| Date: | 06/30/2006 |
|---|---|
| Organization: | Massachusetts Department of Revenue |
| Referenced Sources: | Massachusetts General Laws |
Tax Administration
I. Introduction:
Recent legislation, St. 2005, c. 163, § 15, adds a new paragraph to G.L. c. 62C, § 36A. If the Department has made a "payment in error," has demanded return of that payment, and the full amount has not been repaid within 30 days, the amount demanded is considered a tax assessed under G.L. c. 62C. The term "payment in error" includes a refund in excess of the amount properly due or a payment where no refund is due, i.e., an erroneous refund. Thus, an erroneous refund may now be collected like a tax, and the failure to repay an erroneous refund after demand for repayment may now result in the imposition of interest and penalties. The provisions in St. 2005, c. 163, § 15 are effective December 8, 2005, and apply to all failures to repay erroneous refunds or other payments in error after demand for repayment occurring on or after that date. DOR Directive 94-7 is superseded to the extent that it is inconsistent with this TIR.
II. Time Limitations:
A demand for repayment may be made at any time within three years from the date of the payment in error. However, if it appears that all or any part of a payment in error was induced by fraud or misrepresentation of a material fact, a demand for repayment may be made at any time within six years from the date of the payment in error. Misrepresentation of a material fact includes failure to disclose a material fact or to correct the Commissioner's misunderstanding of such a fact.
Since the new statutory language renders any outstanding sums "a tax assessed . . . as of the date of the demand," no interest or penalties for periods prior to the date of demand are imposed. The provisions of G.L. c. 62C, § 65, pertaining to the time for collection of taxes shall apply as of the date of the demand.
Although the provisions of G.L. c. 62C, § 26(b) with respect to the assessment of taxes may be applicable with respect to certain payments, credits or reimbursements noted in Section III of this TIR, the Department may alternatively proceed pursuant to G.L. c. 62C, § 36A to recover payments in error within the time frames noted above.
III. Scope:
The provisions of G.L. c. 62C, § 36A may be used to recover payments in error in situations such as the following, which are by way of example only.
a. Payments in excess of the amount due to a person or payments to the wrong person;
b. Refundable credits, e.g., the earned income credit in G.L. c. 62, § 6(h) and the circuit breaker credit in G.L. c. 62, § 6(k) [1];
c. Transferable credits, e.g., the low-income housing credit in G.L. c. 63, § 31H, the historic rehabilitation credit in G.L. c. 63, § 38R and the film credit in G.L. c. 63, § 38T [2];
d. Bad debt reimbursement pursuant to G.L. c. 64H, § 33 or G.L. c. 64I, § 34; or
e. Job incentive payments pursuant to G.L. c. 62C, § 67D [3].
The new statutory language will not be applied to disputes over contractual payments or child support enforcement obligations.
/s/Alan LeBovidge
Alan LeBovidge
Commissioner of Revenue
AL:MTF:ds
#215007
June 30, 2006
TIR 06-11