[ Search ] [ PDF text ] [ Legislation ]
[ Home ] [ Back ] [ Bottom ]
92_HB0087 LRB9200873SMdv 1 AN ACT in relation to taxes, amending named Acts. 2 Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, 3 represented in the General Assembly: 4 Section 5. The Illinois Income Tax Act is amended by 5 changing Section 917 as follows: 6 (35 ILCS 5/917) (from Ch. 120, par. 9-917) 7 Sec. 917. Confidentiality and information sharing. 8 (a) Confidentiality. Except as provided in this Section, 9 all information received by the Department from returns filed 10 under this Act, or from any investigation conducted under the 11 provisions of this Act, shall be confidential, except for 12 official purposes within the Department, pursuant to Section 13 2.5 of the Tax Collection Suit Act,or pursuant to official14procedures for collection of any State taxor pursuant to an 15 investigation or audit by the Illinois State Scholarship 16 Commission of a delinquent student loan or monetary award or 17 enforcement of any civil or criminal penalty or sanction 18 imposed by this Act or by another statute imposing a State 19 tax, and any person who divulges any such information in any 20 manner, except for such purposes and pursuant to order of the 21 Director or in accordance with a proper judicial order, shall 22 be guilty of a Class A misdemeanor. However, the provisions 23 of this paragraph are not applicable to information furnished 24 to a licensed attorney representing the taxpayer where an 25 appeal or a protest has been filed on behalf of the taxpayer. 26 (b) Public information. Nothing contained in this Act 27 shall prevent the Director from publishing or making 28 available to the public the names and addresses of persons 29 filing returns under this Act, or from publishing or making 30 available reasonable statistics concerning the operation of 31 the tax wherein the contents of returns are grouped into -2- LRB9200873SMdv 1 aggregates in such a way that the information contained in 2 any individual return shall not be disclosed. 3 (c) Governmental agencies. The Director may make 4 available to the Secretary of the Treasury of the United 5 States or his delegate, or the proper officer or his delegate 6 of any other state imposing a tax upon or measured by income, 7 for exclusively official purposes, information received by 8 the Department in the administration of this Act, but such 9 permission shall be granted only if the United States or such 10 other state, as the case may be, grants the Department 11 substantially similar privileges. The Director may exchange 12 information with the Illinois Department of Public Aid and 13 the Department of Human Services (acting as successor to the 14 Department of Public Aid under the Department of Human 15 Services Act) for the purpose of verifying sources and 16 amounts of income and for other purposes directly connected 17 with the administration of this Act and the Illinois Public 18 Aid Code. The Director may exchange information with the 19 Director of the Department of Employment Security for the 20 purpose of verifying sources and amounts of income and for 21 other purposes directly connected with the administration of 22 this Act and Acts administered by the Department of 23 Employment Security. The Director may make available to the 24 Illinois Industrial Commission information regarding 25 employers for the purpose of verifying the insurance coverage 26 required under the Workers' Compensation Act and Workers' 27 Occupational Diseases Act. 28 The Director may make available to any State agency, 29 including the Illinois Supreme Court, which licenses persons 30 to engage in any occupation, information that a person 31 licensed by such agency has failed to file returns under this 32 Act or pay the tax, penalty and interest shown therein, or 33 has failed to pay any final assessment of tax, penalty or 34 interest due under this Act. The Director may also make -3- LRB9200873SMdv 1 available to the Secretary of State information that a 2 corporation which has been issued a certificate of 3 incorporation by the Secretary of State has failed to file 4 returns under this Act or pay the tax, penalty and interest 5 shown therein, or has failed to pay any final assessment of 6 tax, penalty or interest due under this Act. An assessment is 7 final when all proceedings in court for review of such 8 assessment have terminated or the time for the taking thereof 9 has expired without such proceedings being instituted. For 10 taxable years ending on or after December 31, 1987, the 11 Director may make available to the Director or principal 12 officer of any Department of the State of Illinois, 13 information that a person employed by such Department has 14 failed to file returns under this Act or pay the tax, penalty 15 and interest shown therein. For purposes of this paragraph, 16 the word "Department" shall have the same meaning as provided 17 in Section 3 of the State Employees Group Insurance Act of 18 1971. 19 (d) The Director shall make available for public 20 inspection in the Department's principal office and for 21 publication, at cost, administrative decisions issued on or 22 after January 1, 1995. These decisions are to be made 23 available in a manner so that the following taxpayer 24 information is not disclosed: 25 (1) The names, addresses, and identification 26 numbers of the taxpayer, related entities, and employees. 27 (2) At the sole discretion of the Director, trade 28 secrets or other confidential information identified as 29 such by the taxpayer, no later than 30 days after receipt 30 of an administrative decision, by such means as the 31 Department shall provide by rule. 32 The Director shall determine the appropriate extent of 33 the deletions allowed in paragraph (2). In the event the 34 taxpayer does not submit deletions, the Director shall make -4- LRB9200873SMdv 1 only the deletions specified in paragraph (1). 2 The Director shall make available for public inspection 3 and publication an administrative decision within 180 days 4 after the issuance of the administrative decision. The term 5 "administrative decision" has the same meaning as defined in 6 Section 3-101 of Article III of the Code of Civil Procedure. 7 Costs collected under this Section shall be paid into the Tax 8 Compliance and Administration Fund. 9 (e) Nothing contained in this Act shall prevent the 10 Director from divulging information to any person pursuant to 11 a request or authorization made by the taxpayer, by an 12 authorized representative of the taxpayer, or, in the case of 13 information related to a joint return, by the spouse filing 14 the joint return with the taxpayer. 15 (Source: P.A. 89-507, eff. 7-1-97; 90-491, eff. 1-1-98.) 16 Section 10. The Retailers' Occupation Tax Act is amended 17 by changing Section 11 as follows: 18 (35 ILCS 120/11) (from Ch. 120, par. 450) 19 Sec. 11. All information received by the Department from 20 returns filed under this Act, or from any investigation 21 conducted under this Act, shall be confidential, except for 22 official purposes or pursuant to Section 2.5 of the Tax 23 Collection Suit Act, and any person who divulges any such 24 information in any manner, except in accordance with a proper 25 judicial order or as otherwise provided by law, shall be 26 guilty of a Class B misdemeanor. 27 Nothing in this Act prevents the Director of Revenue from 28 publishing or making available to the public the names and 29 addresses of persons filing returns under this Act, or 30 reasonable statistics concerning the operation of the tax by 31 grouping the contents of returns so the information in any 32 individual return is not disclosed. -5- LRB9200873SMdv 1 Nothing in this Act prevents the Director of Revenue from 2 divulging to the United States Government or the government 3 of any other state, or any village that does not levy any 4 real property taxes for village operations and that receives 5 more than 60% of its general corporate revenue from taxes 6 under the Use Tax Act, the Service Use Tax Act, the Service 7 Occupation Tax Act, and the Retailers' Occupation Tax Act, or 8 any officer or agency thereof, for exclusively official 9 purposes, information received by the Department in 10 administering this Act, provided that such other governmental 11 agency agrees to divulge requested tax information to the 12 Department. 