest rate from 1.66% 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. 95-160 revised effective date of May Sp. Sess. P.A. 94-4 but without affecting this section.

Sec. 12-591. Penalties for wilful violations of requirements in this chapter. (a) Any person required under this chapter to pay any tax, or required under this chapter or by regulations adopted in accordance with the provisions of section 12-602 to make a return, keep any records or supply any information, who wilfully fails to pay such tax, make such return, keep such records, or supply such information, at the time required by law or regulations, shall, in addition to any other penalty provided by law, be fined not more than one thousand dollars or imprisoned not more than one year or both. Notwithstanding the provisions of section 54-193, no person shall be prosecuted for a violation of the provisions of this subsection committed on or after July 1, 1997, except within three years next after such violation has been committed. As used in this section, person includes any officer or employee of a corporation or a member or employer of a partnership under a duty to pay such tax, to make such return, keep such records or supply such information.

(b) Any person who wilfully delivers or discloses to the commissioner or his authorized agent any list, return, account, statement, or other document, known by him to be fraudulent or false in any material matter, shall, in addition to any other penalty provided by law, be guilty of a class D felony. No person shall be charged with an offense under both subsections (a) and (b) of this section in relation to the same tax period but such person may be charged and prosecuted for both such offenses upon the same information.

(P.A. 80-71, S. 5, 30; P.A. 88-230, S. 1, 12; 88-314, S. 50, 54; P.A. 97-203, S. 11, 20; P.A. 13-258, S. 56.)

History: P.A. 80-71 effective July 1, 1980, and applicable to calendar quarters commencing on or after that date; P.A. 88-230 proposed to replace reference to “judicial district of Hartford-New Britain” with “judicial district of Hartford” effective September 1, 1991, but said reference was deleted by P.A. 88-314; P.A. 88-314 substituted new language related to the same subject, providing penalties in respect to wilful failure to pay the tax or make a return and wilful delivery of a return or any document known to be fraudulent or false, effective July 1, 1988, and applicable to any tax which first becomes due and payable on or after said date, to any return or report due on or after said date, or in the case of any ongoing obligation imposed in accordance with said act, to the tax period next beginning on or after said date; P.A. 97-203 amended Subsec. (a) to extend to three years the time within which persons wilfully failing to file tax returns or pay taxes may be criminally prosecuted, effective July 1, 1997; P.A. 13-258 amended Subsec. (b) to change penalty from fine of not more than $5,000 or imprisonment of not more than 5 years or less than 1 year to a class D felony.

Sec. 12-592. Inquiries, investigations or hearings related to the tax. The Commissioner of Revenue Services or any agent of said commissioner authorized to conduct any inquiry, investigation or hearing related to the tax imposed under section 12-587 may administer oaths and take testimony under oath relative to such matter of inquiry or investigation. At any such hearing ordered by said commissioner, the commissioner or such agent authorized to conduct such hearing may subpoena witnesses and require the production of books, papers and documents pertinent to such inquiry. No witness under subpoena as aforesaid shall be excused from testifying or from producing books or papers on the ground that such testimony or the production of such books or other documentary evidence would tend to incriminate such witness, provided such evidence or books or papers so produced shall not be used in any criminal proceeding against such witness. If any person disobeys such process or, having appeared in obedience thereto, refuses to answer any pertinent question by said commissioner or such authorized agent, or to produce any books and papers pursuant thereto, said commissioner or such agent may apply to the superior court for the judicial district wherein such person resides or wherein the business under investigation has been conducted, or to any judge of said court if the same is not in session, setting forth such disobedience to process or refusal to answer, and said court or such judge shall cite such person to appear before said court or such judge to answer such question or to produce such books and papers and upon his refusal so to do shall commit such person to a community correctional center until he testifies, but not for a period longer than sixty days. Notwithstanding the serving of the term of such commitment by any person, said commissioner may proceed in all respects with such inquiry and examination as if the witness had not previously been called upon to testify. Officers who serve subpoenas issued by said commissioner or under said commissioner's authority and witnesses attending hearings conducted by said commissioner in accordance with this section shall receive fees and compensation at the same rates as officers and witnesses in the courts of this state, to be paid on vouchers of said commissioner on order of the Comptroller from the proper appropriation for the administration of this section.

(P.A. 80-71, S. 6, 30.)

History: P.A. 80-71 effective July 1, 1980, and applicable to calendar quarters commencing on or after that date.

