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O-64-98 08/10/98VILLAGE OF LEMONT ORDINANCE NO. ORDINANCE REVISING THE MUNICIPAL UTILITY TAX ORDINANCE IN ORDER TO CONVERT THE COLLECTION OF THE ELECTRIC PORTION OF THE TAX FROM A GROSS RECEIPTS METHOD TO A KILOWATT -HOUR METHOD ADOPTED BY THE PRESIDENT AND BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE VILLAGE OF LEMONT This Published in pamphlet form by authority of the President and Board of Trustees of the Village of Lemont, Counties of Cook, Will, and DuPage llinois this /D day o , 1998 day of , 1998. ORDINANCE d „Ito ti_ 9k ORDINANCE REVISING THE MUNICIPAL UTILITY TAX ORDINANCE IN ORDER TO CONVERT THE COLLECTION OF THE ELECTRIC PORTION OF THE TAX FROM A GROSS RECEIPTS METHOD TO A KILOWATT -HOUR METHOD WHEREAS, the State Legislature has approved legislation requiring electrical deregulation within the State of Illinois; and WHEREAS, the legislation has made provisions to allow municipalities to retain their current municipal utility tax receipts despite the reduction in rates; and WHEREAS, the means of accomplishing revenue neutrality is through the adoption of an ordinance which eliminates the gross receipts basis of calculating the tax, and implementing a kilowatt -hour basis. NOW THEREFORE BE IT ORDAINED by the President and Board of Trustees that: SECTION 1. Section 5.90 of the Lemont Municipal Code is amended by adding the following language: 5.90 B (4) Gross receipts tax. The tax imposed under this Section shall not apply with respect to gross receipts pertaining to bills for the distribution, supply, furnishing or sale of electricity where the use or consumption of the electricity is subject to the tax imposed under Section 5.90 B (3). 5.90 B (5) Overpayment of tax and credit. If a taxpayer under this chapter is unable to use a credit authorized by this section solely because the tax imposed by this chapter has been replaced by the tax imposed under the proportional method of calculating the kilowatt hour -tax, then the taxpayer may apply such credit against any tax due under the proportional method of calculating the kilowatt -hour tax. SECTION 2. Section 5.90 of the Lemont Municipal Code is hereby amended by adding a new Section 5.90.1 as follows: 5.90.1 Electrical Utility Taxes. A. Definitions. As used in this chapter, unless the context other requires: "Village" means the Village of Lemont. "Person" means any natural, individual, firm, trust, estate, partnership, association, joint stock company, joint adventure, corporation, limited liability company, municipal corporation, the State or any of its political subdivisions, any State university created by statute, or a receiver, trustee, conservator or other representative appointed by order of any court; "Person maintaining a place of business in this State" means any person having or maintaining within this State, directly or by a subsidiary or other affiliate, an office, generation, facility, distribution facility, transmission facility, sales office or other place of business, or any employee, agent, or other representative operating within this State under the authority of the person or its subsidiary or other affiliate, irrespective of whether such place of business or agent or other representative is located in this State permanently or of whether such place of business or agent or other representative is located in this State permanently or temporarily, or whether such person, subsidiary or other affiliate is licensed or qualified to do business in this State. "Purchase at retail" means any acquisition of electricity by a purchaser for purposes of use or consumption, and not for resale, but shall not include the use of electricity by a public utility, as defined in Section 8 -11 -2 of the Illinois Municipal Code (65 ILCS 5/8- 11/2), directly in the generation, production, transmission, delivery or sale of electricity. "Purchaser" means any person who uses or consumes, within the corporate limits of the Village, electricity acquired in a purchase at retail, other than an Exempt Purchaser. "Exempt Purchaser" means units of local government located within the corporate boundaries of the Village of Lemont. B. Tax imposed. 1. Pursuant to Section 8 -11 -2 of the Illinois Municipal Code (65 -ILCS 5/8- 11-2) and any and all other applicable authority, a tax is imposed upon the privilege of using or consuming electricity acquired in a purchase at retail and used or consumed within the corporate limits of the Village at the following rates, calculated on a monthly basis for each purchaser: (I) For the first 2,000 kilowatt-hours used or consumed in a month; 0.554 cents per kilowatt -hour. (ii) For the next 48,000 kilowatt-hours used or consumed in a month; 0.363 cents per kilowatt -hour. (iii) For the next 50,000 kilowatt-hours used or consumed in a month; 0.327 cents per kilowatt -hour. (iv) For the next 400,000 kilowatt-hours used or consumed in a month; 0.318 cents per kilowatt -hour. (v) for the next 500,000 kilowatt-hours used or consumed in a month; 0.309 cents per kilowatt-hour. (vi) For the next 2,000,000 kilowatt-hours used or consumed in a month; 0.290 cents per kilowatt-hour. (vii) For the next 2,000,000 kilowatt-hours used or consumed in a month; 0.286 cents per kilowatt -hour. (viii) For the next 5,000,000 kilowatt -hours used or consumed in a month; 0.281 cents per kilowatt -hour. (ix) For the next 10,000,000 kilowatt -hours used or consumed in a month; 0.277 cents per kilowatt -hour. (x) For all electricity used or consumed in excess of 20,000,000 kilowatt -hours in a month; 0.272 cents per kilowatt-hour. 2. The tax is in addition to all taxes, fees and other revenue measures imposed by the Village, the State of Illinois or any other political subdivision of the State. 3. Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, the tax shall not be imposed if and to the extent that imposition or collection of the tax would violate the Constitution or statutes of the United States or the Constitution of the State of Illinois. 4. The tax shall be imposed with respect to the use or consumption of electricity by residential customers beginning with the first bill issued on or after September 1, 1998; and with respect to the use or consumption of electricity by nonresidential customers beginning with the first bill issued to such customers for delivery services in accordance with Section 16 -104, of the Public Utilities Act (220 ILCS 5/16 -104), or the first bill issued to such customers on or after January 1, 2001, whichever issuance occurs sooner. C. Collection of tax. 1. Subject to the provisions regarding the delivery of electricity to resellers, the tax imposed under this chapter shall be collected from purchasers by the person maintaining a place of business in this State who delivers electricity to such purchasers. This tax shall constitute a debt of the purchaser to the person who delivers the electricity to the purchaser and is recoverable at the same time and in the same manner as the original charge for delivering the electricity. 2. Any tax required to be collected by this chapter, and any tax in fact collected, shall constitute a debt owed to the Village by the person delivering the electricity, provided, that the person delivering electricity shall be allowed credit for such tax related to deliveries of electricity the charges for which are written off as uncollectible, and provided further, that if such charges are thereafter collected, the delivering supplier shall be obligated to remit such tax. 3. Persons delivering electricity shall collect the tax from the purchaser by adding such tax to the gross charge for delivering the electricity. Persons delivering electricity shall also be authorized to add to such gross charge an amount of the tax they collect to reimburse them for their expenses incurred in keeping records, billing customers, preparing and filing returns, remitting the tax and supplying data to the Village upon request. For purposes of this chapter, any partial payment of a billed amount not specifically identified by the purchaser shall be deemed to be for the delivery of electricity. D. Tax remittance and return. 1. Every tax collector shall on a monthly basis file a return in a form prescribed by the Village. The return and accompanying remittance shall be due on or before the last day of the month following the month during which the tax is collected or is required to be collected under Section 5.90. 2. If the person delivering electricity fails to collect the tax from the purchaser or is excused from collecting the tax under Section 5.90.1 E 5 (2), then the purchaser shall file a return in a form prescribed by the Village and pay the tax directly to the Village on or before the last day of the month following the month during which the electricity is used or consumed. E. Resales. 1. Electricity that is delivered to a person in this Village shall be considered to be for use and consumption by that person unless the person receiving the electricity has an active resale number issued by the State of Illinois and furnishes that number to the person who delivers the electricity, and certifies to that person that the sale is either entirely or partially nontaxable as a sale for resale. 2. If a person who receives electricity in the Village claims to be an authorized reseller of electricity, that person shall apply to the State of Illinois for a resale number. The applicant shall state facts showing why it is not liable for the tax imposed by this chapter on any purchases of electricity and shall burnish such additional information as the State of Illinois may reasonably require. 3. Upon approval of the application, the State of Illinois shall assign a resale number to the applicant and shall certify the number to the applicant. 4. The State of Illinois may cancel the resale number of any person if the person fails to pay any tax payable under this chapter for electricity used or consumed by the person, or if the number: (1) was obtained through misrepresentation, or (2) is no longer necessary because the person has discontinued making resales. 5. (1) If a reseller has acquired electricity partly for use or consumption and partly for resale, the reseller shall pay the tax imposed by this chapter directly to the Village pursuant to Section 5.90.1 C (2) on the amount of electricity that the reseller uses or consumes, and shall collect the tax and remit the tax pursuant to Section 5.90.1 C (1) on the amount of electricity delivered by the reseller to a purchaser. (2) Any person who delivers electricity to a reseller having an active resale number and complying with all other conditions of this section shall be excused from collecting and remitting the tax on any portion of the electricity delivered to the reseller, provided that the person reports to the Village the total amount of electricity delivered to the reseller, and such other information that the Village may reasonably require. F. Books and records. Every tax collector, and every taxpayer required to pay the tax imposed by this ordinance, shall keep accurate books and records of its business or activity, including contemporaneous books and records denoting the transactions that gave rise, or may have given rise, to any tax liability under this chapter. The books and records shall be subject to and available for inspection at all times during business hours of the day. G. Credits and refunds. Notwithstanding