13 The Department's furnishing of information derived from a 14 taxpayer's return or from an investigation conducted under 15 this Act to the surety on a taxpayer's bond that has been 16 furnished to the Department under this Act, either to provide 17 notice to such surety of its potential liability under the 18 bond or, in order to support the Department's demand for 19 payment from such surety under the bond, is an official 20 purpose within the meaning of this Section. 21 The furnishing upon request of information obtained by 22 the Department from returns filed under this Act or 23 investigations conducted under this Act to the Illinois 24 Liquor Control Commission for official use is deemed to be an 25 official purpose within the meaning of this Section. 26 Notice to a surety of potential liability shall not be 27 given unless the taxpayer has first been notified, not less 28 than 10 days prior thereto, of the Department's intent to so 29 notify the surety. 30 The furnishing upon request of the Auditor General, or 31 his authorized agents, for official use, of returns filed and 32 information related thereto under this Act is deemed to be an 33 official purpose within the meaning of this Section. 34 Where an appeal or a protest has been filed on behalf of -6- LRB9200873SMdv 1 a taxpayer, the furnishing upon request of the attorney for 2 the taxpayer of returns filed by the taxpayer and information 3 related thereto under this Act is deemed to be an official 4 purpose within the meaning of this Section. 5 The furnishing of financial information to a home rule 6 unit that has imposed a tax similar to that imposed by this 7 Act pursuant to its home rule powers, or to any village that 8 does not levy any real property taxes for village operations 9 and that receives more than 60% of its general corporate 10 revenue from taxes under the Use Tax Act, the Service Use Tax 11 Act, the Service Occupation Tax Act, and the Retailers' 12 Occupation Tax Act, upon request of the Chief Executive 13 thereof, is an official purpose within the meaning of this 14 Section, provided the home rule unit or village that does 15 not levy any real property taxes for village operations and 16 that receives more than 60% of its general corporate revenue 17 from taxes under the Use Tax Act, the Service Use Tax Act, 18 the Service Occupation Tax Act, and the Retailers' Occupation 19 Tax Act agrees in writing to the requirements of this 20 Section. 21 For a village that does not levy any real property taxes 22 for village operations and that receives more than 60% of its 23 general corporate revenue from taxes under the Use Tax Act, 24 Service Use Tax Act, Service Occupation Tax Act, and 25 Retailers' Occupation Tax Act, the officers eligible to 26 receive information from the Department of Revenue under this 27 Section are the village manager and the chief financial 28 officer of the village. 29 Information so provided shall be subject to all 30 confidentiality provisions of this Section. The written 31 agreement shall provide for reciprocity, limitations on 32 access, disclosure, and procedures for requesting 33 information. 34 The Director may make available to any State agency, -7- LRB9200873SMdv 1 including the Illinois Supreme Court, which licenses persons 2 to engage in any occupation, information that a person 3 licensed by such agency has failed to file returns under this 4 Act or pay the tax, penalty and interest shown therein, or 5 has failed to pay any final assessment of tax, penalty or 6 interest due under this Act. The Director may also make 7 available to the Secretary of State information that a 8 limited liability company, which has filed articles of 9 organization with the Secretary of State, or corporation 10 which has been issued a certificate of incorporation by the 11 Secretary of State has failed to file returns under this Act 12 or pay the tax, penalty and interest shown therein, or has 13 failed to pay any final assessment of tax, penalty or 14 interest due under this Act. An assessment is final when all 15 proceedings in court for review of such assessment have 16 terminated or the time for the taking thereof has expired 17 without such proceedings being instituted. 18 The Director shall make available for public inspection 19 in the Department's principal office and for publication, at 20 cost, administrative decisions issued on or after January 1, 21 1995. These decisions are to be made available in a manner so 22 that the following taxpayer information is not disclosed: 23 (1) The names, addresses, and identification 24 numbers of the taxpayer, related entities, and employees. 25 (2) At the sole discretion of the Director, trade 26 secrets or other confidential information identified as 27 such by the taxpayer, no later than 30 days after receipt 28 of an administrative decision, by such means as the 29 Department shall provide by rule. 30 The Director shall determine the appropriate extent of 31 the deletions allowed in paragraph (2). In the event the 32 taxpayer does not submit deletions, the Director shall make 33 only the deletions specified in paragraph (1). 34 The Director shall make available for public inspection -8- LRB9200873SMdv 1 and publication an administrative decision within 180 days 2 after the issuance of the administrative decision. The term 3 "administrative decision" has the same meaning as defined in 4 Section 3-101 of Article III of the Code of Civil Procedure. 5 Costs collected under this Section shall be paid into the Tax 6 Compliance and Administration Fund. 7 Nothing contained in this Act shall prevent the Director 8 from divulging information to any person pursuant to a 9 request or authorization made by the taxpayer or by an 10 authorized representative of the taxpayer. 11 (Source: P.A. 89-89, eff. 6-30-95; 90-491, eff. 1-1-98.) 12 Section 15. The Cigarette Tax Act is amended by changing 13 Section 10b as follows: 14 (35 ILCS 130/10b) (from Ch. 120, par. 453.10b) 15 Sec. 10b. All information received by the Department 16 from returns filed under this Act, or from any investigation 17 conducted under this Act, shall be confidential, except for 18 official purposes or pursuant to Section 2.5 of the Tax 19 Collection Suit Act, and any person who divulges any such 20 information in any manner, except in accordance with a proper 21 judicial order or as otherwise provided by law, shall be 22 guilty of a Class A misdemeanor. 23 Nothing in this Act prevents the Director of Revenue from 24 publishing or making available to the public the names and 25 addresses of persons filing returns under this Act, or 26 reasonable statistics concerning the operation of the tax by 27 grouping the contents of returns so that the information in 28 any individual return is not disclosed. 29 Nothing in this Act prevents the Director of Revenue from 30 divulging to the United States Government or the government 31 of any other state, or any officer or agency thereof, for 32 exclusively official purposes, information received by the -9- LRB9200873SMdv 1 Department in administering this Act, provided that such 2 other governmental agency agrees to divulge requested tax 3 information to the Department. 4 The furnishing upon request of the Auditor General, or 5 his authorized agents, for official use, of returns filed and 6 information related thereto under this Act is deemed to be an 7 official purpose within the meaning of this Section. 8 The furnishing of financial information to a home rule 9 unit with a population in excess of 2,000,000 that has 10 imposed a tax similar to that imposed by this Act under its 11 home rule powers, upon request of the Chief Executive of the 12 home rule unit, is an official purpose within the meaning of 13 this Section, provided the home rule unit agrees in writing 14 to the requirements of this Section. Information so provided 15 is subject to all confidentiality provisions of this Section. 16 The written agreement shall provide for reciprocity, 17 limitations on access, disclosure, and procedures for 18 requesting information. 