If any dealer liable for any tax, interest, or penalty imposed by this article sells out his business or stock of goods or equipment or quits the business, he shall make a final return and payment within 15 days after the date of selling or quitting the business. The dealer’s successor or assigns, if any, shall withhold a sufficient amount of the purchase money to cover the amount of the taxes, interest, and penalties due and unpaid until the former owner produces either a receipt from the commissioner showing that the taxes, interest, and penalties have been paid or a certificate from the commissioner stating that no sales and use taxes, interest, or penalties are due. If the purchaser of a business or stock of goods or equipment fails to withhold the purchase money as required by this Code section, he shall be personally liable for the payment of any sales and use taxes, interest, and penalties accruing and unpaid by any former owner or assignor. The personal liability of the purchaser in such a case shall not exceed the amount of the total purchase money, but the property being transferred shall in all cases be subject to the full amount of the tax lien arising from the delinquencies of the former owner.
History. Ga. L. 1951, p. 360, § 15; Ga. L. 1960, p. 153, § 6; Code 1933, § 91A-4519, enacted by Ga. L. 1978, p. 309, § 2; Ga. L. 1983, p. 1834, § 11.
Law reviews.
For article, “Common State Tax Pitfalls in the Acquisition or Disposition of Businesses in Georgia,” see 22 Ga. St. B. J. 82 (1985).
Structure Georgia Code
Title 48 - Revenue and Taxation
Chapter 8 - Sales and Use Taxes
Article 1 - State Sales and Use Tax
Part 2 - Imposition, Rate, Collection, and Assessment
§ 48-8-30. Imposition of Tax; Rates; Collection
§ 48-8-31. Tax Computation to Be Carried to Third Decimal Place; Rounding
§ 48-8-32. Tax Collectable From Dealers; Rate for Retail Sales Price and Purchase Price
§ 48-8-37. Violation of Code Section 48-8-36; Penalty
§ 48-8-40. Effect of Sales From Commingled Goods When Certificate Given for Portion of Goods
§ 48-8-43. Disposition of Taxes Collected in Excess of 4 Percent
§ 48-8-44. Payment of Tax When Used Articles Taken as Credit on Sale of New and Used Articles
§ 48-8-48. Violation of Code Sections 48-8-46 and 48-8-47; Penalty
§ 48-8-49.1. Direct Pay Permit Program
§ 48-8-50. Compensation of Dealers for Reporting and Paying Tax; Reimbursement Deduction
§ 48-8-53. Duty of Wholesalers and Jobbers to Keep Records; Contents; Inspection by Commissioner
§ 48-8-56. Period of Delinquency of Unpaid Taxes; Issuance of Fi. Fa. for Collection
§ 48-8-64. Time for Assessment
§ 48-8-68. Relief From Liability in Certain Circumstances for Failure to Collect Tax at New Rate
§ 48-8-69. Purchases From Printed Catalogs; Local Jurisdiction Boundary Changes
§ 48-8-72. Over-Collected Sales or Use Tax
§ 48-8-74. Effective Date for Sales Tax Rate Change
§ 48-8-77.1. Certification of Review Software by Department; Relief From Liability