Sec. 12-593. Deficiency assessments and related penalties. Extension of time for assessment. The commissioner shall, within three years after the due date for filing a return, or in the case of a completed return filed after such due date, within three years after the date on which such return was received by said commissioner, examine it and in case any error is disclosed by such examination, within thirty days after such disclosure, notify the taxpayer thereof. When it appears that any part of the deficiency for which a deficiency assessment is made is due to negligence or intentional disregard of the provisions of this chapter or regulations promulgated thereunder, there shall be imposed a penalty equal to ten per cent of the amount of such deficiency assessment, or fifty dollars, whichever is greater. When it appears that any part of the deficiency for which a deficiency assessment is made is due to fraud or intent to evade the provisions of this chapter or regulations promulgated thereunder, there shall be imposed a penalty equal to twenty-five per cent of the amount of such deficiency assessment. No taxpayer shall be subject to more than one penalty under this section in relation to the same tax period. Within thirty days of the mailing of such notice, the taxpayer shall pay to said commissioner, in cash or by check, draft or money order drawn to the order of the Commissioner of Revenue Services, any additional amount of tax shown to be due by the corrected return or shall be paid by the State Treasurer, upon order of the Comptroller, any amount shown to be due such taxpayer by such corrected return. The failure of such taxpayer to receive any notice required by this section shall not relieve such taxpayer of the obligation to pay the tax or any interest or penalties thereon. When, before the expiration of the time prescribed in this section for the examination of the return or the assessment of said tax, both said commissioner and such taxpayer have consented in writing to such examination or assessment after such time, the return may be examined and said tax may be assessed at any time prior to the expiration of the period agreed upon. The period so agreed upon may be extended by subsequent agreements in writing made before the expiration of the period previously agreed upon. Said commissioner may also in such a case waive the statute of limitations against a claim for refund by such taxpayer.

(P.A. 80-71, S. 7, 30; P.A. 88-314, S. 51, 54.)

History: P.A. 80-71 effective July 1, 1980, and applicable to calendar quarters commencing on or after that date; P.A. 88-314 deleted the description of tax due date because included in another section and added penalty provisions to the deficiency assessment procedure, effective July 1, 1988, and applicable to any tax which first becomes due and payable on or after said date, to any return or report due on or after said date, or in the case of any ongoing obligation imposed in accordance with said act, to the tax period next beginning on or after said date.

Cited. 44 CS 407.

Sec. 12-594. Interest added to deficiency assessments. Tax due as a lien on property of the company. (a) To any taxes which are assessed under section 12-593, there shall be added interest at the rate of one per cent per month or fraction thereof which elapses from the date when the original tax became due and payable. The amount of such tax and any penalty or interest in respect to such tax, due and unpaid, may be collected under the provisions of section 12-35. The warrant therein provided for shall be signed by the Commissioner of Revenue Services or his authorized agent. The amount of any such tax, penalty and interest shall be a lien, from the last day of the month next preceding the due date of such tax until discharged by payment, against all real estate of the company within the state and a certificate of such lien signed by said commissioner may be filed for record in the office of the clerk of any town in which such real estate is situated and such lien shall take precedence over any other encumbrance, provided no such lien shall be effective as against any bona fide purchaser or qualified encumbrancer of any interest in any such property. When any tax with respect to which a lien has been recorded under the provisions of this section has been satisfied, said commissioner, upon request of any interested party, shall issue a certificate discharging such lien, which certificate shall be recorded in the same office in which the lien was recorded. Any action for the foreclosure of such lien shall be brought by the Attorney General in the name of the state in the superior court for the judicial district in which such property subject to such lien is situated, or, if such property is located in two or more judicial districts, in the superior court for any one such judicial district and the court may limit the time for redemption or order the sale of such property or pass such other or further decree as it judges equitable.

(b) The tax imposed under section 12-587 shall be payable to the Commissioner of Revenue Services. All funds received by said commissioner in accordance with said tax shall be recorded with the Comptroller and shall be deposited daily with the State Treasurer.

(P.A. 80-71, S. 8, 30; P.A. 81-411, S. 41, 42; Nov. Sp. Sess. P.A. 81-4, S. 6, 32; P.A. 82-325, S. 3, 7; P.A. 85-501, S. 7; P.A. 88-314, S. 52, 54; P.A. 95-26, S. 31, 52.)

