(A)(1) As provided by Section 12-4-340, the department may contract with a collection agency, within or without this State, for the collection of delinquent taxes, including penalties and interest. Delinquent tax claims may be assigned to the collection agency, for the purpose of litigation in the agency's name and at the agency's expense, to facilitate and expedite the collection process.
(2) For purposes of this section, "delinquent tax claim" means a tax liability that is due and owing for a period longer than six months and for which the taxpayer has been given at least three notices requesting payment and for any subsequent tax debts issued, one notice of which includes a statement that the taxpayer's delinquency may be referred to a collection agency.
(B)(1) Fees for services, reimbursements, or other remuneration to the collection agency must be based on the amount of tax, penalty, and interest actually collected. Each contract entered into between the department and the collection agency must provide for the payment of fees for these services, reimbursements, or other remuneration not in excess of fifty percent of the total amount of delinquent taxes, penalties, and interest actually collected.
(2) All funds collected, less the fees for collection services as provided in the contract, must be remitted to the department within forty-five days from the date of collection from a taxpayer. The department may refund the fees for collection services to the collection agency, if all funds collected are remitted gross of fees. Forms to be used for these remittances must be prescribed by the department.
(C) The contract with a collection agency must provide that the collection agency acknowledges that it is receiving income from sources within this State or doing business in this State for purposes of income taxation.
(D) Before entering into a contract, the department shall require the collection agency to post a bond guaranteeing compliance with the terms of the contract, not in excess of one hundred thousand dollars.
HISTORY: 1991 Act No. 50, Section 3; 1995 Act No. 60, Section 2D; 1998 Act No. 386, Section 4; 2000 Act No. 399, Section 3(K), eff August 17, 2000; 2001 Act No. 89, Section 36, eff July 20, 2001.
Structure South Carolina Code of Laws
Section 12-54-10. Definitions.
Section 12-54-17. Action by Attorney General to recover taxes, penalties, and interest.
Section 12-54-25. Interest due on late taxes; applicable interest rate.
Section 12-54-46. Exemption certificate violations; penalties; exception.
Section 12-54-50. Penalty for checks returned to department on account of insufficient funds.
Section 12-54-55. Interest on underpayment of declaration of estimated tax.
Section 12-54-75. Electronic collection of revenues.
Section 12-54-85. Time limitation for assessment of taxes or fees; exceptions.
Section 12-54-87. Timely filing discount.
Section 12-54-90. Revocation of license to do business for failure to comply with law.
Section 12-54-100. Authority of department to conduct examination or investigation.
Section 12-54-123. Surrender of property upon which levy has been made; liability to taxpayer.
Section 12-54-125. Withdrawal of warrants of distraint.
Section 12-54-126. Return of licenses.
Section 12-54-138. Recovery of duplicate refund.
Section 12-54-155. Substantial underpayment of tax or substantial valuation misstatement.
Section 12-54-160. Waiver, dismissal or reduction of penalties.
Section 12-54-170. Deposit and distribution of funds collected as penalties and interest.
Section 12-54-180. Manner of collection of penalties and interest.
Section 12-54-190. Precedence of this chapter over other statutes.
Section 12-54-195. Penalty if responsible person fails to remit sales tax to Department of Revenue.
Section 12-54-196. Collection of excessive tax by retailer; refunds; penalty; defenses.
Section 12-54-200. Requirement of bond securing payment of taxes, penalties, and interest.
Section 12-54-227. Out-of-state collections.
Section 12-54-230. Access to Employer's Quarterly Report.
Section 12-54-260. Setoff for delinquent taxes.
Section 12-54-265. Information on debtor named in warrant for distraint.
Section 12-54-270. Returned refund check as unclaimed property.