TCA § 67-4-715 — When taxes due and payable — Transmission of returns — Due dates of returns — Consolidating taxes

The taxes levied by this part that are collected and administered by the commissioner shall be due and payable annually on the following dates: December 31 for persons taxable under § 67-4-708(1); March 31 for persons taxable under § 67-4-708(2); June 30 for persons taxable under § 67-4-708(3); September 30 for persons taxable under § 67-4-708(4); and December 31 for persons taxable under § 67-4-708(5). For the purpose of ascertaining the amount of tax payable under this part, it shall be the duty of all persons to transmit to the commissioner, on forms prescribed by the commissioner, a return for each county, in the case of taxes levied by the state, and a return for each city, in the case of taxes levied by the city, showing the gross receipts arising from all sales taxable under this part during the period covered by each return. The return shall also include the applicable deductions or credits specifically allowed under this part and any other information required by the commissioner to determine the amount of tax properly due. The returns shall be transmitted to the commissioner on or before the following dates: February 28 for persons taxable under § 67-4-708(1); May 31 for persons taxable under § 67-4-708(2); August 31 for persons taxable under § 67-4-708(3); November 30 for persons taxable under § 67-4-708(4); and February 28 for persons taxable under § 67-4-708(5). At the time of transmitting to the commissioner the return required by this part, the person shall remit to the commissioner with the return the amount of tax due under the applicable provisions of this part, and failure to so remit the tax shall cause the tax to become delinquent. Any taxpayer that is required to file its sales and use tax returns electronically under § 67-6-504 is likewise required to file the returns required by this section electronically, and remit the tax electronically, using a method approved by the commissioner. In addition, when a taxpayer is required to remit payments electronically as set forth in § 67-1-703(b) because the taxpayer's liability under this part is one thousand dollars ($1,000) or more, then all returns required by this chapter that are associated with such payments shall be filed electronically using a method approved by the commissioner. When any taxpayer is required to file returns and remit payments electronically for any one (1) outlet, location or other place of business, the commissioner may require the taxpayer to file returns and remit payments electronically for each place of business of the taxpayer. The requirement to file electronically shall continue thereafter until such time as the commissioner advises the taxpayer to file by another method. In addition to any other penalty provided by law, the commissioner is authorized to assess any taxpayer required to file returns by electronic means under this subsection (d) a penalty, not to exceed five hundred dollars ($500), for each instance of filing a return by any other means. The penalty shall be subject to waiver under § 67-1-803. In extenuating circumstances, the commissioner is authorized to waive the electronic payment and filing requirements under this subsection (d) and permit the taxpayer to file the return in paper form. The commissioner is authorized to require that any such paper filing be accompanied by a manual handling fee, not to exceed twenty-five dollars ($25.00), that is reasonably calculated by the department to account for the additional cost of preparing, printing, receiving, reviewing and processing any paper filing so permitted. Each taxpayer who operates more than one (1) place of business in a city or county may apply to the commissioner for permission to file a consolidated tax return for all business locations in a single taxing jurisdiction. The failure of any person to secure the forms mentioned in this section shall not relieve the person from the payment of the tax at the time and in the manner provided in this section. Notwithstanding any provision of this section to the contrary, the commissioner is authorized to change the tax period established by this part to correspond to the taxpayer's fiscal year and change the due date of the associated tax return to a date that is not less than two (2) calendar months following the end of such tax period. Such change is authorized to occur no sooner than ninety (90) days after the commissioner has certified that a system is in place for the electronic submission of such returns. Such certification shall be accomplished by the commissioner prominently posting a notice on the department's web site. The commissioner shall allow the submission of a single, electronic filing that includes all of the information required by the commissioner to determine the amount of tax, if any, that is properly due under this part and allocated to each jurisdiction. Nothing in this subsection (g) shall be construed to either increase or decrease the amount of tax otherwise due under this part.