History: P.A. 80-71 effective July 1, 1980, and applicable to calendar quarters commencing on or after that date; P.A. 81-411 increased interest on taxes not paid when due from 1% to 1.25% per month, effective July 1, 1981, and applicable to taxes becoming due on or after that date; Nov. Sp. Sess. P.A. 81-4 raised interest rate in Subsec. (a) from 1.25% to 1.66% per month, effective February 1, 1982, and applicable to taxes payable to state which first become due on or after that date; P.A. 82-325 revised effective date of Nov. Sp. Sess. P.A. 81-4 but without affecting this section; P.A. 85-501 provided that lien shall be effective from the last day of the month next preceding the due date of the tax rather than from due date itself and that such lien shall not be effective against a qualified encumbrancer as defined in Sec. 12-35b, deleting reference to purchasers or encumbrancers to whom property is transferred between due date of tax and date of recording lien; P.A. 88-314 amended Subsec. (a) so that the provisions therein are not applicable to the tax due in accordance with Sec. 12-587 but are applicable to deficiency assessments under Sec. 12-593, effective July 1, 1988, and applicable to any tax which first becomes due and payable on or after said date, to any return or report due on or after said date, or in the case of any ongoing obligation imposed in accordance with said act, to the tax period next beginning on or after said date; P.A. 95-26 amended Subsec. (a) to lower interest rate from 1.66% 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.

Sec. 12-595. Application for hearing by taxpayer. Hearings ordered by commissioner. Any taxpayer aggrieved by the action of the Commissioner of Revenue Services or an authorized agent of said commissioner in fixing the amount of tax imposed under section 12-587 or any penalty or interest related thereto may apply to said commissioner in writing, within sixty days after notice of such action is delivered or mailed to such taxpayer, for a hearing and a correction of the amount of such tax, penalty or interest so fixed, setting forth the reasons why such hearing should be granted and the amount in which such tax, penalty or interest should be reduced. Said commissioner shall promptly consider each such application and may grant or deny the hearing requested. If the hearing is denied, the applicant shall be notified thereof forthwith. If it is granted said commissioner shall notify the applicant of the time and place fixed for such hearing. After such hearing said commissioner may make such order in the premises as appears to him just and lawful and shall furnish a copy of such order to the applicant. Said commissioner may, by notice in writing, at any time within three years after the date when any return of any taxpayer has been due, order a hearing on his own initiative and require the taxpayer or any other individual whom he believes to be in possession of relevant information concerning the taxpayer to appear before him or his authorized agent with any specified books of account, papers or other documents, for examination under oath.

(P.A. 80-71, S. 9, 30; P.A. 91-236, S. 15, 25.)

History: P.A. 80-71 effective July 1, 1980, and applicable to calendar quarters commencing on or after that date; P.A. 91-236 provided for 60, rather than 30, days to request a hearing, effective July 1, 1991, and applicable to taxes due on or after that date.

Cited. 202 C. 583.

Cited. 44 CS 407.

Sec. 12-596. Abatement of uncollectible tax. Section 12-596 is repealed.

(P.A. 80-71, S. 10, 30; P.A. 90-28, S. 9.)

Sec. 12-597. Appeals by taxpayer. Any taxpayer aggrieved because of any order, decision, determination or disallowance of the Commissioner of Revenue Services made in relation to the tax imposed under section 12-587 may, not later than thirty days after service upon the taxpayer of notice of such order, decision, determination or disallowance, take an appeal therefrom to the superior court for the judicial district of New Britain, which shall be accompanied by a citation to said commissioner to appear before said court. Such citation shall be signed by the same authority and such appeal shall be returnable at the same time and served and returned in the same manner as is required in case of a summons in a civil action. The authority issuing the citation shall take from the appellant a bond or recognizance to the state of Connecticut with surety to prosecute the appeal to effect and to comply with the orders and decrees of the court in the premises. Such appeals shall be preferred cases, to be heard, unless cause appears to the contrary, at the first session, by the court or by a committee appointed by it. If the appeal has been taken without probable cause, the court may tax double or triple costs, as the case demands and upon all such appeals which may be denied, costs may be taxed against the appellant at the discretion of the court, but no costs shall be taxed against the state.

(P.A. 80-71, S. 11, 30; P.A. 88-230, S. 1, 12; P.A. 90-98, S. 1, 2; P.A. 93-142, S. 4, 7, 8; P.A. 95-220, S. 4–6; P.A. 99-215, S. 24, 29; P.A. 19-186, S. 25.)

