PURPOSE: This proposed amendment is necessary to
conform to changes made to section
144.190,
RSMo.
PURPOSE: section
144.190,
RSMo permits a seller to file a claim for refund of an over-payment of sales or
use taxes resulting from a mistake of fact or law and it permits a purchaser
that is not able to obtain a refund of an over-payment of sales or use tax from
the seller to file a claim for refund with the department. Section
144.100,
RSMo requires a seller to file an amended return to correct an error or
omission on a return. Section
144.746,
RSMo allows the seller and the department to extend by agreement the time to
file a claim for refund. Section 144.030.2[(23)](24), RSMo establishes special
refund procedures for purchasers of domestic utilities under a non-domestic
utility rate classification. This rule explains requirements for obtaining a
refund or credit on overpayment of sales and use taxes.
(1) In general, if a seller has overpaid tax,
the seller may file a claim for a refund with the department. If a purchaser is
not able to obtain a refund from the seller, the purchaser may qualify to file
a claim for refund with the department.
(2) Basic Application.
(A) A seller may file a claim for a refund
within ten (10) years after the date of an overpayment. The date of the
overpayment is the due date of the original return or the date paid whichever
is later. The department will not consider a claim unless it is filed within
the ten- (10-) year period. Every claim must be in writing, signed by the
applicant, and must state the specific grounds upon which the claim is founded.
If the overpayment is due to an error or omission in a previously filed return,
the claim must be accompanied by an amended return for each period in which the
tax was originally reported. If the error or omission is corrected in the
return immediately following the filing period in which the error or omission
occurred, no amended return or claim for refund is required.
(B) The person requesting the refund or
credit must be the person who is legally obligated to remit the tax to the
Department of Revenue or the purchaser that originally paid the tax to the
seller. A purchaser seeking a refund of an erroneously paid tax must first seek
a refund from the seller. A seller may file a claim on behalf of the purchaser
by submitting a claim for refund and amended returns for the period(s) in which
the tax was erroneously remitted or the seller may provide an assignment of
rights to the purchaser to file the claim for refund. The purchaser may also
file a claim for refund with the department if-
1. The seller refuses to assign the rights to
file a claim for refund within sixty (60) days of the date of the purchaser's
written request to the seller;
2.
The seller is out of business; or
3. The purchaser cannot locate the seller.
The claim by the purchaser is subject to any offset, defense,
or any claim the director has against the purchaser or the seller.
(C) The department will
notify a registered seller of refund claims filed by a purchaser without the
seller's assignment of rights. If the seller objects to the refund claim, the
department will not pay the refund. If the seller agrees that the purchaser may
pursue a refund claim, or fails to respond to the notification within thirty
(30) days of the date of notification, the department will process the refund
and will amend the return of the seller to reflect the refund if granted. A
refund claim will not be considered filed until the seller agrees the purchaser
may pursue a refund claim or thirty (30) days after the department has notified
the seller of the purchaser's claim.
(D) The department will issue a statement
approving a credit in the amount of the overpayment instead of a refund if the
seller requests a credit on the claim. A seller cannot take a credit for any
overpayment of tax unless prior approval has been obtained from the department.
If it is determined later that the seller will incur no future liability, for
example if the business is closed, the seller may return the credit
authorization to the department and request a refund. A purchaser may not
obtain a credit.
(E) If a sale is
rescinded, no amended return or claim for refund is required. The seller may
adjust its gross receipts on its next filed return. The adjustment may not
exceed the gross receipts for the filing period.
(F) Section
32.068,
RSMo, establishes the interest rate paid on refunds. Interest does not apply to
a credit.
(G) The seller and the
department may extend, by agreement, the period allowed for filing a claim for
refund. Such an agreement is allowed only if the time for filing a claim for
refund has not yet expired.