any other provision, in order to permit sound fiscal planning and budgeting by the Village, no person shall be entitled to a refund of, or credit for, a tax imposed under this chapter unless the person files a claim for refund or credit within three years after the date on which the tax was paid or remitted. SECTION 3. Nothing in this Ordinance shall be construed as limiting any additional or further remedies that the Village may have for enforcement of this Ordinance. SECTION 4. If any section, subsection, sentence, clause, phrase or portion of this Ordinance is for any reason held invalid or unconstitutional by any court of competent jurisdiction, such portion shall be deemed a separate, distinct, and independent provision and such holding shall not affect the validity of the remaining provisions hereof. SECTION 5. This Ordinance supersedes all Ordinances or parts thereof adopted prior hereto which are in conflict herewith, to the extent of such conflict. SECTION 6. This Ordinance shall take effect on all electric bills issued on or after September 1, 1998. PASSED AND APPROVED BY THE PRESIDENT AND BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE VILLAGE 99� LEMONY C21UNTIES OF COOK, WILL AND DU PAGE, ILLINOIS, on this ,�1� day of , 1998. Barbara Buschman Keith Latz Connie Markiewicz Rick Rimbo Ralph Schobert Mary Studebaker Approved by me this A) day of Attest: AYES NAYS PASSED ABSENT vf V V V CHARLENE SMOLLEN, Village Clerk , 1998 RALPH A. SCIIOBERT, Mayor Pro -Tem CHARLENE SMOLLEN, Village Clerk • • • Chapter 3.28 MUNICIPAL UTILITIES TAX Sections: 3.28.010 3.28.020 3.28.030 3.28.040 3.28.050 3.28.060 3.28.070 3.28.080 3.28.090 Definitions. Tax imposed. Interstate commerce. Tax in addition to other payments. Reports by taxpayer. Erroneous payment. Recovery limited. Violation — Penalty. Electrical utility taxes. 3.28.010 Definitions. For the purpose of the taxes in this chapter the following shall apply: "Gross receipts" means the consideration re- ceived for the transmission of messages, the consideration received for distributing, supply- ing, furnishing or selling gas for use or con- sumption and not for resale, and the considera- tion received for distributing, supplying, fur- nishing or selling electricity for use or con- sumption and not for resale, and for all services rendered in connection therewith valued in money, whether received in money or other- wise, including cash, credit, services and prop- erty of every kind and material and for all ser- vices rendered therewith, without any deduc- tion on account of the cost of the service, prod- uct or commodity supplied, the cost of materi- als used, labor or service cost, or any other ex- penses whatsoever. The term "gross receipts" shall not include that portion of the considera- tion received for distributing, supplying, fur- nishing or selling gas or electricity to, or for the transmission of messages for, school districts or units of local government. 66 -1 3.28.010 "Person" means any natural individual, firm, trust, estate, partnership, association, joint stock company, joint adventure, corporation, municipal corporation or political subdivision of this state, or a receiver, trustee, guardian or other representative appointed by order of any court. "Public utility" shall have the meaning as- cribed to it in Section 3 -105 of the Public Utili- ties Act, as amended (220 ILCS 5/3 -105). "Taxpayer" means a person engaged in the business of distributing, supplying, furnishing or selling electricity for use or consumption and not for resale; and/or a person engaged in the business of distributing, supplying, furnish- ing or selling gas for use or consumption and not for resale. "Treasurer" means the treasurer of the vil- lage of Lemont. (Ord. 0 -32 -97 § 5, 1997: Ord. 0 -15 -97 § 2(A), 1997) 3.28.020 Tax imposed. A tax is imposed on all persons engaged in the following occupations or privileges and at the following rates: A. Persons engaged in the business of dis- tributing, supplying, furnishing or selling gas for use or consumption within the corporate limits of the village and not for resale, at the rate of five percent of the gross receipts there- from. B. Persons engaged in the business of dis- tributing, supplying, furnishing or selling elec- tricity for use or consumption within the corpo- rate limits of the village, and not for resale, at the rate of five percent of the gross receipts therefrom. C. Gross Receipts Tax. The tax imposed under this section shall not apply with respect to gross receipts pertaining to bills for the dis- tribution, supply, furnishing or sale of electric- ity where the use or consumption of the elec- (Lemont 11 -01) 3.28.020 tricity is subject to the tax imposed under Sec- tion 3.28.020B. D. Overpayment of Tax and Credit. If a taxpayer under this chapter is unable to use a credit authorized by this section solely because the tax imposed by this chapter has been re- placed by the tax imposed under the propor- tional method of calculating the kilowatt hour - tax, then the taxpayer may apply such credit against any tax due under the proportional method of calculating the kilowatt-hour tax. (Ord. 0 -05 -01 § 2, 2001; Ord 0 -05 -01 § 1, 2001; Ord. 0 -64 -98 § 1, 1998; Ord. 0 -32 -97 § 7, 1997: Ord. 0 -15 -97 § 2(B), 1997) 3.28.030 Interstate commerce. No tax is imposed by this chapter with re- spect to any transaction in interstate commerce or otherwise to the extent to which such busi- ness may not, under the Constitution and stat- utes of the United States, be made subject to taxation by this state or any political subdivi- sion thereof, nor shall any persons engaged in the business of distributing, supplying, furnish- ing or selling gas or electricity