(Doc Name H:\LEGWORK\HOUSE\AMEND\H-WM\001\TAX PROCESSING FEE SML.DOCX):
EXPLANATION: Allows local subdivisions to charge a processing fee for payment of taxes by card only to cover the political subdivision's costs. Also requires them to clearly list the all fees and report fee amounts to the General Assembly.
Amend the bill, as and if amended, Part IB, Section 110, STATE
TREASURER - AID TO SUBDIVISIONS, page 500, after line 17, by
adding an appropriately numbered paragraph to read:
/(AS-TREAS: Tax Processing Fee) A political subdivision
shall be prohibited from charging a taxpayer a processing fee
for the payment of taxes by credit or debit card in excess of
the processing fee costs incurred by the political subdivision
for the transaction. Furthermore, all political subdivisions
that accept credit or debit cards for the payment of taxes must
provide, on all tax bills offering the option of credit or debit
card payment and on their respective websites, if applicable, an
itemized list of all accepted credit and debit cards and the
corresponding merchant fee charged to the political subdivision
for each card along with all apllicable processing fees related
to online payment or other form of payment. All counties shall
submit a report to the chairman of the Senate Finance Committee
and the chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee by
October 1, 2014 detailing if they accept credit or debit cards
for the payment of taxes, and if so, an accounting of the total
fees and costs collected pursuant to this service in the prior
fiscal year, an itemized breakdown of all fees associated with
this service including, but not limited to, the length of any
applicable contract term with a payment processor. If a
political subdivision violates this proviso, it shall have its
Aid to Subdivisions Allocation reduced by $1,000 per violation
as determined by the State Treasurer's Office.
Furthermore political subdivisions
shall make available monthly installment payments of their
prospective yearly tax bill to all taxpayers./
Renumber sections to conform.
Amend totals and titles to conform.