MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2009 Regular Session
To: Ways and Means
By: Representatives Watson, Reynolds
AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 27-69-13, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO INCREASE THE EXCISE TAX ON CIGARETTES; TO AMEND SECTION 27-51-103, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE THAT THE CREDIT ALLOWED TAXPAYERS ON THE AMOUNT OF AD VALOREM TAXES DUE DURING THE 2010 FISCAL YEAR ON PRIVATE CARRIERS OF PASSENGERS AND LIGHT CARRIERS OF PROPERTY SHALL BE AN AMOUNT EQUAL TO 4.25% OF THE ASSESSED VALUE OF THE MOTOR VEHICLE; TO AMEND SECTION 27-65-75, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE THAT THE SALES TAX REVENUE COLLECTED FROM THE SALES OF MOTOR VEHICLES BY ANY PERSON, FIRM OR CORPORATION THAT IS NOT A LICENSED DEALER ENGAGED IN SELLING MOTOR VEHICLES SHALL BE DEPOSITED, WITHOUT DIVERSION, INTO THE MOTOR VEHICLE AD VALOREM TAX REDUCTION FUND; TO AMEND SECTION 27-65-201, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, IN CONFORMITY THERETO; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
WHEREAS, the federal government has increased the federal excise tax on cigarettes by 62¢ per pack; and
WHEREAS, the increase in the state excise tax on cigarettes contained in this act is 50¢ per pack; and
WHEREAS, concern has been expressed regarding the amount of revenue from any increase in the state excise tax on cigarettes because of decreases in sales as a result of declines in consumption and other factors; and
WHEREAS, the State Tax Commission projects a reduction in consumption of approximately 14% as a result of the federal excise tax increase and the increase in the state excise tax in this act; and
WHEREAS, the State Tax Commission estimates that revenue from the increase in the excise tax contained in this act will be approximately $30,740,000.00 for the remainder of fiscal year 2009, and approximately $112,900,000.00 for fiscal year 2010; and
WHEREAS, because the estimates by the State Tax Commission do not take into consideration possible reductions in cross-border sales of cigarettes as a result of increases in the excise tax, and because of the lack of precision in estimates of reductions in consumption of cigarettes because of increases in the excise tax, the Legislature feels that an estimated revenue increase in the amount of $106,175,000.00 for fiscal year 2010 as a result of the excise tax increase contained in this act is reasonable; NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:
SECTION 1. Section 27-69-13, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
27-69-13. There is hereby imposed, levied and assessed, to be collected and paid as hereinafter provided in this chapter, an excise tax on each person or dealer in cigarettes, cigars, stogies, snuff, chewing tobacco, and smoking tobacco, or substitutes therefor, upon the sale, use, consumption, handling or distribution in the State of Mississippi, as follows:
(a) On cigarettes, the rate of tax shall be Three and Four-tenths Cents (3.4¢) on each cigarette sold with a maximum length of one hundred twenty (120) millimeters; any cigarette in excess of this length shall be taxed as if it were two (2) or more cigarettes. Provided, however, if the federal tax rate on cigarettes in effect on June 1, 1985, is reduced, then the rate as provided herein shall be increased by the amount of the federal tax reduction. Such tax increase shall take effect on the first day of the month following the effective date of such reduction in the federal tax rate.
(b) On cigars, cheroots, stogies, snuff, chewing and smoking tobacco and all other tobacco products except cigarettes, the rate of tax shall be fifteen percent (15%) of the manufacturer's list price.
No stamp evidencing the tax herein levied on cigarettes shall be of a denomination of less than One Cent (1¢), and whenever the tax computed at the rates herein prescribed on cigarettes shall be a specified amount, plus a fractional part of One Cent (1¢), the package shall be stamped for the next full cent; however, the additional face value of stamps purchased to comply with taxes imposed by this section after June 1, 1985, shall be subject to a four percent (4%) discount or compensation to dealers for their services rather than the eight percent (8%) discount or compensation allowed by Section 27-69-31.
Every wholesaler shall purchase stamps as provided in this chapter, and affix the same to all packages of cigarettes handled by him as herein provided.