19 The Director may make available to any State agency, 20 including the Illinois Supreme Court, which licenses persons 21 to engage in any occupation, information that a person 22 licensed by such agency has failed to file returns under this 23 Act or pay the tax, penalty and interest shown therein, or 24 has failed to pay any final assessment of tax, penalty or 25 interest due under this Act. An assessment is final when all 26 proceedings in court for review of such assessment have 27 terminated or the time for the taking thereof has expired 28 without such proceedings being instituted. 29 The Director shall make available for public inspection 30 in the Department's principal office and for publication, at 31 cost, administrative decisions issued on or after January 1, 32 1995. These decisions are to be made available in a manner so 33 that the following taxpayer information is not disclosed: 34 (1) The names, addresses, and identification -10- LRB9200873SMdv 1 numbers of the taxpayer, related entities, and employees. 2 (2) At the sole discretion of the Director, trade 3 secrets or other confidential information identified as 4 such by the taxpayer, no later than 30 days after receipt 5 of an administrative decision, by such means as the 6 Department shall provide by rule. 7 The Director shall determine the appropriate extent of 8 the deletions allowed in paragraph (2). In the event the 9 taxpayer does not submit deletions, the Director shall make 10 only the deletions specified in paragraph (1). 11 The Director shall make available for public inspection 12 and publication an administrative decision within 180 days 13 after the issuance of the administrative decision. The term 14 "administrative decision" has the same meaning as defined in 15 Section 3-101 of Article III of the Code of Civil Procedure. 16 Costs collected under this Section shall be paid into the Tax 17 Compliance and Administration Fund. 18 Nothing contained in this Act shall prevent the Director 19 from divulging information to any person pursuant to a 20 request or authorization made by the taxpayer or by an 21 authorized representative of the taxpayer. 22 (Source: P.A. 90-491, eff. 1-1-98.) 23 Section 20. The Cigarette Use Tax Act is amended by 24 changing Section 20 as follows: 25 (35 ILCS 135/20) (from Ch. 120, par. 453.50) 26 Sec. 20. All information received by the Department 27 from returns filed under this Act, or from any investigation 28 conducted under this Act, shall be confidential, except for 29 official purposes or pursuant to Section 2.5 of the Tax 30 Collection Suit Act, and any person who divulges any such 31 information in any manner, except in accordance with a proper 32 judicial order or as otherwise provided by law, shall be -11- LRB9200873SMdv 1 guilty of a Class A misdemeanor. 2 Nothing in this Act prevents the Director of Revenue from 3 publishing or making available to the public the names and 4 addresses of persons filing returns under this Act, or 5 reasonable statistics concerning the operation of the tax by 6 grouping the contents of returns so that the information in 7 any individual return is not disclosed. 8 Nothing in this Act prevents the Director of Revenue from 9 divulging to the United States Government or the government 10 of any other state, or any officer or agency thereof, for 11 exclusively official purposes, information received by the 12 Department in administering this Act, provided that such 13 other governmental agency agrees to divulge requested tax 14 information to the Department. 15 The furnishing upon request of the Auditor General, or 16 his authorized agents, for official use, of returns filed and 17 information related thereto under this Act is deemed to be an 18 official purpose within the meaning of this Section. 19 The furnishing of financial information to a home rule 20 unit with a population in excess of 2,000,000 that has 21 imposed a tax similar to that imposed by this Act under its 22 home rule powers, upon request of the Chief Executive of the 23 home rule unit, is an official purpose within the meaning of 24 this Section, provided the home rule unit agrees in writing 25 to the requirements of this Section. Information so provided 26 is subject to all confidentiality provisions of this Section. 27 The written agreement shall provide for reciprocity, 28 limitations on access, disclosure, and procedures for 29 requesting information. 30 The Director may make available to any State agency, 31 including the Illinois Supreme Court, which licenses persons 32 to engage in any occupation, information that a person 33 licensed by such agency has failed to file returns under this 34 Act or pay the tax, penalty and interest shown therein, or -12- LRB9200873SMdv 1 has failed to pay any final assessment of tax, penalty or 2 interest due under this Act. An assessment is final when all 3 proceedings in court for review of such assessment have 4 terminated or the time for the taking thereof has expired 5 without such proceedings being instituted. 6 The Director shall make available for public inspection 7 in the Department's principal office and for publication, at 8 cost, administrative decisions issued on or after January 1, 9 1995. These decisions are to be made available in a manner so 10 that the following taxpayer information is not disclosed: 11 (1) The names, addresses, and identification 12 numbers of the taxpayer, related entities, and employees. 13 (2) At the sole discretion of the Director, trade 14 secrets or other confidential information identified as 15 such by the taxpayer, no later than 30 days after receipt 16 of an administrative decision, by such means as the 17 Department shall provide by rule. 18 The Director shall determine the appropriate extent of 19 the deletions allowed in paragraph (2). In the event the 20 taxpayer does not submit deletions, the Director shall make 21 only the deletions specified in paragraph (1). 22 The Director shall make available for public inspection 23 and publication an administrative decision within 180 days 24 after the issuance of the administrative decision. The term 25 "administrative decision" has the same meaning as defined in 26 Section 3-101 of Article III of the Code of Civil Procedure. 27 Costs collected under this Section shall be paid into the Tax 28 Compliance and Administration Fund. 29 Nothing contained in this Act shall prevent the Director 30 from divulging information to any person pursuant to a 31 request or authorization made by the taxpayer or by an 32 authorized representative of the taxpayer. 33 (Source: P.A. 90-491, eff. 1-1-98.) -13- LRB9200873SMdv 1 Section 25. The Property Tax Code is amended by changing 2 Section 15-172 as follows: 3 (35 ILCS 200/15-172) 4 Sec. 15-172. Senior Citizens Assessment Freeze Homestead 5 Exemption. 6 (a) This Section may be cited as the Senior Citizens 7 Assessment Freeze Homestead Exemption. 8 (b) As used in this Section: 9 "Applicant" means an individual who has filed an 10 application under this Section. 11 "Base amount" means the base year equalized assessed 12 value of the residence plus the first year's equalized 13 assessed value of any added improvements which increased the 14 assessed value of the residence after the base year. 15 "Base year" means the taxable year prior to the taxable 16 year for which the applicant first qualifies and applies for 17 the exemption provided that in the prior taxable year the 18 property was improved with a permanent structure that was 19 occupied as a residence by the applicant who was liable for 20 paying real property taxes on the property and who was either 21 (i) an owner of record of the property or had legal or 22 equitable interest in the property as evidenced by a written 23 instrument or (ii) had a legal or equitable interest as a 24 lessee in the parcel of property that was single family 25 residence. If in any subsequent taxable year for which the 26 applicant applies and qualifies for the exemption the 27 equalized assessed value of the residence is less than the 28 equalized assessed value in the existing base year (provided 29 that such equalized assessed value is not based on an 30 assessed value that results from a temporary irregularity in 31 the property that reduces the assessed value for one or more 32 taxable years), then that subsequent taxable year shall 33 become the base year until a new base year is established -14- LRB9200873SMdv 1 under the terms of this paragraph. For taxable year 1999 2 only, the Chief County Assessment Officer shall review (i) 3 all taxable years for which the applicant applied and 4 qualified for the exemption and (ii) the existing base year. 5 The assessment officer shall select as the new base year the 6 year with the lowest equalized assessed value. An equalized 7 assessed value that is based on an assessed value that 8 results from a temporary irregularity in the property that 9 reduces the assessed value for one or more taxable years 10 shall not be considered the lowest equalized assessed value. 