be subject to taxation under the provisions of this section for such transactions as are or may become subject to taxation under the provisions of this section for such transactions as are or may become subject to taxation under the provisions of the Municipal Retailers' Occupation Tax Act au- thorized by Section 8 -11 -1 of the Illinois Mu- nicipal Code. (Ord. 0 -32 -97 § 8, 1997: Ord. 0- 15-97 § 2(C), 1997) (Lemont 1I -0I) 66 -2 3.28.040 Tax in addition to other payments. Such tax shall be in addition to the payment of money, or value of products or services fur- nished to this municipality by the taxpayer as compensation for the use of its streets, alleys or other public places, or installation and mainte- nance therein, thereon or thereunder of poles, wires, pipes or other equipment used in the op- eration of the taxpayer's business. (Ord. 0 -15- 97 § 2(D), 1997) 3.28.050 Reports by taxpayer. A. Each taxpayer must make a report to the village stating: 1. Name; 2. Principal place of business; 3. Gross receipts during the month upon the basis of which the tax is imposed; 4. Amount of tax; 5. Such other reasonable and related in- formation the corporate authorities may re- quire. Such report shall be made to the village treasurer by those persons described in Section 3.28.020 on or before the last day of each month of each year for the corresponding month preceding each of the report dates. B. The taxpayer making the return pro- vided for shall, at the time of making such re- turn, pay to the village treasurer, the amount of tax imposed; provided, that in connection with any return the taxpayer may, if he so elects, re- port and pay an amount based upon his total billings of business subject to the tax during the period for which the return is made (exclusive of any amounts previously billed) with prompt adjustments of later payments based upon any differences between such billings and • • • • • the taxable gross receipts. (Ord. 0 -15 -97 § 2(E), 1997) 3.28.060 Erroneous payment. If it shall appear that an amount of tax has been paid which was not due under the provisions of this section, whether as the result of a mistake of fact or error of law, then such amount shall be credited against any tax due, or to become due, under this section from the taxpayer who made the erroneous payment; provided, that no amounts erroneously paid more than three years prior to the filing of a claim therefor shall be so credited. (Ord. 0 -15 -97 § 2(F), 1997) 3.28.070 Recovery limited. No action to recover any amount of tax due under the provisions of this chapter shall be commenced more than three years after the due date of such amount. (Ord. 0- 15-97 § 2(G), 1997) 3.28.080 Violation — Penalty. Any taxpayer who fails to make a return, or who makes a fraudulent return, or who wilfully violates any other provision of this Section 3.28.020 is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined not less than one hundred dollars nor more than seven hundred fifty dollars and in addition shall be liable in a civil action for the amount of the tax due. (Ord. 0 -15 -97 § 2(H), 1997) 3.28.090 Electrical utility taxes. A. Defmitions. As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise requires: 66-3 3.28.050 "Exempt purchaser" means units of local government located within the corporate boundaries of the village of Lemont. "Person" means any natural individual, firm, trust, estate, partnership, association, joint stock company, joint adventure, corpo- ration, limited liability company, municipal corporation, the state or any of its political subdivisions, any state university created by statute, or a receiver, trustee, conservator or other representative appointed by order of any court. "Person maintaining a place of business in this state" means any person having or maintaining within this state, directly or by a subsidiary or other affiliate, an office, generation facility, distribution facility, transmission facility, sales office or other place of business, or any employee, agent, or other representative operating within this state under the authority of the person or its subsidiary or other affiliate, irrespective of whether such place of business or agent or other representative is located in this state permanently or temporarily, or whether such person, subsidiary or other affiliate is li- censed or qualified to do business in this state. "Purchase at retail" means any acquisi- tion of electricity by a purchaser for purpos- es of use or consumption, and not for re- sale, but shall not include the use of elec- tricity by a public utility, as defined in Section 8 -11 -2 of the Illinois Municipal Code (65 ILCS 5/8- 11/2), directly in the generation, production, transmission, deliv- ery or sale of electricity. "Purchaser" means any person who uses or consumes, within the corporate limits of the village, electricity acquired in a pur- chase at retail, other than an exempt pur- chaser. (Lemont 11 -98) 3.28.090 "Village" means the village of Lemont. B. Tax Imposed. 