The above tax is levied upon the sale, use, gift, possession or consumption of tobacco within the State of Mississippi, and the impact of the tax levied by this chapter is hereby declared to be on the vendee, user, consumer or possessor of tobacco in this state; and when said tax is paid by any other person, such payment shall be considered as an advance payment and shall thereafter be added to the price of the tobacco and recovered from the ultimate consumer or user.
SECTION 2. In addition to cigarettes sold, used, consumed, handled or distributed on or after the effective date of the tax increase authorized in Section 1 of this act, this tax increase shall specifically apply to, and be due and payable on, cigarettes in the inventory of a wholesaler or retailer on the date the increase takes effect and on any cigarette tax stamps previously purchased at the lower tax rate but not yet affixed to cigarettes before the effective date of this tax increase. The tax levied under Chapter 69 of Title 27 on those cigarettes to which a stamp is or will be affixed and which is in the inventory of a wholesaler or retailer on the effective date of the tax increase authorized in Section 1 of this act shall not be considered paid until the tax as increased in Section 1 of this act is paid. As used in this section, the term "wholesaler" means a wholesaler who holds a permit issued under Section 27-69-5. As used in this section, the term "retailer" means a retailer who holds a permit issued under Section 27-69-5. In regard to any cigarettes in the inventory of a wholesaler or retailer on the effective date of the tax increase authorized in Section 1 of this act to which a stamp is affixed representing payment of the tax prior to the tax increase, and in regard to any stamps purchased by the wholesaler at the rate of tax prior to the tax increase which are in the possession of the wholesaler but not yet affixed on the effective date of the tax increase, the wholesaler or retailer having such cigarette and/or stamps in his inventory on the effective date of the tax increase shall, within thirty (30) days after the effective date of this section, pay to the State Tax Commission the difference in the amount of tax previously paid on these cigarettes and stamps and the higher tax rate as set out in Section 1 of this act. On the effective date of this section, any tobacco wholesaler who has unaffixed Mississippi cigarette stamps that exceed an average of sixty-day usage of such stamps shall, within twenty-one (21) days, return the stamps exceeding the average sixty-day usage for credit to be applied toward the new stamps from the commission. The average sixty-day stamp usage shall be determined by dividing the total stamp usage in the last twelve-month period prior to the effective date of this section by six (6). This is subject to verification by the State Tax Commission. However, no partial rolls may be returned for credit. Any rolls that are not complete rolls of stamps may subject the tobacco wholesaler to a penalty of Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000.00) per roll. The tax on inventory and stamps shall be paid in the manner specified by the State Tax Commission.
SECTION 3. Section 27-51-103, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
27-51-103. (1) From and after January 1, 1995, through June 30, 1995, a taxpayer shall be allowed as a credit towards the tax liability imposed by Chapter 51, Title 27, Mississippi Code of 1972, on the amount of ad valorem taxes due during the taxable year on any private carrier of passengers and light carrier of property owned by him, an amount equal to five percent (5%) of the assessed value of the motor vehicle.
(2) From and after July 1, 1995, a taxpayer shall be allowed as a credit against motor vehicle ad valorem taxes due under Chapter 51, Title 27, Mississippi Code of 1972, on any private carrier of passengers and light carrier of property owned by him, an amount as provided for in subsection (3) of this section.
(3) (a) Except as otherwise provided in paragraph (b) of this subsection, from and after July 1, 1995, the amount of the credit that a taxpayer shall be allowed against motor vehicle ad valorem taxes due under Chapter 51, Title 27, Mississippi Code of 1972, shall be determined by the State Tax Commission for each fiscal year. The amount of the credit shall be promulgated by the commission on or before May 1 prior to each state fiscal year beginning with the state fiscal year beginning on July 1, 1995. In developing the credit, the commission shall establish credit amounts that provide for an equal percentage of dollar credit amounts for private carriers of passengers and light carriers of property in proportion to their assessed value, based on the projected amount of funds in the Motor Vehicle Ad Valorem Tax Reduction Fund that will be available for distribution in such state fiscal year. The commission may calculate the credit in such a manner so as to have surplus funds available in the Motor Vehicle Ad Valorem Tax Reduction Fund for cash flow needs and monthly shortfalls that might be incurred as a result of unexpected revenue fluctuations; * * * however, * * * in the calculation of the credit in order to make such surplus funds available, the commission shall attempt to create a balance in the Motor Vehicle Ad Valorem Tax Reduction Fund that does not exceed at the end of any state fiscal year five percent (5%) of the projected amount of funds that will be available in the Motor Vehicle Ad Valorem Tax Reduction Fund for distribution during such state fiscal year.
