SB1624 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB104 10426 RPS 20501 b

104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2025 and 2026
SB1624

Introduced 2/4/2025, by Sen. Cristina Castro

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

235 ILCS 5/8-2

from Ch. 43, par. 159

Amends the Liquor Control Act of 1934. In a provision requiring certain licensees to file a bond with the Department of Revenue, provides an exception for a manufacturer or importing distributor who is applying for a manufacturer's or importing distributor's license for the first time. Provides that the bond may be required as a condition to renew a license for subsequent annual license terms if a manufacturer or importing distributor exceeds $50,000 in tax liability. Provides that the Illinois Liquor Control Commission shall not renew a license for any applicant for a manufacturer's or importing distributor's license if the State Commission has received a notification from the Department showing that the applicant is required to file and has not filed a satisfactory bond with the Department and that the bond has not been approved by the Department. Removes language providing that the State Commission shall not issue a license to any applicant for a manufacturer's or importing distributor's license unless the Commission has received a notification from the Department showing that such applicant has filed a satisfactory bond with the Department and that such bond has been approved by the Department.

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning liquor.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The Liquor Control Act of 1934 is amended by changing Section 8-2 as follows:

(235 ILCS 5/8-2) (from Ch. 43, par. 159)

Sec. 8-2. Payments; reports. It is the duty of each manufacturer with respect to alcoholic liquor produced or imported by such manufacturer, or purchased tax-free by such manufacturer from another manufacturer or importing distributor, and of each importing distributor as to alcoholic liquor purchased by such importing distributor from foreign importers or from anyone from any point in the United States outside of this State or purchased tax-free from another manufacturer or importing distributor, to pay the tax imposed by Section 8-1 to the Department of Revenue on or before the 15th day of the calendar month following the calendar month in which such alcoholic liquor is sold or used by such manufacturer or by such importing distributor other than in an authorized tax-free manner or to pay that tax electronically as provided in this Section.

Each manufacturer and each importing distributor shall make payment under one of the following methods: (1) on or before the 15th day of each calendar month, file in person or by United States first-class mail, postage pre-paid, with the Department of Revenue, on forms prescribed and furnished by the Department, a report in writing in such form as may be required by the Department in order to compute, and assure the accuracy of, the tax due on all taxable sales and uses of alcoholic liquor occurring during the preceding month. Payment of the tax in the amount disclosed by the report shall accompany the report or, (2) on or before the 15th day of each calendar month, electronically file with the Department of Revenue, on forms prescribed and furnished by the Department, an electronic report in such form as may be required by the Department in order to compute, and assure the accuracy of, the tax due on all taxable sales and uses of alcoholic liquor occurring during the preceding month. An electronic payment of the tax in the amount disclosed by the report shall accompany the report. A manufacturer or distributor who files an electronic report and electronically pays the tax imposed pursuant to Section 8-1 to the Department of Revenue on or before the 15th day of the calendar month following the calendar month in which such alcoholic liquor is sold or used by that manufacturer or importing distributor other than in an authorized tax-free manner shall pay to the Department the amount of the tax imposed pursuant to Section 8-1, less a discount which is allowed to reimburse the manufacturer or importing distributor for the expenses incurred in keeping and maintaining records, preparing and filing the electronic returns, remitting the tax, and supplying data to the Department upon request.

The discount shall be in an amount as follows:

(1) For original returns due on or after January 1, 2003 through September 30, 2003, the discount shall be 1.75% or $1,250 per return, whichever is less;

(2) For original returns due on or after October 1, 2003 through September 30, 2004, the discount shall be 2% or $3,000 per return, whichever is less; and

(3) For original returns due on or after October 1, 2004, the discount shall be 2% or $2,000 per return, whichever is less.

The Department may, if it deems it necessary in order to insure the payment of the tax imposed by this Article, require returns to be made more frequently than and covering periods of less than a month. Such return shall contain such further information as the Department may reasonably require.

It shall be presumed that all alcoholic liquors acquired or made by any importing distributor or manufacturer have been sold or used by him in this State and are the basis for the tax imposed by this Article unless proven, to the satisfaction of the Department, that such alcoholic liquors are (1) still in the possession of such importing distributor or manufacturer, or (2) prior to the termination of possession have been lost by theft or through unintentional destruction, or (3) that such alcoholic liquors are otherwise exempt from taxation under this Act.

If any payment provided for in this Section exceeds the manufacturer's or importing distributor's liabilities under this Act, as shown on an original report, the manufacturer or importing distributor may credit such excess payment against liability subsequently to be remitted to the Department under this Act, in accordance with reasonable rules adopted by the Department. If the Department subsequently determines that all or any part of the credit taken was not actually due to the manufacturer or importing distributor, the manufacturer's or importing distributor's discount shall be reduced by an amount equal to the difference between the discount as applied to the credit taken and that actually due, and the manufacturer or importing distributor shall be liable for penalties and interest on such difference.