History: P.A. 80-71 effective July 1, 1980, and applicable to calendar quarters commencing on or after that date; P.A. 88-230 replaced “judicial district of Hartford-New Britain” with “judicial district of Hartford”, effective September 1, 1991; P.A. 90-98 changed the effective date of P.A. 88-230 from September 1, 1991, to September 1, 1993; P.A. 93-142 changed the effective date of P.A. 88-230 from September 1, 1993, to September 1, 1996, effective June 14, 1993; P.A. 95-220 changed the effective date of P.A. 88-230 from September 1, 1996, to September 1, 1998, effective July 1, 1995; P.A. 99-215 replaced “judicial district of Hartford” with “judicial district of New Britain”, effective June 29, 1999; P.A. 19-186 replaced “within one month” with “not later than thirty days”, effective July 8, 2019.

Cited. 202 C. 583; 204 C. 137; 214 C. 444; 215 C. 134. “Taxpayer” generally includes only those individuals or entities that are legally required to pay or collect the amount of a tax, and does not include those individuals or entities that merely assume the intended taxpayer's economic tax burden; plaintiff, as a purchaser of petroleum products, is not a taxpayer and cannot appeal from decision of commissioner pursuant to section; legislature intended for this section, rather than Sec. 12-33, to govern an appeal from decision of commissioner concerning a request for a refund of the petroleum tax because this section more specifically applies and Sec. 12-33 does not contain any language indicating that it applies notwithstanding any other provision of law. 301 C. 268.

Cited. 44 CS 407.

Sec. 12-598. Tax on gross earnings in a fiscal year received after the end of such year. Section 12-598 is repealed, effective June 4, 1996.

(P.A. 80-71, S. 12, 30; P.A. 96-221, S. 24, 25.)

Sec. 12-599. Tax to constitute operating overhead of taxpayer. Limitation on price increases in this state*. (a) It is not the intention of the General Assembly that the tax imposed under section 12-587 be construed as a tax upon purchasers of petroleum products, but that such tax shall be levied upon and be collectible from petroleum companies as defined in said section 12-587, and that such tax shall constitute a part of the operating overhead of such companies.

(b) No petroleum company subject to the tax imposed under section 12-587 shall raise its posted wholesale rack price in Connecticut for any petroleum product exempt from the federal Emergency Petroleum Allocation Act (P.L. 93-159) by an amount higher than the average amount by which such company raises its wholesale rack price for such product in all ports on the eastern coast of the United States.

(P.A. 80-71, S. 13, 30.)

*Note: Unconstitutional as violative of supremacy clause. Mobil Oil Corp. v. Dubno (D.C. 1980) 492 F. Supp. 1004.

History: P.A. 80-71 effective July 1, 1980, and applicable to calendar quarters commencing on or after that date.

Cited. 202 C. 583.

Cited. 44 CS 407.

Sec. 12-600. Taxes to be paid before instituting action on tax in court. Any taxes, penalties or interest due from any company under the provisions of sections 12-587 to 12-602, inclusive, shall be paid in full before any action may be instituted in any state court to challenge all or any part of the provisions of said sections. No injunction or restraining order shall be issued by any state court to stay or prevent the imposition or collection of taxes as provided under said sections.

(P.A. 80-71, S. 14, 30.)

History: P.A. 80-71 effective July 1, 1980, and applicable to calendar quarters commencing on or after that date.

Cited. 202 C. 583; 215 C. 134.

Sec. 12-601. Severability. If any section, part, clause or phrase in sections 12-587 to 12-602, inclusive, is for any reason held to be invalid or unconstitutional, sections, parts, clauses and phrases in said sections not held to be invalid or unconstitutional shall not be affected and shall remain in full force and effect.

(P.A. 80-71, S. 15, 30.)

History: P.A. 80-71 effective July 1, 1980, and applicable to calendar quarters commencing on or after that date.

Cited. 202 C. 583.

Sec. 12-602. Regulations. The Commissioner of Revenue Services shall adopt regulations in accordance with chapter 54 to implement the provisions of sections 12-587 to 12-602, inclusive, which shall be prima facie evidence of the proper interpretation of said sections. Said commissioner shall prescribe and furnish the form of return required under section 12-587 and require that each such return shall set forth any and all information necessary or desirable in order to determine the amount of tax payable under said section 12-587.

(P.A. 80-71, S. 16, 30.)

History: P.A. 80-71 effective July 1, 1980, and applicable to calendar quarters commencing on or after that date.

Cited. 202 C. 583.

Secs. 12-603 to 12-609. Reserved for future use.