(b) From and after July 1, 2009, through June 30, 2010, a taxpayer shall be allowed as a credit towards the tax liability imposed by Chapter 51, Title 27, Mississippi Code of 1972, on the amount of ad valorem taxes due during the taxable year on any private carrier of passengers and light carrier of property owned by him, an amount equal to four and twenty-five one-hundredths percent (4.25%) of the assessed value of the motor vehicle.
(4) Tax credits provided for by this section may be used against motor vehicle ad valorem taxes due under Chapter 51, Title 27, Mississippi Code of 1972, at the time that a taxpayer pays motor vehicle ad valorem taxes to the county tax collector.
(5) Each receipt for motor vehicle ad valorem taxes shall clearly indicate that the credit provided for by this section is granted as a result of legislative action.
(6) A taxpayer who is delinquent in the payment of motor vehicle ad valorem taxes to the extent that the penalty assessed pursuant to Section 27-51-43, Mississippi Code of 1972, has reached twenty-five percent (25%) of the ad valorem taxes due shall not be eligible to receive the tax credit authorized pursuant to this section.
SECTION 4. Section 27-65-75, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
27-65-75. On or before the fifteenth day of each month, the revenue collected under the provisions of this chapter during the preceding month shall be paid and distributed as follows:
(1) (a) On or before August 15, 1992, and each succeeding month thereafter through July 15, 1993, eighteen percent (18%) of the total sales tax revenue collected during the preceding month under the provisions of this chapter, except that collected under the provisions of Sections 27-65-15, 27-65-19(3) and 27-65-21, on business activities within a municipal corporation shall be allocated for distribution to the municipality and paid to the municipal corporation. On or before August 15, 1993, and each succeeding month thereafter, eighteen and one-half percent (18-1/2%) of the total sales tax revenue collected during the preceding month under the provisions of this chapter, except that collected under the provisions of Sections 27-65-15, 27-65-19(3) and 27-65-21, on business activities within a municipal corporation shall be allocated for distribution to the municipality and paid to the municipal corporation.
A municipal corporation, for the purpose of distributing the tax under this subsection, shall mean and include all incorporated cities, towns and villages.
Monies allocated for distribution and credited to a municipal corporation under this subsection may be pledged as security for a loan if the distribution received by the municipal corporation is otherwise authorized or required by law to be pledged as security for such a loan.
In any county having a county seat that is not an incorporated municipality, the distribution provided under this subsection shall be made as though the county seat was an incorporated municipality; however, the distribution to the municipality shall be paid to the county treasury in which the municipality is located, and those funds shall be used for road, bridge and street construction or maintenance in the county.
(b) On or before August 15, 2006, and each succeeding month thereafter, eighteen and one-half percent (18-1/2%) of the total sales tax revenue collected during the preceding month under the provisions of this chapter, except that collected under the provisions of Sections 27-65-15, 27-65-19(3) and 27-65-21, on business activities on the campus of a state institution of higher learning or community or junior college whose campus is not located within the corporate limits of a municipality, shall be allocated for distribution to the state institution of higher learning or community or junior college and paid to the state institution of higher learning or community or junior college.
(2) On or before September 15, 1987, and each succeeding month thereafter, from the revenue collected under this chapter during the preceding month, One Million One Hundred Twenty-five Thousand Dollars ($1,125,000.00) shall be allocated for distribution to municipal corporations as defined under subsection (1) of this section in the proportion that the number of gallons of gasoline and diesel fuel sold by distributors to consumers and retailers in each such municipality during the preceding fiscal year bears to the total gallons of gasoline and diesel fuel sold by distributors to consumers and retailers in municipalities statewide during the preceding fiscal year. The State Tax Commission shall require all distributors of gasoline and diesel fuel to report to the commission monthly the total number of gallons of gasoline and diesel fuel sold by them to consumers and retailers in each municipality during the preceding month. The State Tax Commission shall have the authority to promulgate such rules and regulations as is necessary to determine the number of gallons of gasoline and diesel fuel sold by distributors to consumers and retailers in each municipality. In determining the percentage allocation of funds under this subsection for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 1987, and ending June 30, 1988, the State Tax Commission may consider gallons of gasoline and diesel fuel sold for a period of less than one (1) fiscal year. For the purposes of this subsection, the term "fiscal year" means the fiscal year beginning July 1 of a year.