1. Pursuant to Section 8 -11 -2 of the Illinois Municipal Code (65 -ILCS 5/8 -11 -2) and any and all other applicable authority, a tax is imposed upon the privilege of using or consuming electricity acquired in a pur- chase at retail and used or consumed within the corporate limits of the village at the following rates, calculated on a monthly basis for each purchaser: a. For the first two thousand kilowatt- hours used or consumed in a month, 0.554 cents per kilowatt-hour; b. For the next forty -eight thousand kilowatt-hours used or comsumed in a month, 0.363 cents per kilowatt-hour; c. For the next fifty thousand kilowatt- hours used or consumed in a month, 0.327 cents per kilowatt-hour; d. For the next four hundred thousand kilowatt-hours used or consumed in a month, 0.318 cents per kilowatt-hour; e. For the next five hundred thousand kilowatt-hours used or consumed in a month, 0.309 cents per kilowatt-hour; f. For the next two million kilowatt- hours used or consumed in a month, 0.290 cents per kilowatt-hour; g. For the next two million kilowatt- hours used or consumed in a month, 0.286 cents per kilowatt-hour; h. For the next five million kilowatt- hours used or consumed in a month, 0.281 cents per kilowatt-hour; i. For the next ten million kilowatt- hours used or consumed in a month, 0.277 cents per kilowatt-hour; j. For all electricity used or consumed in excess of twenty million kilowatt-hours in a month, 0.272 cents per kilowatt-hour. (Lemont 11 -98) 66-4 2. The tax is in addition to all taxes, fees and other revenue measures imposed by the village, the state of Illinois or any other political subdivision of the state. 3. Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, the tax shall not be imposed if and to the extent that imposition or col- lection of the tax would violate the Consti- tution or statutes of the United States or the Constitution of the state of lllinois. 4. The tax shall be imposed with respect to the use or consumption of electricity by residential customers beginning with the first bill issued on or after September 1, 1998; and with respect to the use or con- sumption of electricity by nonresidential customers beginning with the first bill is- sued to such customers for delivery services in accordance with Section 16-104 of the Public Utilities Act (220 RCS 5/16 -104), or the first bill issued to such customers on or after January 1, 2001, whichever issuance occurs sooner. C. Collection of Tax. 1. Subject to the provisions regarding the delivery of electricity to resellers, the tax imposed under this chapter shall be collected from purchasers by the person maintaining a place of business in this state who delivers electricity to such purchasers. This tax shall constitute a debt of the pur- chaser to the person who delivers the elec- tricity to the purchaser and is recoverable at the same time and in the same manner as the original charge for delivering the elec- tricity. 2. Any tax required to be collected by this chapter, and any tax in fact collected, shall constitute a debt owed to the village by the person delivering the electricity; pro- vided, that the person delivering electricity shall be allowed credit for such tax related • • • to deliveries of electricity the charges for which are written off as uncollectible; and provided further, that if such charges are thereafter collected, the delivering supplier shall be obligated to remit such tax. 3. Persons delivering electricity shall collect the tax from the purchaser by adding such tax to the gross charge for delivering the electricity. Persons delivering electricity shall also be authorized to add to such gross charge an amount of the tax they collect to reimburse them for their expenses incurred in keeping records, billing customers, pre- paring and filing returns, remitting the tax and supplying data to the village upon request. For purposes of this chapter, any partial payment of a billed amount not specifically identified by the purchaser shall be deemed to be for the delivery of electric- ity. D. Tax Remittance and Return. 1. Every tax collector shall on a month- ly basis file a return in a form prescribed by the village. The return and accompanying remittance shall be due on or before the last day of the month following the month dur- ing which the tax is collected or is required to be collected under Chapter 3.28. 2. If the person delivering electricity fails to collect the tax from the purchaser or is excused from collecting the tax under Section 3.28.090E5b, then the purchaser shall file a return in a form prescribed by the village and pay the tax directly to the village on or before the last day of the month following the month during which the electricity is used or consumed. E. Resales. 1. Electricity that is delivered to a per- son in this village shall be considered to be for use and consumption by that person unless the person receiving the electricity 66-4a 3.28.090 has an active resale number issued by the state of Illinois and furnishes that number to the person who delivers the electricity, and certifies to that person that the sale is either entirely or partially nontaxable as a sale for resale. 2. If a person who receives electricity in the village claims to be an authorized reseller of electricity, that person shall apply to the state of Illinois for a resale number. The applicant shall state facts showing why it is not liable for the tax imposed by this chapter on any purchases of electricity and shall furnish such additional information as the state of Illinois may reasonably require. 3. Upon approval of the application, the state of Illinois shall assign a resale number to the applicant and shall certify the number to the applicant. 4. The state of Illinois may cancel the resale number of any person if the person fails to pay any tax payable under this chap- ter for electricity used or consumed by the person, or if the number (1) was obtained through misrepresentation; or (2) is no longer necessary because the person has discontinued making resales. 