11 The selected year shall be the base year for taxable year 12 1999 and thereafter until a new base year is established 13 under the terms of this paragraph. 14 "Chief County Assessment Officer" means the County 15 Assessor or Supervisor of Assessments of the county in which 16 the property is located. 17 "Equalized assessed value" means the assessed value as 18 equalized by the Illinois Department of Revenue. 19 "Household" means the applicant, the spouse of the 20 applicant, and all persons using the residence of the 21 applicant as their principal place of residence. 22 "Household income" means the combined income of the 23 members of a household for the calendar year preceding the 24 taxable year. 25 "Income" has the same meaning as provided in Section 3.07 26 of the Senior Citizens and Disabled Persons Property Tax 27 Relief and Pharmaceutical Assistance Act, except that, 28 beginning in assessment year 2001, "income" does not include 29 veteran's benefits. 30 "Internal Revenue Code of 1986" means the United States 31 Internal Revenue Code of 1986 or any successor law or laws 32 relating to federal income taxes in effect for the year 33 preceding the taxable year. 34 "Life care facility that qualifies as a cooperative" -15- LRB9200873SMdv 1 means a facility as defined in Section 2 of the Life Care 2 Facilities Act. 3 "Residence" means the principal dwelling place and 4 appurtenant structures used for residential purposes in this 5 State occupied on January 1 of the taxable year by a 6 household and so much of the surrounding land, constituting 7 the parcel upon which the dwelling place is situated, as is 8 used for residential purposes. If the Chief County Assessment 9 Officer has established a specific legal description for a 10 portion of property constituting the residence, then that 11 portion of property shall be deemed the residence for the 12 purposes of this Section. 13 "Taxable year" means the calendar year during which ad 14 valorem property taxes payable in the next succeeding year 15 are levied. 16 (c) Beginning in taxable year 1994, a senior citizens 17 assessment freeze homestead exemption is granted for real 18 property that is improved with a permanent structure that is 19 occupied as a residence by an applicant who (i) is 65 years 20 of age or older during the taxable year, (ii) has a household 21 income of $35,000 or less prior to taxable year 1999 or 22 $40,000 or less in taxable year 1999 and thereafter, (iii) is 23 liable for paying real property taxes on the property, and 24 (iv) is an owner of record of the property or has a legal or 25 equitable interest in the property as evidenced by a written 26 instrument. This homestead exemption shall also apply to a 27 leasehold interest in a parcel of property improved with a 28 permanent structure that is a single family residence that is 29 occupied as a residence by a person who (i) is 65 years of 30 age or older during the taxable year, (ii) has a household 31 income of $35,000 or less prior to taxable year 1999 or 32 $40,000 or less in taxable year 1999 and thereafter, (iii) 33 has a legal or equitable ownership interest in the property 34 as lessee, and (iv) is liable for the payment of real -16- LRB9200873SMdv 1 property taxes on that property. 2 The amount of this exemption shall be the equalized 3 assessed value of the residence in the taxable year for which 4 application is made minus the base amount. 5 When the applicant is a surviving spouse of an applicant 6 for a prior year for the same residence for which an 7 exemption under this Section has been granted, the base year 8 and base amount for that residence are the same as for the 9 applicant for the prior year. 10 Each year at the time the assessment books are certified 11 to the County Clerk, the Board of Review or Board of Appeals 12 shall give to the County Clerk a list of the assessed values 13 of improvements on each parcel qualifying for this exemption 14 that were added after the base year for this parcel and that 15 increased the assessed value of the property. 16 In the case of land improved with an apartment building 17 owned and operated as a cooperative or a building that is a 18 life care facility that qualifies as a cooperative, the 19 maximum reduction from the equalized assessed value of the 20 property is limited to the sum of the reductions calculated 21 for each unit occupied as a residence by a person or persons 22 65 years of age or older with a household income of $35,000 23 or less prior to taxable year 1999 or $40,000 or less in 24 taxable year 1999 and thereafter who is liable, by contract 25 with the owner or owners of record, for paying real property 26 taxes on the property and who is an owner of record of a 27 legal or equitable interest in the cooperative apartment 28 building, other than a leasehold interest. In the instance of 29 a cooperative where a homestead exemption has been granted 30 under this Section, the cooperative association or its 31 management firm shall credit the savings resulting from that 32 exemption only to the apportioned tax liability of the owner 33 who qualified for the exemption. Any person who willfully 34 refuses to credit that savings to an owner who qualifies for -17- LRB9200873SMdv 1 the exemption is guilty of a Class B misdemeanor. 2 When a homestead exemption has been granted under this 3 Section and an applicant then becomes a resident of a 4 facility licensed under the Nursing Home Care Act, the 5 exemption shall be granted in subsequent years so long as the 6 residence (i) continues to be occupied by the qualified 7 applicant's spouse or (ii) if remaining unoccupied, is still 8 owned by the qualified applicant for the homestead exemption. 9 Beginning January 1, 1997, when an individual dies who 10 would have qualified for an exemption under this Section, and 11 the surviving spouse does not independently qualify for this 12 exemption because of age, the exemption under this Section 13 shall be granted to the surviving spouse for the taxable year 14 preceding and the taxable year of the death, provided that, 15 except for age, the surviving spouse meets all other 16 qualifications for the granting of this exemption for those 17 years. 18 When married persons maintain separate residences, the 19 exemption provided for in this Section may be claimed by only 20 one of such persons and for only one residence. 21 For taxable year 1994 only, in counties having less than 22 3,000,000 inhabitants, to receive the exemption, a person 23 shall submit an application by February 15, 1995 to the Chief 24 County Assessment Officer of the county in which the property 25 is located. In counties having 3,000,000 or more 26 inhabitants, for taxable year 1994 and all subsequent taxable 27 years, to receive the exemption, a person may submit an 28 application to the Chief County Assessment Officer of the 29 county in which the property is located during such period as 30 may be specified by the Chief County Assessment Officer. The 31 Chief County Assessment Officer in counties of 3,000,000 or 32 more inhabitants shall annually give notice of the 33 application period by mail or by publication. In counties 34 having less than 3,000,000 inhabitants, beginning with -18- LRB9200873SMdv 1 taxable year 1995 and thereafter, to receive the exemption, a 2 person shall submit an application by July 1 of each taxable 3 year to the Chief County Assessment Officer of the county in 4 which the property is located. A county may, by ordinance, 5 establish a date for submission of applications that is 6 different than July 1. The applicant shall submit with the 7 application an affidavit of the applicant's total household 8 income, age, marital status (and if married the name and 9 address of the applicant's spouse, if known), and principal 10 dwelling place of members of the household on January 1 of 11 the taxable year. The Department shall establish, by rule, a 12 method for verifying the accuracy of affidavits filed by 13 applicants under this Section. The applications shall be 14 clearly marked as applications for the Senior Citizens 15 Assessment Freeze Homestead Exemption. 