(3) On or before September 15, 1987, and on or before the fifteenth day of each succeeding month, until the date specified in Section 65-39-35, the proceeds derived from contractors' taxes levied under Section 27-65-21 on contracts for the construction or reconstruction of highways designated under the highway program created under Section 65-3-97 shall, except as otherwise provided in Section 31-17-127, be deposited into the State Treasury to the credit of the State Highway Fund to be used to fund that highway program. The Mississippi Department of Transportation shall provide to the State Tax Commission such information as is necessary to determine the amount of proceeds to be distributed under this subsection.
(4) On or before August 15, 1994, and on or before the fifteenth day of each succeeding month through July 15, 1999, from the proceeds of gasoline, diesel fuel or kerosene taxes as provided in Section 27-5-101(a)(ii)1, Four Million Dollars ($4,000,000.00) shall be deposited in the State Treasury to the credit of a special fund designated as the "State Aid Road Fund," created by Section 65-9-17. On or before August 15, 1999, and on or before the fifteenth day of each succeeding month, from the total amount of the proceeds of gasoline, diesel fuel or kerosene taxes apportioned by Section 27-5-101(a)(ii)1, Four Million Dollars ($4,000,000.00) or an amount equal to twenty-three and one-fourth percent (23-1/4%) of those funds, whichever is the greater amount, shall be deposited in the State Treasury to the credit of the "State Aid Road Fund," created by Section 65-9-17. Those funds shall be pledged to pay the principal of and interest on state aid road bonds heretofore issued under Sections 19-9-51 through 19-9-77, in lieu of and in substitution for the funds previously allocated to counties under this section. Those funds may not be pledged for the payment of any state aid road bonds issued after April 1, 1981; however, this prohibition against the pledging of any such funds for the payment of bonds shall not apply to any bonds for which intent to issue those bonds has been published, for the first time, as provided by law before March 29, 1981. From the amount of taxes paid into the special fund under this subsection and subsection (9) of this section, there shall be first deducted and paid the amount necessary to pay the expenses of the Office of State Aid Road Construction, as authorized by the Legislature for all other general and special fund agencies. The remainder of the fund shall be allocated monthly to the several counties in accordance with the following formula:
(a) One-third (1/3) shall be allocated to all counties in equal shares;
(b) One-third (1/3) shall be allocated to counties based on the proportion that the total number of rural road miles in a county bears to the total number of rural road miles in all counties of the state; and
(c) One-third (1/3) shall be allocated to counties based on the proportion that the rural population of the county bears to the total rural population in all counties of the state, according to the latest federal decennial census.
For the purposes of this subsection, the term "gasoline, diesel fuel or kerosene taxes" means such taxes as defined in paragraph (f) of Section 27-5-101.
The amount of funds allocated to any county under this subsection for any fiscal year after fiscal year 1994 shall not be less than the amount allocated to the county for fiscal year 1994.
Any reference in the general laws of this state or the Mississippi Code of 1972 to Section 27-5-105 shall mean and be construed to refer and apply to subsection (4) of Section 27-65-75.
(5) One Million Six Hundred Sixty-six Thousand Six Hundred Sixty-six Dollars ($1,666,666.00) each month shall be paid into the special fund known as the "State Public School Building Fund" created and existing under the provisions of Sections 37-47-1 through 37-47-67. Those payments into that fund are to be made on the last day of each succeeding month hereafter.
(6) An amount each month beginning August 15, 1983, through November 15, 1986, as specified in Section 6 of Chapter 542, Laws of 1983, shall be paid into the special fund known as the Correctional Facilities Construction Fund created in Section 6 of Chapter 542, Laws of 1983.