5. a. If a reseller has acquired electricity partly for use or consumption and partly for resale, the reseller shall pay the tax imposed by this chapter directly to the village pursu- ant to Section 3.28.090C2 on the amount of electricity that the reseller uses or con- sumes, and shall collect the tax and remit the tax pursuant to Section 3.28.090C1 on the amount of electricity delivered by the reseller to a purchaser. b. Any person who delivers electricity to a reseller having an active resale number and complying with all other conditions of this section shall be excused from collecting and remitting the tax on any portion of the (Lemont 11 -98) 3.28.090 electricity delivered to the reseller; provid- ed, that the person reports to the village the total amount of electricity delivered to the reseller, and such other information that the village may reasonably require. F. Books and Records. Every tax collec- tor, and every taxpayer required to pay the tax imposed by this chapter, shall keep accurate books and records of its business or activity, including contemporaneous books and records denoting the transactions that gave rise, or may have given rise, to any tax liability under this chapter. The books and records shall be subject to and available for inspection at all times during business hours of the day. G. Credits and Refunds. Notwithstanding any other provision, in order to permit sound fiscal planning andbudgeting by the village, no person shall be entitled to a refund of, or credit for, a tax imposed under this chapter unless the person files a claim for refund or credit within three years after the date on which the tax was paid or remit- ted. (Ord. 0 -64 -98 § 2, 1998) (Lemont 11 -98) 66-4b • • • • Chapter 3.32 MUNICIPAL TELECOMMUNICATIONS TAX Sections: 3.32.010 Definitions. 3.32.020 Tax imposed. 3.32.030 Collection of tax by retailers. 3.32.040 Filing returns and remittance by retailers. 3.32.050 Registration. 3.32.060 Obligation of taxpayers to file returns and pay tax. 3.32.070 Resale numbers. 3.32.080 Maintaining books and records. 3.32.010 Definitions. For the purpose of the taxes in this sec- tion the following shall apply: "Amount paid" means the amount charged to the taxpayer's service address in the village regardless of where such amount is billed or paid. "Gross charge" means the amount paid for the act or privilege of originating or receiving telecommunications in the village and for all services rendered in connection therewith, valued in money whether paid in money or otherwise, including cash, credits, services and property of every kind or na- ture, and shall be determined without any deduction on account of the cost of such telecommunications, the cost of the materi- als used, labor or service costs or any other expense whatsoever. In case credit is ex- tended the amount thereof shall be included only as and when paid. However "gross charge" shall not include: 66 -4c 3.32.010 1. Any amounts added to a purchaser' s bill because of a charge made pursuant to: (i) the tax imposed by this chapter, (ii) additional charges added to a purchaser' s bill pursuant to Section 9 -222 of the Public Utilities Act (220 ILCS 5/9 -222), (iii) the tax imposed by the Telecommunications Excise Tax Act (35 ILCS 630/1 et seq.), or (iv) the tax imposed by Section 4251 of the Internal Revenue Code (26 U.S.C.A. Section 4251); 2. Charges for a sent collect telecom- munication received outside of the village; 3. Charges for leased time on equipment or charges for the storage of data or infor- mation or subsequent retrieval or the pro- cessing of data or information intended to change its form or content. Such equipment includes, but is not limited to, the use of calculators, computers, data processing equipment, tabulating equipment or account- ing equipment and also includes the usage of computers under a time - sharing agreement; 4. Charges for customer equipment, including such equipment that is leased or rented by the customer from any source, wherein such charges are disaggregated and separately identified from other charges; 5. Charges to business enterprises certi- fied under Section 9 -222.1 of the Public Utilities Act to the extent of such exemption and during the period of time specified by the Department of Commerce and Commu- nity Affairs; 6. Charges for telecommunications and all services and equipment provided in con- nection therewith between a parent corpora- tion and its wholly owned subsidiaries or between wholly owned subsidiaries when the tax imposed under this chapter has already been paid to a retailer and only to (Lemont 11 -98) • • • the extent that the charges between the parent corporation and wholly owned sub- sidiaries or between wholly owned subsid- iaries represent expense allocation between the corporations and not the generation of profit for the corporation rendering such service; 7. Bad debts ( "bad debt" means any portion of a debt that is related to a sale at retail for which gross charges are not other- wise deductible or excludable that has be- come worthless or uncollectible, as deter- mined under applicable federal income tax standards; if the portion of the debt deemed to be bad is subsequently paid, the retailer shall report and pay the tax on that portion during the reporting period in which the payment is made); or 8. Charges paid by inserting coins in coin - operated telecommunication devices. The term "gross charge" shall not include that portion of the consideration received for distributing, supplying, furnishing or selling gas or electricity to, or for the trans- mission of messages for, school districts or units of local government. "Interstate telecommunications" means all telecommunications that either originate or terminate outside this state. "Intrastate telecommunications" means all telecommunications that originate and termi- nate within this state. "Person" means any natural individual, firm, trust, estate, partnership, association, joint stock company, joint venture, corpo- ration, limited liability company, or a re- ceiver, trustee, guardian or other representa- tive appointed by order of any court, the federal and state governments, include state universities created by statute, or any city, town, county or other political subdivision of this state. 