16 Notwithstanding any other provision to the contrary, in 17 counties having fewer than 3,000,000 inhabitants, if an 18 applicant fails to file the application required by this 19 Section in a timely manner and this failure to file is due to 20 a mental or physical condition sufficiently severe so as to 21 render the applicant incapable of filing the application in a 22 timely manner, the Chief County Assessment Officer may extend 23 the filing deadline for a period of 30 days after the 24 applicant regains the capability to file the application, but 25 in no case may the filing deadline be extended beyond 3 26 months of the original filing deadline. In order to receive 27 the extension provided in this paragraph, the applicant shall 28 provide the Chief County Assessment Officer with a signed 29 statement from the applicant's physician stating the nature 30 and extent of the condition, that, in the physician's 31 opinion, the condition was so severe that it rendered the 32 applicant incapable of filing the application in a timely 33 manner, and the date on which the applicant regained the 34 capability to file the application. -19- LRB9200873SMdv 1 Beginning January 1, 1998, notwithstanding any other 2 provision to the contrary, in counties having fewer than 3 3,000,000 inhabitants, if an applicant fails to file the 4 application required by this Section in a timely manner and 5 this failure to file is due to a mental or physical condition 6 sufficiently severe so as to render the applicant incapable 7 of filing the application in a timely manner, the Chief 8 County Assessment Officer may extend the filing deadline for 9 a period of 3 months. In order to receive the extension 10 provided in this paragraph, the applicant shall provide the 11 Chief County Assessment Officer with a signed statement from 12 the applicant's physician stating the nature and extent of 13 the condition, and that, in the physician's opinion, the 14 condition was so severe that it rendered the applicant 15 incapable of filing the application in a timely manner. 16 In counties having less than 3,000,000 inhabitants, if an 17 applicant was denied an exemption in taxable year 1994 and 18 the denial occurred due to an error on the part of an 19 assessment official, or his or her agent or employee, then 20 beginning in taxable year 1997 the applicant's base year, for 21 purposes of determining the amount of the exemption, shall be 22 1993 rather than 1994. In addition, in taxable year 1997, the 23 applicant's exemption shall also include an amount equal to 24 (i) the amount of any exemption denied to the applicant in 25 taxable year 1995 as a result of using 1994, rather than 26 1993, as the base year, (ii) the amount of any exemption 27 denied to the applicant in taxable year 1996 as a result of 28 using 1994, rather than 1993, as the base year, and (iii) the 29 amount of the exemption erroneously denied for taxable year 30 1994. 31 For purposes of this Section, a person who will be 65 32 years of age during the current taxable year shall be 33 eligible to apply for the homestead exemption during that 34 taxable year. Application shall be made during the -20- LRB9200873SMdv 1 application period in effect for the county of his or her 2 residence. 3 The Chief County Assessment Officer may determine the 4 eligibility of a life care facility that qualifies as a 5 cooperative to receive the benefits provided by this Section 6 by use of an affidavit, application, visual inspection, 7 questionnaire, or other reasonable method in order to insure 8 that the tax savings resulting from the exemption are 9 credited by the management firm to the apportioned tax 10 liability of each qualifying resident. The Chief County 11 Assessment Officer may request reasonable proof that the 12 management firm has so credited that exemption. 13 Except as provided in this Section, all information 14 received by the chief county assessment officer or the 15 Department from applications filed under this Section, or 16 from any investigation conducted under the provisions of this 17 Section, shall be confidential, except for official purposes 18 or pursuant to Section 2.5 of the Tax Collection Suit Act 19pursuant to official procedures for collection of any State20or local taxor enforcement of any civil or criminal penalty 21 or sanction imposed by this Act or by any statute or 22 ordinance imposing a State or local tax. Any person who 23 divulges any such information in any manner, except in 24 accordance with a proper judicial order, is guilty of a Class 25 A misdemeanor. 26 Nothing contained in this Section shall prevent the 27 Director or chief county assessment officer from publishing 28 or making available reasonable statistics concerning the 29 operation of the exemption contained in this Section in which 30 the contents of claims are grouped into aggregates in such a 31 way that information contained in any individual claim shall 32 not be disclosed. 33 (d) Each Chief County Assessment Officer shall annually 34 publish a notice of availability of the exemption provided -21- LRB9200873SMdv 1 under this Section. The notice shall be published at least 2 60 days but no more than 75 days prior to the date on which 3 the application must be submitted to the Chief County 4 Assessment Officer of the county in which the property is 5 located. The notice shall appear in a newspaper of general 6 circulation in the county. 7 (Source: P.A. 90-14, eff. 7-1-97; 90-204, eff. 7-25-97; 8 90-523, eff. 11-13-97; 90-524, eff. 1-1-98; 90-531, eff. 9 1-1-98; 90-655, eff. 7-30-98; 91-45, eff. 6-30-99; 91-56, 10 eff. 6-30-99; 91-819, eff. 6-13-00.) 11 Section 30. The Illinois Estate and Generation-Skipping 12 Transfer Tax Act is amended by changing Section 6 as follows: 13 (35 ILCS 405/6) (from Ch. 120, par. 405A-6) 14 Sec. 6. Returns and payments. 15 (a) Due Dates. The Illinois transfer tax shall be paid 16 and the Illinois transfer tax return shall be filed on the 17 due date or dates, respectively, including extensions, for 18 paying the related federal transfer tax and filing the 19 related federal return. 20 (b) Installment payments and deferral. In the event 21 that any portion of the federal transfer tax is deferred or 22 to be paid in installments under the provisions of the 23 Internal Revenue Code, the portion of the Illinois transfer 24 tax which is subject to deferral or payable in installments 25 shall be determined by multiplying the Illinois transfer tax 26 by a fraction, the numerator of which is the gross value of 27 the assets included in the transferred property having a tax 28 situs in this State and which give rise to the deferred or 29 installment payment under the Internal Revenue Code, and the 30 denominator of which is the gross value of all assets 31 included in the transferred property having a tax situs in 32 this State. Deferred payments and installment payments, with -22- LRB9200873SMdv 1 interest, shall be paid at the same time and in the same 2 manner as payments of the federal transfer tax are required 3 to be made under the applicable Sections of the Internal 4 Revenue Code, provided that the rate of interest on unpaid 5 amounts of Illinois transfer tax shall be determined under 6 this Act. Acceleration of payment under this Section shall 7 occur under the same circumstances and in the same manner as 8 provided in the Internal Revenue Code. 9 (c) Who shall file and pay. The Illinois transfer tax 10 return (including any supplemental or amended return) shall 11 be filed, and the Illinois transfer tax (including any 12 additional tax that may become due) shall be paid by the same 13 person or persons, respectively, who are required to pay the 14 related federal transfer tax and file the related federal 15 return. 