(7) On or before August 15, 1992, and each succeeding month thereafter through July 15, 2000, two and two hundred sixty-six one-thousandths percent (2.266%) of the total sales tax revenue collected during the preceding month under the provisions of this chapter, except that collected under the provisions of Section 27-65-17(2), shall be deposited by the commission into the School Ad Valorem Tax Reduction Fund created under Section 37-61-35. On or before August 15, 2000, and each succeeding month thereafter, two and two hundred sixty-six one-thousandths percent (2.266%) of the total sales tax revenue collected during the preceding month under the provisions of this chapter, except that collected under the provisions of Section 27-65-17(2), shall be deposited into the School Ad Valorem Tax Reduction Fund created under Section 37-61-35 until such time that the total amount deposited into the fund during a fiscal year equals Forty-two Million Dollars ($42,000,000.00). Thereafter, the amounts diverted under this subsection (7) during the fiscal year in excess of Forty-two Million Dollars ($42,000,000.00) shall be deposited into the Education Enhancement Fund created under Section 37-61-33 for appropriation by the Legislature as other education needs and shall not be subject to the percentage appropriation requirements set forth in Section 37-61-33.
(8) On or before August 15, 1992, and each succeeding month thereafter, nine and seventy-three one-thousandths percent (9.073%) of the total sales tax revenue collected during the preceding month under the provisions of this chapter, except that collected under the provisions of Section 27-65-17(2), shall be deposited into the Education Enhancement Fund created under Section 37-61-33.
(9) On or before August 15, 1994, and each succeeding month thereafter, from the revenue collected under this chapter during the preceding month, Two Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($250,000.00) shall be paid into the State Aid Road Fund.
(10) On or before August 15, 1994, and each succeeding month thereafter through August 15, 1995, from the revenue collected under this chapter during the preceding month, Two Million Dollars ($2,000,000.00) shall be deposited into the Motor Vehicle Ad Valorem Tax Reduction Fund established in Section 27-51-105.
(11) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section to the contrary, on or before February 15, 1995, and each succeeding month thereafter, the sales tax revenue collected during the preceding month under the provisions of Section 27-65-17(2) and the corresponding levy in Section 27-65-23 on the rental or lease of private carriers of passengers and light carriers of property as defined in Section 27-51-101 shall be deposited, without diversion, into the Motor Vehicle Ad Valorem Tax Reduction Fund established in Section 27-51-105.
(12) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section to the contrary, on or before August 15, 1995, and each succeeding month thereafter, the sales tax revenue collected during the preceding month under the provisions of Section 27-65-17(1) on retail sales of private carriers of passengers and light carriers of property, as defined in Section 27-51-101 and the corresponding levy in Section 27-65-23 on the rental or lease of these vehicles, shall be deposited, after diversion, into the Motor Vehicle Ad Valorem Tax Reduction Fund established in Section 27-51-105.
(13) On or before July 15, 1994, and on or before the fifteenth day of each succeeding month thereafter, that portion of the avails of the tax imposed in Section 27-65-22 that is derived from activities held on the Mississippi State Fairgrounds Complex, shall be paid into a special fund that is created in the State Treasury and shall be expended upon legislative appropriation solely to defray the costs of repairs and renovation at the Trade Mart and Coliseum.
(14) On or before August 15, 1998, and each succeeding month thereafter through July 15, 2005, that portion of the avails of the tax imposed in Section 27-65-23 that is derived from sales by cotton compresses or cotton warehouses and that would otherwise be paid into the General Fund, shall be deposited in an amount not to exceed Two Million Dollars ($2,000,000.00) into the special fund created under Section 69-37-39. On or before August 15, 2007, and each succeeding month thereafter, that portion of the avails of the tax imposed in Section 27-65-23 that is derived from sales by cotton compresses or cotton warehouses and that would otherwise be paid into the General Fund, shall be deposited in an amount not to exceed Two Million Dollars ($2,000,000.00) into the special fund created under Section 69-37-39 until all debts or other obligations incurred by the Certified Cotton Growers Organization under the Mississippi Boll Weevil Management Act before January 1, 2007, are satisfied in full.
(15) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section to the contrary, on or before September 15, 2000, and each succeeding month thereafter, the sales tax revenue collected during the preceding month under the provisions of Section 27-65-19(1)(f) and (g)(i)2, shall be deposited, without diversion, into the Telecommunications Ad Valorem Tax Reduction Fund established in Section 27-38-7.