(H) In
addition to the refund claim procedure described above, a purchaser of taxable,
non-domestic utility services using any portion of the services for nontaxable
domestic use may also claim a refund from the department on the domestic use
portion of the purchase. A purchaser of utility services for domestic use for
occupants of residential apartments, condominiums, and nursing homes through a
single or master meter, may claim a refund on the domestic use portion of the
purchase, which includes common areas and facilities as well as vacant units.
The claim for refund must be filed between the first day of the first month and
the fifteenth day of the fourth month following the year of purchase.
(3) Examples.
(A) A seller collects tax on a sale to a
customer that takes place in August and reports it on its August sales tax
return. In October, that customer presents a valid exemption certificate for
the August sale. To claim a refund, the seller must complete a claim for refund
and submit it with a copy of the invoice, the customer's exemption certificate
and an amended August return.
(B) A
carpet seller determines that in the past ten (10) years it has been collecting
and remitting sales tax on carpet sales in which it is also installing the
carpet in homes and businesses. The seller purchases its carpet from a
wholesaler located outside of the state. Therefore, the carpet seller should
have been paying use tax on its purchases of the carpet from its wholesaler and
selling its carpet without charging sales tax on its installation sales. The
seller should complete amended sales tax returns for each period during the ten
(10) years and amended use tax returns for each period during the ten (10)
years. If the amended returns result in an overpayment, the carpet seller may
claim a refund by completing a refund application.
(C) A computer store sells a computer to a
customer and reports the tax on its May sales tax return. In July the customer
returns the computer for a full refund. Because the May sales tax has been
remitted to the department the computer store adjusts its gross receipts for
July. If the adjustment exceeds its July gross receipts, the computer store
must submit an application for refund and an amended return for May.
(D) A manufacturer discovers it paid tax on
its purchase of a piece of equipment that qualified for an expanded plant
exemption. The manufacturer purchased the equipment from an equipment supply
company who reported the tax to the department. The supply company may request
the refund from the department on behalf of the manufacturer by submitting a
refund application, the manufacturer's exemption certificate, and an invoice of
the sale or the supply company may provide the manufacturer an assignment of
rights statement allowing the manufacturer to file the refund claim with the
department.
(E) In September 2019,
a taxpayer discovers it paid tax on a January 2009 sale for which it has an
exemption certificate. The taxpayer submits a refund application for the exempt
sale. Because the due date and the date paid of the original January 2009
return and payment was February 20, 2009, the refund application will be denied
because it is not within the ten- (10-) year statute of limitations.
(F) In 2017, an apartment complex under a
non-domestic rate classification pays the water bill, including sales tax, to
the utility company for the entire complex. The apartment complex may file a
claim for refund on its 2017 purchases of water prior to April 15,
2018.
(G) A nursing home that is
under a non-domestic rate classification pays for the electricity, including
tax for the entire facility in 2010, 2011, and 2012. The electric company may
file a claim for refund on behalf of the nursing home in January 2020, as long
as it is filed within ten (10) years of the due date or the date paid whichever
is later.
(H) A purchaser purchases
manufacturing equipment on July 1, 2012, and pays sales tax on the purchase. On
October 1, 2012, the purchaser presents an exemption certificate to the seller
and requests the seller in writing to file a refund request for the taxes paid.
The seller does not respond to the purchaser's request within sixty (60) days.
The purchaser then files a refund claim with the department and the department
notifies the seller of the claim for refund. The seller does not respond to the
department's notification. The department verifies that the equipment qualifies
for the exemption and the taxes paid on the purchase. The department issues the
refund to the purchaser.
(I) A
purchaser purchases manufacturing equipment on July 1, 2012, and pays sales tax
on the purchase. On October 1, 2012, the purchaser presents an exemption
certificate to the seller and requests the seller in writing to file a refund
for the taxes paid. The seller does not respond to the purchaser's request
within sixty (60) days. The purchaser then files a refund claim with the
department and the department notifies the seller of the claim for refund. The
seller responds to the department's notification and directs the department to
not refund the tax. The department cannot issue the refund to the
purchaser.