16 (d) Where to file return. The executed Illinois 17 transfer tax return shall be filed with the Attorney General. 18 In addition, a copy of the Illinois transfer tax return shall 19 be filed with the county treasurer to whom the Illinois 20 transfer tax is paid, determined under subsection (e) of this 21 Section. 22 (e) Where to pay tax. The Illinois transfer tax shall 23 be paid to the treasurer of the county determined under the 24 following rules: 25 (1) Illinois Estate Tax. The Illinois estate tax 26 shall be paid to the treasurer of the county in which the 27 decedent was a resident on the date of the decedent's 28 death or, if the decedent was not a resident of this 29 State on the date of death, the county in which the 30 greater part, by gross value, of the transferred property 31 with a tax situs in this State is located. 32 (2) Illinois Generation-Skipping Transfer Tax. The 33 Illinois generation-skipping transfer tax involving 34 transferred property from or in a resident trust shall be -23- LRB9200873SMdv 1 paid to the county treasurer for the county in which the 2 grantor resided at the time the trust became irrevocable 3 (in the case of an inter vivos trust) or the county in 4 which the decedent resided at death (in the case of a 5 trust created by the will of a decedent). In the case of 6 an Illinois generation-skipping transfer tax involving 7 transferred property from or in a non-resident trust, the 8 Illinois generation-skipping transfer tax shall be paid 9 to the county treasurer for the county in which the 10 greater part, by gross value, of the transferred property 11 with a tax situs in this State is located. 12 (f) Forms; confidentiality. The Illinois transfer tax 13 return shall be in all respects in the manner and form 14 prescribed by the regulations of the Attorney General. At 15 the same time the Illinois transfer tax return is filed, the 16 person required to file shall also file with the Attorney 17 General a copy of the related federal return. The Illinois 18 transfer tax return and the copy of the federal return filed 19 with the Attorney General or any county treasurer shall be 20 confidential, and the Attorney General, each county treasurer 21 and all of their assistants or employees are prohibited from 22 divulging in any manner any of the contents of those returns, 23 except only in a proceeding instituted under the provisions 24 of this Act or pursuant to Section 2.5 of the Tax Collection 25 Suit Act. 26 (g) County Treasurer shall accept payment. No county 27 treasurer shall refuse to accept payment of any amount due 28 under this Act on the grounds that the county treasurer has 29 not yet received a copy of the appropriate Illinois transfer 30 tax return. 31 (Source: P.A. 86-737.) 32 Section 35. The Messages Tax Act is amended by changing 33 Section 11 as follows: -24- LRB9200873SMdv 1 (35 ILCS 610/11) (from Ch. 120, par. 467.11) 2 Sec. 11. All information received by the Department from 3 returns filed under this Act, or from any investigations 4 conducted under this Act, shall be confidential, except for 5 official purposes or pursuant to Section 2.5 of the Tax 6 Collection Suit Act, and any person who divulges any such 7 information in any manner, except in accordance with a proper 8 judicial order or as otherwise provided by law, shall be 9 guilty of a Class B misdemeanor. 10 Provided, that nothing contained in this Act shall 11 prevent the Director from publishing or making available to 12 the public the names and addresses of taxpayers filing 13 returns under this Act, or from publishing or making 14 available reasonable statistics concerning the operation of 15 the tax wherein the contents of returns are grouped into 16 aggregates in such a way that the information contained in 17 any individual return shall not be disclosed. 18 And provided, that nothing contained in this Act shall 19 prevent the Director from making available to the United 20 States Government or any officer or agency thereof, for 21 exclusively official purposes, information received by the 22 Department in the administration of this Act. 23 The furnishing upon request of the Auditor General, or 24 his authorized agents, for official use, of returns filed and 25 information related thereto under this Act is deemed to be an 26 official purpose within the meaning of this Section. 27 The Director may make available to any State agency, 28 including the Illinois Supreme Court, which licenses persons 29 to engage in any occupation, information that a person 30 licensed by such agency has failed to file returns under this 31 Act or pay the tax, penalty and interest shown therein, or 32 has failed to pay any final assessment of tax, penalty or 33 interest due under this Act. An assessment is final when all 34 proceedings in court for review of such assessment have -25- LRB9200873SMdv 1 terminated or the time for the taking thereof has expired 2 without such proceedings being instituted. 3 The Director shall make available for public inspection 4 in the Department's principal office and for publication, at 5 cost, administrative decisions issued on or after January 1, 6 1995. These decisions are to be made available in a manner so 7 that the following taxpayer information is not disclosed: 8 (1) The names, addresses, and identification 9 numbers of the taxpayer, related entities, and employees. 10 (2) At the sole discretion of the Director, trade 11 secrets or other confidential information identified as 12 such by the taxpayer, no later than 30 days after receipt 13 of an administrative decision, by such means as the 14 Department shall provide by rule. 15 The Director shall determine the appropriate extent of 16 the deletions allowed in paragraph (2). In the event the 17 taxpayer does not submit deletions, the Director shall make 18 only the deletions specified in paragraph (1). 19 The Director shall make available for public inspection 20 and publication an administrative decision within 180 days 21 after the issuance of the administrative decision. The term 22 "administrative decision" has the same meaning as defined in 23 Section 3-101 of Article III of the Code of Civil Procedure. 24 Costs collected under this Section shall be paid into the Tax 25 Compliance and Administration Fund. 26 Nothing contained in this Act shall prevent the Director 27 from divulging information to any person pursuant to a 28 request or authorization made by the taxpayer or by an 29 authorized representative of the taxpayer. 30 (Source: P.A. 90-491, eff. 1-1-98.) 31 Section 40. The Gas Revenue Tax Act is amended by 32 changing Section 11 as follows: -26- LRB9200873SMdv 1 (35 ILCS 615/11) (from Ch. 120, par. 467.26) 2 Sec. 11. All information received by the Department from 3 returns filed under this Act, or from any investigations 4 conducted under this Act, shall be confidential, except for 5 official purposes or pursuant to Section 2.5 of the Tax 6 Collection Suit Act, and any person who divulges any such 7 information in any manner, except in accordance with a proper 8 judicial order or as otherwise provided by law, shall be 9 guilty of a Class B misdemeanor. 10 Provided, that nothing contained in this Act shall 11 prevent the Director from publishing or making available to 12 the public the names and addresses of taxpayers filing 13 returns under this Act, or from publishing or making 14 available reasonable statistics concerning the operation of 15 the tax wherein the contents of returns are grouped into 16 aggregates in such a way that the information contained in 17 any individual return shall not be disclosed. 18 And provided, that nothing contained in this Act shall 19 prevent the Director from making available to the United 20 States Government or any officer or agency thereof, for 21 exclusively official purposes, information received by the 22 Department in the administration of this Act. 23 The furnishing upon request of the Auditor General, or 24 his authorized agents, for official use, of returns filed and 25 information related thereto under this Act is deemed to be an 26 official purpose within the meaning of this Section. 