105-164.38. Tax is a lien.
(a) The tax imposed by this Article is a lien upon all personal property of any person who is required by this Article to obtain a certificate of registration to engage in business and who stops engaging in the business by transferring the business, transferring the stock of goods of the business, or going out of business. A person who stops engaging in business must file the return required by this Article within 30 days after transferring the business, transferring the stock of goods of the business, or going out of business.
(b) Any person to whom the business or the stock of goods was transferred must withhold from the consideration paid for the business or stock of goods an amount sufficient to cover the taxes due until the person selling the business or stock of goods produces a statement from the Secretary showing that the taxes have been paid or that no taxes are due. If the person who buys a business or stock of goods fails to withhold an amount sufficient to cover the taxes and the taxes remain unpaid after the 30-day period allowed, the buyer is personally liable for the unpaid taxes to the extent of the greater of the following:
(1) The consideration paid by the buyer for the business or the stock of goods.
(2) The fair market value of the business or the stock of goods.
(c) Assessment. - The period of limitations for assessing liability against the buyer of a business or the stock of goods of a business and for enforcing the lien against the property expires one year after the end of the period of limitations for assessment against the person who sold the business or the stock of goods. Except as otherwise provided in this section, the assessment procedures in Article 9 of this Chapter apply to a person who buys a business or the stock of goods of a business to the same extent as if the person had incurred the original tax liability. (1957, c. 1340, s. 5; 1963, c. 1169, s. 3; 1973, c. 476, s. 193; 1991, c. 690, s. 6; 1991 (Reg. Sess., 1992), c. 949, s. 2; 2000-140, s. 67(c); 2007-491, s. 20.)
Structure North Carolina General Statutes
North Carolina General Statutes
Article 5 - Sales and Use Tax.
§ 105-164.4 - Tax imposed on retailers and certain facilitators.
§ 105-164.4B - Sourcing principles.
§ 105-164.4C - Telecommunications service and ancillary service.
§ 105-164.4D - Bundled transactions.
§ 105-164.4F - Accommodation rentals.
§ 105-164.4G - Entertainment activity.
§ 105-164.4H - Real property contract.
§ 105-164.4I - Service contracts.
§ 105-164.4J - Marketplace-facilitated sales.
§ 105-164.4K - Property management contracts.
§ 105-164.6 - Complementary use tax.
§ 105-164.6A - Voluntary collection of use tax by sellers.
§ 105-164.7 - Retailer or facilitator to collect sales tax from purchaser as trustee for State.
§ 105-164.8 - Retailer's obligation to collect tax; remote sales subject to tax.
§ 105-164.9 - Advertisement to absorb tax unlawful.
§ 105-164.10 - Retail tax calculation.
§ 105-164.11 - Excessive and erroneous collections.
§ 105-164.11A - Refund of tax paid on rescinded sale or cancellation of service.
§ 105-164.11B - Recover sales tax paid.
§ 105-164.12A - Electric golf cart and battery charger considered a single article.
§ 105-164.12B - Tangible personal property sold below cost with conditional contract.
§ 105-164.12C - Items given away by merchants.
§ 105-164.13 - Retail sales and use tax.
§ 105-164.13A - Service charges on food, beverages, or prepared food.
§ 105-164.13B - Food exempt from tax.
§ 105-164.13E - Exemption for farmers.
§ 105-164.13F - Exemption for wildlife managers.
§ 105-164.14 - Certain refunds authorized.
§ 105-164.14A - Economic incentive refunds.
§ 105-164.15A - Effective date of tax changes.
§ 105-164.16 - Returns and payment of taxes.
§ 105-164.16A - Reporting option for prepaid meal plans.
§ 105-164.19 - Extension of time for making returns and payment.
§ 105-164.20 - Cash or accrual basis of reporting.
§ 105-164.26 - Presumption that sales are taxable.
§ 105-164.27A - Direct pay permit.
§ 105-164.28 - Certificate of exemption.
§ 105-164.28A - Other exemption certificates.
§ 105-164.29A - State government exemption process.
§ 105-164.29B - Information to counties and cities.
§ 105-164.30 - Secretary or agent may examine books, etc.
§ 105-164.32 - Incorrect returns; estimate.
§ 105-164.37 - Bankruptcy, receivership, etc.
§ 105-164.40 - Jeopardy assessment.
§ 105-164.42C - Authority to enter Agreement.
§ 105-164.42D - Relationship to North Carolina law.
§ 105-164.42E - Agreement requirements.
§ 105-164.42F - Cooperating sovereigns.
§ 105-164.42G - Effect of Agreement.
§ 105-164.42H - Certification of certified automated system and effect of certification.
§ 105-164.42I - Contract with certified service provider and effect of contract.
§ 105-164.42J - Performance standard for multistate seller.
§ 105-164.42K - Registration and effect of registration.
§ 105-164.42L - Liability relief for erroneous information or insufficient notice by Department.
§ 105-164.44 - Penalty and remedies of Article 9 applicable.
§ 105-164.44F - Distribution of part of telecommunications taxes to cities.
§ 105-164.44H - Transfer to State Public School Fund.
§ 105-164.44J - Supplemental PEG channel support.
§ 105-164.44K - Distribution of part of tax on electricity to cities.
§ 105-164.44L - Distribution of part of tax on piped natural gas to cities.