66 -5 3.32.010 "Purchase of retail" means the acquisi- tion, consumption or use of telecommunica- tions through a sale at retail. "Retailer" means and includes every per- son engaged in the business of making sales at retail as defined in this chapter. The village may, in its discretion, upon applica- tion, authorize the collection of the tax imposed by any retailer not maintaining a place of business within this state, who to the satisfaction of the village, furnishes adequate security to insure collection and payment of the tax. Such retailer shall be issued, without charge, a permit to collect such tax. When so authorized, it shall be the duty of such retailer to collect the tax upon all of the gross charges for telecommunica- tions in the village in the same manner and subject to the same requirements as a retail- er maintaining a place of business within the village. "Retailer maintaining a place of business in this state" or any like term, means and includes any retailer having or maintaining within this state, directly or by a subsidiary, an office, distribution facilities, transmission facilities, sales office, warehouse or other place of business, or any agent or other representative operating within this state under the authority of the retailer or its subsidiary, irrespective of whether such place of business or agent or other represen- tative is located here permanently or tempo- rarily, or whether such retailer or subsidiary is licensed to do business in this state. "Sale at retail" means the transmitting, supplying or furnishing of telecommunica- tions and all services rendered in connection therewith for a consideration, to persons other than the village, federal and state gov- ernments, and state universities created by statute and other than between a parent (Lemont 11 -97) 3.32.010 corporation and its wholly owned subsidiar- ies or between wholly owned subsidiaries, when the tax has already been paid to a retailer and the gross charge made by one such corporation to another such corporation is not greater than the gross charge paid to the retailer for their use or consumption and not for resale. "Service address" means the location of telecommunications equipment from which telecommunications services are originated or at which telecommunications services are received by a taxpayer. If this is not a de- fined location, as in the case of mobile phones, paging systems, maritime systems, air -to- ground systems and the like, "service address" means the location of a taxpayer' s primary use of the telecommunication equipment as defined by telephone number, authorization code, or location in Illinois where bills are sent. "Taxpayer" means a person who individ- ually or through his agents, employees or permittees engages in the act or privilege of originating or receiving telecommunications in the village and who incurs a tax liability under this chapter. "Telecommunications," in addition to the usual and popular meaning, includes, but is not limited to, messages or information transmitted through use of local, toll and wide area telephone service, channel servic- es, telegraph services, teletypewriter service, computer exchange services; cellular mobile telecommunications service, specialized mobile radio services, paging service, or any other form of mobile radio and portable one -way or two-way communications, or any other form of mobile radio and portable one -way or two -way communications, or any other transmission of messages or infor- mation by electronic or similar means, (Lemont 11 -97) 66-6 between or among points by wire, cable, fiber optics, laser, microwave, radio, satel- lite or similar facilities. The defmition of "telecommunications" shall not include pur- chase of telecommunications by a telecom- munications service provider for use as a component part of the service provided by him to the ultimate retail consumer who originates or terminates the taxable end -to- end communications. Carrier access charges, right of access charges, charges for use of inter- company facilities, and all telecommu- nications resold in the subsequent provision used as a component of, or integrated into, end - to-end telecommunications service shall be non - taxable as sales for resale. (Ord. 0- 33-97, 1997; Ord. 0 -16-97 § 2(A), 1997) 332.020 Tax imposed. A. A tax is imposed upon: 1. The act or privilege of originating in the village or receiving in the village intra- state telecommunications by a person at a rate of five percent of the gross charge for such telecommunications purchased at retail from a retailer by such person; and 2. The act or privilege of originating in the village or receiving in the village inter- state telecommunications by a person at a rate of five percent of the gross charge for such telecommunications purchased at retail from a retailer by such person; and B. To prevent actual multi -state taxation of the act or privilege that is subject to taxation under subsection (A)(2) of this section, any taxpayer, upon proof that the taxpayer has paid a tax in another state on the same event, shall be allowed a credit against the tax to the extent of the amount of such tax properly due and paid in such other state which was not previously al- • • • • • lowed as a credit against any other state or local tax in this state. C. The tax imposed by this section is not imposed on any act or privilege to the extent that such act or privilege may not, under the Constitution or statutes of the United States, be made the subject of taxa- tion by the village. (Ord. 0 -16-97 § 2(B), 1997) 3.32.030 Collection of tax by retailers. A. The tax shall be collected as follows: 1. Any retailer maintaining a place of business in this state and making or effectu- ating a sale at retail shall collect the tax imposed by Section 3.32.020 from the tax- payer and remit it to the village treasurer. 