27 The Director may make available to any State agency, 28 including the Illinois Supreme Court, which licenses persons 29 to engage in any occupation, information that a person 30 licensed by such agency has failed to file returns under this 31 Act or pay the tax, penalty and interest shown therein, or 32 has failed to pay any final assessment of tax, penalty or 33 interest due under this Act. An assessment is final when all 34 proceedings in court for review of such assessment have -27- LRB9200873SMdv 1 terminated or the time for the taking thereof has expired 2 without such proceedings being instituted. 3 The Director shall make available for public inspection 4 in the Department's principal office and for publication, at 5 cost, administrative decisions issued on or after January 1, 6 1995. These decisions are to be made available in a manner so 7 that the following taxpayer information is not disclosed: 8 (1) The names, addresses, and identification 9 numbers of the taxpayer, related entities, and employees. 10 (2) At the sole discretion of the Director, trade 11 secrets or other confidential information identified as 12 such by the taxpayer, no later than 30 days after receipt 13 of an administrative decision, by such means as the 14 Department shall provide by rule. 15 The Director shall determine the appropriate extent of 16 the deletions allowed in paragraph (2). In the event the 17 taxpayer does not submit deletions, the Director shall make 18 only the deletions specified in paragraph (1). 19 The Director shall make available for public inspection 20 and publication an administrative decision within 180 days 21 after the issuance of the administrative decision. The term 22 "administrative decision" has the same meaning as defined in 23 Section 3-101 of Article III of the Code of Civil Procedure. 24 Costs collected under this Section shall be paid into the Tax 25 Compliance and Administration Fund. 26 Nothing contained in this Act shall prevent the Director 27 from divulging information to any person pursuant to a 28 request or authorization made by the taxpayer or by an 29 authorized representative of the taxpayer. 30 (Source: P.A. 90-491, eff. 1-1-98.) 31 Section 45. The Public Utilities Revenue Act is amended 32 by changing Section 11 as follows: -28- LRB9200873SMdv 1 (35 ILCS 620/11) (from Ch. 120, par. 478) 2 Sec. 11. All information received by the Department from 3 returns filed under this Act, or from any investigations 4 conducted under this Act, shall be confidential, except for 5 official purposes or pursuant to Section 2.5 of the Tax 6 Collection Suit Act, and any person who divulges any such 7 information in any manner, except in accordance with a proper 8 judicial order or as otherwise provided by law, shall be 9 guilty of a Class B misdemeanor. 10 Provided, that nothing contained in this Act shall 11 prevent the Director from publishing or making available to 12 the public the names and addresses of taxpayers filing 13 returns under this Act, or from publishing or making 14 available reasonable statistics concerning the operation of 15 the tax wherein the contents of returns are grouped into 16 aggregates in such a way that the information contained in 17 any individual return shall not be disclosed. 18 And provided, that nothing contained in this Act shall 19 prevent the Director from making available to the United 20 States Government or any officer or agency thereof, for 21 exclusively official purposes, information received by the 22 Department in the administration of this Act. 23 The furnishing upon request of the Auditor General, or 24 his authorized agents, for official use, of returns filed and 25 information related thereto under this Act is deemed to be an 26 official purpose within the meaning of this Section. 27 The Director may make available to any State agency, 28 including the Illinois Supreme Court, which licenses persons 29 to engage in any occupation, information that a person 30 licensed by such agency has failed to file returns under this 31 Act or pay the tax, penalty and interest shown therein, or 32 has failed to pay any final assessment of tax, penalty or 33 interest due under this Act. An assessment is final when all 34 proceedings in court for review of such assessment have -29- LRB9200873SMdv 1 terminated or the time for the taking thereof has expired 2 without such proceedings being instituted. 3 The Director shall make available for public inspection 4 in the Department's principal office and for publication, at 5 cost, administrative decisions issued on or after January 1, 6 1995. These decisions are to be made available in a manner so 7 that the following taxpayer information is not disclosed: 8 (1) The names, addresses, and identification 9 numbers of the taxpayer, related entities, and employees. 10 (2) At the sole discretion of the Director, trade 11 secrets or other confidential information identified as 12 such by the taxpayer, no later than 30 days after receipt 13 of an administrative decision, by such means as the 14 Department shall provide by rule. 15 The Director shall determine the appropriate extent of 16 the deletions allowed in paragraph (2). In the event the 17 taxpayer does not submit deletions, the Director shall make 18 only the deletions specified in paragraph (1). 19 The Director shall make available for public inspection 20 and publication an administrative decision within 180 days 21 after the issuance of the administrative decision. The term 22 "administrative decision" has the same meaning as defined in 23 Section 3-101 of Article III of the Code of Civil Procedure. 24 Costs collected under this Section shall be paid into the Tax 25 Compliance and Administration Fund. 26 Nothing contained in this Act shall prevent the Director 27 from divulging information to any person pursuant to a 28 request or authorization made by the taxpayer or by an 29 authorized representative of the taxpayer. 30 (Source: P.A. 90-491, eff. 1-1-98.) 31 Section 50. The Water Company Invested Capital Tax Act 32 is amended by changing Section 11 as follows: -30- LRB9200873SMdv 1 (35 ILCS 625/11) (from Ch. 120, par. 1421) 2 Sec. 11. All information received by the Department from 3 returns filed under this Act, or from any investigations 4 conducted under this Act, shall be confidential, except for 5 official purposes or pursuant to Section 2.5 of the Tax 6 Collection Suit Act, and any person who divulges any such 7 information in any manner, except in accordance with a proper 8 judicial order or as otherwise provided by law, shall be 9 guilty of a Class B misdemeanor. 10 Nothing contained in this Act shall prevent the Director 11 from publishing or making available to the public the names 12 and addresses of taxpayers filing returns under this Act, or 13 from publishing or making available reasonable statistics 14 concerning the operation of the tax wherein the contents of 15 returns are grouped into aggregates in such a way that the 16 information contained in any individual return shall not be 17 disclosed. 18 Nothing contained in this Act shall prevent the Director 19 from making available to the United States Government or any 20 officer or agency thereof, for exclusively official purposes, 21 information received by the Department in the administration 22 of this Act. 23 The furnishing upon request of the Auditor General, or 24 his authorized agents, for official use, of returns filed and 25 information related thereto under this Act is deemed to be an 26 official purpose within the meaning of this Section. 27 The Director may make available to any State agency, 28 including the Illinois Supreme Court, which licenses persons 29 to engage in any occupation, information that a person 30 licensed by such agency has failed to file returns under this 31 Act or pay the tax, penalty and interest shown therein, or 32 has failed to pay any final assessment of tax, penalty or 33 interest due under this Act. An assessment is final when all 34 proceedings in court for review of such assessment have -31- LRB9200873SMdv 1 terminated or the time for the taking thereof has expired 2 without such proceedings being instituted. 