Sec. 12-439. Payment of tax. Penalties for nonpayment. - Connecticut Statutes

      Sec. 12-439. Payment of tax. Penalties for nonpayment. (a) The tax imposed by this chapter shall be due and payable on the last day on which a return may be filed without penalty under sections 12-437 and 12-438. Upon the filing of such return, the taxpayer shall forward to the commissioner the amount shown by such return to be due the state. If any person fails to pay such amount within the time required, there shall be imposed a penalty equal to ten per cent of such amount of tax due and unpaid or fifty dollars, whichever is greater. The tax shall bear interest at the rate of one per cent per month or fraction thereof, from the due date of such tax to the date of payment. If no return has been filed within three months after the time specified under the provisions of this chapter, the commissioner may make such return at any time thereafter, according to the best information obtainable and form prescribed. There shall be added to the tax imposed upon the basis of such return, an amount equal to ten per cent of such tax, or fifty dollars, whichever is greater. The tax shall bear interest at the rate of one per cent per month or fraction thereof from the due date of such tax to the date of payment. Subject to the provisions of section 12-3a, the commissioner may waive all or part of the penalties provided under this chapter when it is proven to his satisfaction that the failure to pay any tax was due to reasonable cause and was not intentional or due to neglect.

      (b) Payment of any tax hereunder may be made by bank draft, check or money order, or in such other form or manner as suits the convenience of the taxpayer, provided no payment shall operate to discharge any taxpayer from liability for any tax imposed by this chapter except to the extent to which such payment is made in lawful money of the United States or in a form that in regular course of business can be converted thereinto. In the case of any invalid payment, every recourse of the state for the collection of the amount of such tax, as herein authorized, shall continue to be available, and further penalties shall accrue as though such invalid payment had not been made, and the commissioner may thereafter determine the manner of making subsequent payments by the taxpayer concerned. The commissioner shall issue his receipt to any taxpayer for any payment upon request. He shall deposit daily all receipts with the State Treasurer. Such deposit shall operate as a full discharge of the commissioner of all liability therefor.

      (1949 Rev., S. 4329; 1953, S. 2183d; 1969, P.A. 388, S. 14; P.A. 76-322, S. 15, 27; P.A. 80-307, S. 23, 31; P.A. 81-64, S. 12, 23; 81-411, S. 31, 42; P.A. 88-314, S. 30, 54; May Sp. Sess. P.A. 94-4, S. 58, 85; P.A. 95-160, S. 64, 69.)

      History: 1969 act amended Subsec. (a) to increase interest rate from 0.6% to 0.75%; P.A. 76-322 increased interest rate to 1%; P.A. 80-307 temporarily increased interest rate to 1.25% for taxes due on or after July 1, 1980, but not later than June 30, 1981; P.A. 81-64 amended Subsec. (a) to include penalty of 10% of the tax due or $50, whichever is greater, where previously 2% penalty was levied, to delete provision which had limited penalty to $50 or less for taxpayers delinquent for five days or less and to include the waiver of penalty provisions applicable to other state taxes; P.A. 81-411 continued interest on taxes not paid when due under Subsec. (a) at 1.25% per month, effective July 1, 1981, and applicable to taxes becoming due on or after that date; P.A. 88-314 amended Subsec. (a) by making a technical restatement of the penalty provision, including the rate of interest applicable, for failure to pay the tax within the time required, effective July 1, 1988, and applicable to any tax which first becomes due and payable on or after said date, to any return or report due on or after said date, or in the case of any ongoing obligation imposed in accordance with said act, to the tax period next beginning on or after said date; May Sp. Sess. P.A. 94-4 in Subsec. (a) reduced interest rate from 1.25% to 1%, provided that such interest may only be applied on the tax rather than on the tax and any penalty and provided for the commissioner to make a return for a taxpayer who fails to file a return within three months after the specified due date, effective July 1, 1995, and applicable to taxes due and owing on or after said date; P.A. 95-160 revised effective date of May Sp. Sess. P.A. 94-4 but without affecting this section.

      See Sec. 4-32 re state revenue accounting procedure.

      See note to Sec. 12-433.