2. Any tax required to be collected pursuant to this section and any tax col- lected by the retailer shall constitute a debt owed by the retailer to the village. 3. The retailer shall collect the tax from the taxpayer by adding the tax to the gross charge for the act or privilege of originating or receiving telecommunications when sold for use in the manner prescribed in this chapter. 4. The tax imposed by this chapter, shall constitute a debt of the purchaser to the retailer providing taxable services until paid and, if unpaid, is recoverable at law in the same manner as the original charge for taxable services. B. The village treasurer shall, upon application, authorize the collection of this tax by any retailer not maintaining a place of business in this state who, to the satis- faction of the treasurer, furnishes adequate security to ensure collection and payment of the tax. Such retailer shall be issued, with- out charge, a permit to collect the tax im- 66 -7 3.32.020 posed. When so authorized, it shall be the duty of the retailer to collect the tax upon all of the gross charges for telecommunica- tions originated or received in the village in this same manner, and subject to the same requirements, as a retailer maintaining a place of business in this state. C. Whenever possible, the tax autho- rized shall, when collected, be stated as a distinct item separate and apart from the gross charge for telecommunications. D. Retailers filing tax returns pursuant to this section shall, at the time of filing such return, pay to the village the amount of the tax imposed, less a commission of 1.75 percent which is allowed to reimburse the retailer for the expenses incurred in keeping records, billing the customer, pre- paring and filing returns, remitting the tax and supplying data to the village upon request. No commission may be claimed by a retailer for tax not timely remitted to the village. (Ord. 0 -16-97 § 2(C), 1997) 3.32.040 Filing returns and remittance by retailers. On or before the last day of each calen- dar month, every retailer maintaining a place of business in this state and every retailer authorized by the treasurer to collect the tax imposed shall file with the village treasurer a remittance return and remit all applicable tax for the preceding calendar month. The retum shall be filed on a form prescribed by the village treasurer, contain- ing such information as the treasurer may reasonably require. (Ord. 0 -16-97 § 2(D), 1997) 3.32.050 Registration. Every retailer maintaining a place of (Lemont 11 -97) 3.32.050 business in this state shall register with the fmance department by July 1, 1997 or the date of becoming such a retailer, whichever is later. (Ord. 0 -16-97 § 2(E), 1997) 3.32.060 Obligation of taxpayers to file returns and pay tax. A. If a retailer fails to collect the tax imposed from a taxpayer, as required, then the taxpayer shall pay the tax directly to the village. B. On or before the last day of each calendar month, every taxpayer that has not paid the tax imposed to a retailer shall file with the village treasurer a tax return and pay the tax upon the gross charges the taxpayer paid to the retailer during the preceding calendar month. The return shall be filed on a form prescribed by the village treasurer, containing such information as the treasurer may reasonably require. (Ord. 0- 16-97 § 2(F), 1997) 3.32.070 Resale numbers. A. If a person who originates or receives telecommunications in the village claims to be a reseller of telecommunications, that person shall apply to the finance department for a resale number. The applicant shall state facts showing why it is not liable for the tax imposed on any purchase of tele- communications and shall furnish such additional information as the treasurer may reasonable require. B. Upon approval of the application, the finance department shall assign a resale number to the applicant and shall certify the number to the applicant. C. The finance department may cancel the resale number of any person if the num- ber: (a) was obtained through misrepresenta- tion; (b) is used to originate or receive (Lemont 11 -97) 66-8 telecommunications tax -free when such telecommunications are not for resale; or (c) is no longer necessary or no longer applies because the person has discontinued making resales. D. The act or privilege of originating or receiving telecommunications in the village shall not be made tax -free on the ground of being a sale for resale unless the person has an active resale number issued by the fi- nance department and furnishes that number to the retailer in connection with certifying to the retailer that any sale to that person is nontaxable as a sale for resale. (Ord. 0-16- 97 § 2(G), 1997) 3.32.080 Maintaining books and records. Every retailer maintaining a place of business in this state, every retailer autho- rized by the village treasurer to collect the tax imposed and every taxpayer required to pay the tax directly to the village treasurer shall keep accurate books and records of its business or activity, including original source documents and books of entry denot- ing the transactions that gave rise, or may have given rise, to any tax liability or ex- emption. All such books and records shall be kept in the English language and, at all times during business hours of the day, shall be subject and available for inspection by the finance department. (Ord. 0 -16-97 § 2(H), 1997) • • •