(16) (a) On or before August 15, 2000, and each succeeding month thereafter, the sales tax revenue collected during the preceding month under the provisions of this chapter on the gross proceeds of sales of a project as defined in Section 57-30-1 shall be deposited, after all diversions except the diversion provided for in subsection (1) of this section, into the Sales Tax Incentive Fund created in Section 57-30-3.
(b) On or before August 15, 2007, and each succeeding month thereafter, eighty percent (80%) of the sales tax revenue collected during the preceding month under the provisions of this chapter from the operation of a tourism project under the provisions of Sections 57-26-1 through 57-26-5, shall be deposited, after the diversions required in subsections (7) and (8) of this section, into the Tourism Project Sales Tax Incentive Fund created in Section 57-26-3.
(17) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section to the contrary, on or before April 15, 2002, and each succeeding month thereafter, the sales tax revenue collected during the preceding month under Section 27-65-23 on sales of parking services of parking garages and lots at airports shall be deposited, without diversion, into the special fund created under Section 27-5-101(d).
(18) [Repealed]
(19) (a) On or before August 15, 2005, and each succeeding month thereafter, the sales tax revenue collected during the preceding month under the provisions of this chapter on the gross proceeds of sales of a business enterprise located within a redevelopment project area under the provisions of Sections 57-91-1 through 57-91-11, and the revenue collected on the gross proceeds of sales from sales made to a business enterprise located in a redevelopment project area under the provisions of Sections 57-91-1 through 57-91-11 (provided that such sales made to a business enterprise are made on the premises of the business enterprise), shall, except as otherwise provided in this subsection (19), be deposited, after all diversions, into the Redevelopment Project Incentive Fund as created in Section 57-91-9.
(b) For a municipality participating in the Economic Redevelopment Act created in Sections 57-91-1 through 57-91-11, the diversion provided for in subsection (1) of this section attributable to the gross proceeds of sales of a business enterprise located within a redevelopment project area under the provisions of Sections 57-91-1 through 57-91-11, and attributable to the gross proceeds of sales from sales made to a business enterprise located in a redevelopment project area under the provisions of Sections 57-91-1 through 57-91-11 (provided that such sales made to a business enterprise are made on the premises of the business enterprise), shall be deposited into the Redevelopment Project Incentive Fund as created in Section 57-91-9, as follows:
(i) For the first six (6) years in which payments are made to a developer from the Redevelopment Project Incentive Fund, one hundred percent (100%) of the diversion shall be deposited into the fund;
(ii) For the seventh year in which such payments are made to a developer from the Redevelopment Project Incentive Fund, eighty percent (80%) of the diversion shall be deposited into the fund;
(iii) For the eighth year in which such payments are made to a developer from the Redevelopment Project Incentive Fund, seventy percent (70%) of the diversion shall be deposited into the fund;
(iv) For the ninth year in which such payments are made to a developer from the Redevelopment Project Incentive Fund, sixty percent (60%) of the diversion shall be deposited into the fund; and
(v) For the tenth year in which such payments are made to a developer from the Redevelopment Project Incentive Fund, fifty percent (50%) of the funds shall be deposited into the fund.
(20) On or before January 15, 2007, and each succeeding month thereafter, eighty percent (80%) of the sales tax revenue collected during the preceding month under the provisions of this chapter from the operation of a tourism project under the provisions of Sections 57-28-1 through 57-28-5, shall be deposited, after the diversions required in subsections (7) and (8) of this section, into the Tourism Sales Tax Incentive Fund created in Section 57-28-3.
(21) On or before April 15, 2007, and each succeeding month thereafter, One Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($150,000.00) of the sales tax revenue collected during the preceding month under the provisions of this chapter shall be deposited into the MMEIA Tax Incentive Fund created in Section 57-101-3.
(22) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section to the contrary, on or before August 15, 2009, and each succeeding month thereafter, the sales tax revenue collected during the preceding month under the provisions of Section 27-65-201 shall be deposited, without diversion, into the Motor Vehicle Ad Valorem Tax Reduction Fund established in Section 27-51-105.
(23) The remainder of the amounts collected under the provisions of this chapter shall be paid into the State Treasury to the credit of the General Fund.