3 Nothing contained in this Act shall prevent the Director 4 from divulging information to any person pursuant to a 5 request or authorization made by the taxpayer or by an 6 authorized representative of the taxpayer. 7 (Source: P.A. 90-491, eff. 1-1-98.) 8 Section 55. The Telecommunications Excise Tax Act is 9 amended by changing Section 15 as follows: 10 (35 ILCS 630/15) (from Ch. 120, par. 2015) 11 Sec. 15. Confidential information. All information 12 received by the Department from returns filed under this 13 Article, or from any investigations conducted under this 14 Article, shall be confidential, except for official purposes 15 or pursuant to Section 2.5 of the Tax Collection Suit Act, 16 and any person who divulges any such information in any 17 manner, except in accordance with a proper judicial order or 18 as otherwise provided by law, shall be guilty of a Class B 19 misdemeanor. 20 Provided, that nothing contained in this Article shall 21 prevent the Director from publishing or making available to 22 the public the names and addresses of retailers or taxpayers 23 filing returns under this Article, or from publishing or 24 making available reasonable statistics concerning the 25 operation of the tax wherein the contents of returns are 26 grouped into aggregates in such a way that the information 27 contained in any individual return shall not be disclosed. 28 And provided, that nothing contained in this Article 29 shall prevent the Director from making available to the 30 United States Government or the government of any other 31 state, or any officer or agency thereof, for exclusively 32 official purposes, information received by the Department in -32- LRB9200873SMdv 1 the administration of this Article, if such other 2 governmental agency agrees to divulge requested tax 3 information to the Department. 4 The furnishing upon request of the Auditor General, or 5 his authorized agents, for official use, of returns filed and 6 information related thereto under this Article is deemed to 7 be an official purpose within the meaning of this Section. 8 The Director shall make available for public inspection 9 in the Department's principal office and for publication, at 10 cost, administrative decisions issued on or after January 1, 11 1995. These decisions are to be made available in a manner so 12 that the following taxpayer information is not disclosed: 13 (1) The names, addresses, and identification 14 numbers of the taxpayer, related entities, and employees. 15 (2) At the sole discretion of the Director, trade 16 secrets or other confidential information identified as 17 such by the taxpayer, no later than 30 days after receipt 18 of an administrative decision, by such means as the 19 Department shall provide by rule. 20 The Director shall determine the appropriate extent of 21 the deletions allowed in paragraph (2). In the event the 22 taxpayer does not submit deletions, the Director shall make 23 only the deletions specified in paragraph (1). 24 The Director shall make available for public inspection 25 and publication an administrative decision within 180 days 26 after the issuance of the administrative decision. The term 27 "administrative decision" has the same meaning as defined in 28 Section 3-101 of Article III of the Code of Civil Procedure. 29 Costs collected under this Section shall be paid into the Tax 30 Compliance and Administration Fund. 31 Nothing contained in this Act shall prevent the Director 32 from divulging information to any person pursuant to a 33 request or authorization made by the taxpayer or by an 34 authorized representative of the taxpayer. -33- LRB9200873SMdv 1 (Source: P.A. 90-491, eff. 1-1-98.) 2 Section 57. The Telecommunications Municipal 3 Infrastructure Maintenance Fee Act is amended by changing 4 Section 27.25 as follows: 5 (35 ILCS 635/27.25) 6 Sec. 27.25. Confidential information; exceptions. All 7 information received by the Department from returns filed 8 under this Act, or from any investigations conducted under 9 this Act, shall be confidential, except for official purposes 10 or pursuant to Sectin 2.5 of the Tax Collection Suit Act, and 11 any person who divulges any such information in any manner, 12 except in accordance with a proper judicial order or as 13 otherwise provided by law, shall be guilty of a Class B 14 misdemeanor. 15 Provided, that nothing contained in this Act shall 16 prevent the Director from publishing or making available to 17 the public the names and addresses of telecommunications 18 retailers filing returns under this Act, or from publishing 19 or making available reasonable statistics concerning the 20 operation of the fees wherein the contents of returns are 21 grouped into aggregates in such a way that the information 22 contained in any individual return shall not be disclosed. 23 And provided, that nothing contained in this Act shall 24 prevent the Director from making available to the United 25 States Government or any officer or agency thereof, for 26 exclusively official purposes, information received by the 27 Department in the administration of this Act. 28 The furnishing upon request of the Auditor General, or 29 his or her authorized agents, for official use, of returns 30 filed and information related thereto under this Act is 31 deemed to be an official purpose within the meaning of this 32 Section. -34- LRB9200873SMdv 1 The Director may make available to any State agency, 2 including the Illinois Supreme Court, which licenses persons 3 to engage in any occupation, information that a person 4 licensed by such agency has failed to file returns under this 5 Act or pay the fees, penalty, and interest shown therein, or 6 has failed to pay any final assessment of fees, penalty, or 7 interest due under this Act. An assessment is final when all 8 proceedings in court for review of such assessment have 9 terminated or the time for the taking thereof has expired 10 without such proceedings being instituted. 11 The Director shall make available for public inspection 12 in the Department's principal office and for publication, at 13 cost, administrative decisions issued on or after January 1, 14 1998. These decisions are to be made available in a manner 15 so that the following taxpayer information is not disclosed: 16 (1) The names, addresses, and identification 17 numbers of the taxpayer, related entities, and employees. 18 (2) At the sole discretion of the Director, trade 19 secrets or other confidential information identified as 20 such by the taxpayer, no later than 30 days after receipt 21 of an administrative decision, by such means as the 22 Department shall provide by rule. 23 The Director shall determine the appropriate extent of 24 the deletions allowed in paragraph (2). In the event the 25 taxpayer does not submit deletions, the Director shall make 26 only the deletions specified in paragraph (1). 27 The Director shall make available for public inspection 28 and publication an administrative decision within 180 days 29 after the issuance of the administrative decision. The term 30 "administrative decision" has the same meaning as defined in 31 Section 3-101 of Article III of the Code of Civil Procedure. 32 Costs collected under this Section shall be paid into the Tax 33 Compliance and Administration Fund. 34 (Source: P.A. 90-562, eff. 12-16-97.) -35- LRB9200873SMdv 1 Section 60. The Tax Collection Suit Act is amended by 2 adding Section 2.5 as follows: 3 (35 ILCS 705/2.5 new) 4 Sec. 2.5. Collection efforts of the Department. In 5 addition to any methods to collect delinquent taxes that are 6 authorized by the Illinois Income Tax Act, the Department may 7 contract with private collection entities, make public any 8 personal information gathered by the Department, or implement 9 other methods of collection deemed necessary by the 10 Department. 11 Before personal information is made public, the 12 Department shall give a 30-day written notice to the 13 delinquent party. If the delinquent party pays the 14 delinquency or makes arrangements with the Department to pay 15 the delinquency, then the Department shall keep the personal 16 information confidential. 17 Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect 18 January 1, 2002.