§ 3260 - Bulk sales - Vermont Statutes

§ 3260. Bulk sales

(a) Whenever a person (transferor) required to collect or withhold a trust tax pursuant to chapters 151, 225 or 233 of this title shall make any sale, transfer, long-term lease or assignment (transfer) in bulk of any part or the whole of the assets of a business, otherwise than in the ordinary course of the business, the purchaser, transferee or assignee (transferee), shall, at least ten days before taking possession of the subject of the transfer or before payment therefore if earlier, notify the commissioner in writing of the proposed sale and of the price, terms and conditions thereof whether or not the transferor has represented to, or informed the transferee that the transferor owes any trust tax pursuant to chapters 151, 225 or 233 and whether or not the transferee has knowledge that such taxes are owed, and whether any taxes are in fact owed.

(b) Whenever the transferee shall fail to give notice to the commissioner as required by subsection (a) of this section, or whenever the commissioner shall inform the transferee that a possible claim for tax exists, any sums of money, property or choses in action, or other consideration, which the transferee is required to transfer over to or for the transferor shall be subject to a first priority right and lien for any taxes theretofore or thereafter determined to be due from the transferor to the state, and the transferee is forbidden to transfer the consideration to or for the transferor to the extent of the amount of the state's claim.

(c) For failure to comply with this section, the transferee shall be personally liable for the payment to the state of any taxes theretofore or thereafter determined to be due to the state from the transferor and the liability may be assessed and enforced in the same manner as the liability for tax under chapters 151, 225 or 233. (Added 1991, No. 186 (Adj. Sess.), § 9; amended 2003, No. 70 (Adj. Sess.), § 34, eff. March 1, 2004.)