The Department may require any foreign importer to file monthly information returns, by the 15th day of the month following the month which any such return covers, if the Department determines this to be necessary to the proper performance of the Department's functions and duties under this Act. Such return shall contain such information as the Department may reasonably require.

Every manufacturer and importing distributor, except for a manufacturer or importing distributor who is applying for a manufacturer's or importing distributor's license under this Act for the first time or a manufacturer or importing distributor who that in the preceding year had less than $50,000 of tax liability under this Article, shall also file, with the Department, a bond in an amount not less than $1,000 and not to exceed $100,000 on a form to be approved by, and with a surety or sureties satisfactory to, the Department. Such bond may be required as a condition to renew a license for subsequent annual license terms if a manufacturer or importing distributor exceeds $50,000 in tax liability. Such bond shall be conditioned upon the manufacturer or importing distributor paying to the Department all monies becoming due from such manufacturer or importing distributor under this Article. The Department shall fix the penalty of such bond in each case, taking into consideration the amount of alcoholic liquor expected to be sold and used by such manufacturer or importing distributor, and the penalty fixed by the Department shall be sufficient, in the Department's opinion, to protect the State of Illinois against failure to pay any amount due under this Article, but the amount of the penalty fixed by the Department shall not exceed twice the amount of tax liability of a monthly return, nor shall the amount of such penalty be less than $1,000. The Department shall notify the State Commission of the Department's approval or disapproval of any such manufacturer's or importing distributor's bond, or of the termination or cancellation of any such bond, or of the Department's direction to a manufacturer or importing distributor that he must file additional bond in order to comply with this Section. The Commission shall not renew issue a license for to any applicant for a manufacturer's or importing distributor's license if unless the Commission has received a notification from the Department showing that such applicant is required to file and has not filed a satisfactory bond with the Department hereunder and that such bond has not been approved by the Department. Failure by any licensed manufacturer or importing distributor to keep a satisfactory bond in effect with the Department or to furnish additional bond to the Department, when required hereunder by the Department to do so, shall be grounds for the revocation or suspension of such manufacturer's or importing distributor's license by the Commission. If a manufacturer or importing distributor fails to pay any amount due under this Article, his bond with the Department shall be deemed forfeited, and the Department may institute a suit in its own name on such bond.

After notice and opportunity for a hearing the State Commission may revoke or suspend the license of any manufacturer or importing distributor who fails to comply with the provisions of this Section. Notice of such hearing and the time and place thereof shall be in writing and shall contain a statement of the charges against the licensee. Such notice may be given by United States registered or certified mail with return receipt requested, addressed to the person concerned at his last known address and shall be given not less than 7 days prior to the date fixed for the hearing. An order revoking or suspending a license under the provisions of this Section may be reviewed in the manner provided in Section 7-10 of this Act. No new license shall be granted to a person whose license has been revoked for a violation of this Section or, in case of suspension, shall such suspension be terminated until he has paid to the Department all taxes and penalties which he owes the State under the provisions of this Act.

Every manufacturer or importing distributor who has, as verified by the Department, continuously complied with the conditions of the bond under this Act for a period of 2 years shall be considered to be a prior continuous compliance taxpayer. In determining the consecutive period of time for qualification as a prior continuous compliance taxpayer, any consecutive period of time of qualifying compliance immediately prior to the effective date of this amendatory Act of 1987 shall be credited to any manufacturer or importing distributor.

A manufacturer or importing distributor that is a prior continuous compliance taxpayer under this Section and becomes a successor as the result of an acquisition, merger, or consolidation of a manufacturer or importing distributor shall be deemed to be a prior continuous compliance taxpayer with respect to the acquired, merged, or consolidated entity.

Every prior continuous compliance taxpayer shall be exempt from the bond requirements of this Act until the Department has determined the taxpayer to be delinquent in the filing of any return or deficient in the payment of any tax under this Act. Any taxpayer who fails to pay an admitted or established liability under this Act may also be required to post bond or other acceptable security with the Department guaranteeing the payment of such admitted or established liability.

The Department shall discharge any surety and shall release and return any bond or security deposit assigned, pledged or otherwise provided to it by a taxpayer under this Section within 30 days after: (1) such taxpayer becomes a prior continuous compliance taxpayer; or (2) such taxpayer has ceased to collect receipts on which he is required to remit tax to the Department, has filed a final tax return, and has paid to the Department an amount sufficient to discharge his remaining tax liability as determined by the Department under this Act.

(Source: P.A. 100-1171, eff. 1-4-19; 101-37, eff. 7-3-19.)