(24) It shall be the duty of the municipal officials of any municipality that expands its limits, or of any community that incorporates as a municipality, to notify the commissioner of that action thirty (30) days before the effective date. Failure to so notify the commissioner shall cause the municipality to forfeit the revenue that it would have been entitled to receive during this period of time when the commissioner had no knowledge of the action. If any funds have been erroneously disbursed to any municipality or any overpayment of tax is recovered by the taxpayer, the commissioner may make correction and adjust the error or overpayment with the municipality by withholding the necessary funds from any later payment to be made to the municipality.
SECTION 5. Section 27-65-201, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
27-65-201. (1) For the purposes of this section, unless the context otherwise requires, the term "motor vehicle" means a motor vehicle required to be registered or licensed by the county tax collectors pursuant to Section 27-19-43.
(2) Upon every person, firm or corporation purchasing other than at wholesale within this state any motor vehicle required to be registered or licensed with the tax collector of any county in this state from any person, firm or corporation which is not a licensed dealer engaged in selling motor vehicles, there shall be levied and collected a sales tax at the rate of five percent (5%) of the true value of the motor vehicle as calculated by using the most current official motor vehicle assessment schedule supplied by the State Tax Commission.
(3) Upon every person, firm or corporation purchasing other than at wholesale outside the state any motor vehicle required to be registered or licensed with the tax collector of any county in this state from any person, firm or corporation which is not a licensed dealer engaged in selling motor vehicles, for use, storage or other consumption within this state there is levied a use tax at the rate of five percent (5%) of the true value of the motor vehicle as calculated by using the most current official motor vehicle assessment schedule supplied by the State Tax Commission.
(4) Where any motor vehicle is taken in trade as a credit or part payment on the sale of a motor vehicle taxable under this section, the tax levied by this section shall be paid on the net difference, that is, the true value of the motor vehicle sold less the credit for the motor vehicle taken in trade.
(5) The tax levied by this section shall be collected by the tax collector at the time of, and as a prerequisite to, the registration of or licensing of any such motor vehicle. The tax collector shall give to the person registering the vehicle a receipt in a form prescribed and furnished by the State Tax Commission for the amount of tax collected.
(6) County tax collectors shall be liable for the tax they are required to collect, and taxes which are in fact collected, under this section and failure to properly collect or maintain proper records shall not relieve them of liability for payment to the State Tax Commission. Deficiencies in collection or payment shall be assessed against the tax collector, or his successor, in the same manner and subject to the same penalties and provisions for appeal as are deficiencies assessed against taxpayers under Chapter 65, Title 27, Mississippi Code of 1972.
Each tax collector of the several counties shall, on or before the twentieth day of each month, file a report with and pay to the State Tax Commission all funds collected under the provisions of this section, less a commission of three percent (3%) which shall be retained by the tax collector as a commission for collecting such tax, and such commission shall be deposited in the county general fund. The report required to be filed shall cover all collections made during the calendar month next preceding the date on which the report is due and filed. * * * Any error in the report and remittance to the State Tax Commission may be adjusted on a subsequent report. If the error was in the collection by the tax collector, it shall be adjusted through the tax collector with the taxpayer before credit is allowed by the State Tax Commission.
All information relating to the collection of this tax by tax collectors and such records as the State Tax Commission may require shall be preserved in the tax collector's office for a period of three (3) years for audit by the State Tax Commission.
(7) The tax levied by this section shall not apply to the following:
(a) Transfers of legal ownership of motor vehicles currently registered or licensed in the transferor's name between husband and wife, parent and child, or grandparents and grandchildren, unless the transferor is a licensed dealer of motor vehicles and the transfer of the motor vehicle is made in the regular course of business.
(b) Transfers of legal ownership of motor vehicles pursuant to a will or pursuant to any law providing for the distribution of the property of one dying intestate.
(c) Transfers of legal ownership of motor vehicles ten (10) or more years after the date of the manufacture of such vehicle.
SECTION 6. Sections 1 and 2 of this act shall take effect and be in force from and after May 15, 2009. Sections 3, 4 and 5 of this act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2009, if a bill appropriating not less than $27,000,000.00 for fiscal year 2010 to the Motor Vehicle Ad Valorem Tax Reduction Fund is passed during the 2009 Regular Session.