O1979
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City Council Meeting 7/25/00
Santa MOnica, California
ORDINANCE NUMBER1979 (CCS)
(City Council Series)
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF SANTA MONICA AMENDING CHAPTER 6,72
OF THE SANTA MONICA MUNICIPAL CODE RELATED
TO THE CITY'S UTILITIES TAX
THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA MONICA DOES HEREBY ORDAIN
AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1, Chapter6 72 ofthe Santa Monica MUniCipal Code IS hereby amended
to read as follows
Chapter 6.72
Utilities Tax
Section 6.72.010. Definitions
Except where the context otherwise requires, the definitions given In
this Section govern the construction of this Chapter
(a) Billing Address. "Billing Address" shall mean the maIling
address of the service user where the servIce supplier submIts InVOIces or
bills for payment by the customer
(b) Cable Television Service. "Cable teleVISion service" shall mean
any and all services related to the proViding of television. Video or origination
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programming or services, including any communications that are ancillary,
necessary or common to the use or enjoyment of the programming or
service, provided to premises located In the City through any cable, or any
other similar medium, In part or exclusively, that IS used to transmit teleVISion
or video signals, regardless of the content of the Video programming or
commUnications However, cable teleVISion service shall not Include
services for which a tax IS paid under Section 6.72.020 of this Chapter
(c) Cable Television Supplier. "Cable televIsion supplier" shall
mean any person, company, or service which provides one or more channels
or signals of Video or teleVIsion programming or services, Including any
communications that are ancillary, necessary or common to the use or
enjoyment of the programming or services, to or from a bUSiness, home,
condominium, or apartment, where some fee IS paid, whether directly or
indirectly, whether or not the public rights-of-way are utilized In the delivery
of the Video ortelevlslon programming or communicatIOns and regardless of
the content of such Video or teleVISion programming or communication A
"cable teleVISion supplier" Includes, but IS not lImited to, multichannel Video
programming distributors, as defined In 47 U.S.C. Section 522(13), open
Video systems (OVS) su ppllers, su ppllers of cable televIsion, master antenna
teleVISIon, satellIte master antenna teleVISIon, multIchannel multlpomt
dlstnbutlon services, direct broadcast satellite, and other suppliers of video
programming or communications mcludlng two way commUniCations,
whatever their technology, to the extent allowed by law
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(d) City. "City" shall mean the City of Santa Monica
(e) Electrical Corporation "Electncal corporation" shall have the
same meaning as It IS defined In Section 218 of the of the California Public
Utilities Code. "Electrical corporation" shalf be construed to include any
mUnicipality or franchised agency engaged in the selling or supplYing of
electrical power to a service user
(f) Exempt Wholesale Generator "Exempt wholesale generator"
shall have the same meaning as set forth In the Federal Power Act (15
U S C Section 79z-5a) and regulations thereunder
(g) Gas. "Gas" shall mean natural or manufactured gas or any
alternate hydrocarbon fuel, which may be substituted therefor
(h) Gas Corporation "Gas corporation" shall have the same
meaning as It IS defined In Section 222 of the California Public Utilities Code
(I) Month. "Month" shall mean a calendar month
0) Non-Utility Service Supplier. "Non-utility service supplier" shall
mean
(1) A service supplier, other than a supplier of electric
dlstnbutlon services to all or a Significant portion ofthe City, which generates
electnclty for sale to others, and shall Include, but IS not limited to, any
publicly-owned electnc utIlity, Investor-owned utIlity, cogenerator, exempt
wholesale generator, mUniCipal utility district, federal power marketing
agency, electnc rural cooperative, or other supplier or seller of electriCity,
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(2) An electric service provider (ESP), electricity broker,
marketer, aggregator, pool operators, or other electncity supplier other than
a supplier of electric dlstnbutlon services to all or a significant portion ofthe
City, which sells or supplies electriCity or supplemental services to electricity
users within the City, or
(3) A gas service supplier, aggregator, marketer or broker,
other than a supplier of gas distribution servIces to all or a Significant portion
ofthe City, whIch sells or supplies gas or supplemental services to gas users
within the City
(k) Person. "Person" shall mean, without limitation, any domestIc,
nonprofit or foreign corporation, firm, aSSOCiation, syndicate, joint stock
company, partnerships of every kind, limited liability company, JOint venture,
club, estate, trust, Massachusetts bUSiness or common-law trust, society,
any natural indiVidual, cooperative, receiver, trustee, guardian or other
representative appointed by order of any court, mUnicipal district, or ~
municipal corporation other than the City
(I) Service Address. "Service Address" shall mean the reSidential
street address or the bUSiness street address of the service user's primary
place of usage
(m) Service Supplier. "ServIce supplier" shall mean any entIty or
person Including the City, that provides telephone communication, electnc,
gas, cable, water or wastewater service to a user of such services Within the
City The term shall Include an entity or person required to collect, or self-
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collect under Section 6 72 045 of this Chapter, and remit a tax Imposed by
this Chapter, including Its billing agent In the case of electric, gas, cable,
water or wastewater service suppliers
(n) Service User. "Service user" shall mean a person required to
pay a tax imposed by this Chapter.
(0) Tax Administrator. "Tax Admlnlstrator" shall mean the Director
of Finance-City Controller of the City of Santa MOnica or hiS or her
authOrized deSignee
(p) Telephone Communication Services. "Telephone
Communication Services" shall mean "communication services" as defined
in Sections 4251 and 4252 of the Internal Revenue Code and the regulations
thereunder, and shall Include any telephonic qualIty communication that IS
interconnected to a public switched network. and shall Include, Without
limitation, forthe purpose of transmitting messages or InformatIon (including,
but not limited to, VOice, telegraph, teletypewnter, data. faCSimile, Video or
text) by electroniC, radiO, or similar means through "interconnected service"
With the "public SWitched network," as these terms are commonly used In the
Federal Communications Act, 47 U S C A Section 332(d), and the
regulations of the Federal Communications CommiSSion, whether such
transmISSion occurs by WIre, cable. fiber-optic, lIght wave, laser, microwave,
radio wave, Includmg, but not limited to, cellular service, commercial mobile
service, personal commUnications service (PCS), speCialized mobile radiO
(SMR), and other types of personal wireless service telecommUnications
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(see 47 U S C A Section 332(c)(8)(C)(i)) regardless of radio spectrum used,
SWitching facilities, satellite or any other similar faCIlitIes
(q) Telephone Corporation "Telephone corporation" shall have
the same meaning as defined in Section 234 ofthe California Public Utilities
Code
Section 6.72.020. Telephone Tax.
(a) There IS hereby Imposed a tax upon every person uSing
telephone communicatIon services In the City, other than a telephone
corporation, including Intrastate, interstate, and International telephone
commUnication services. The tax Imposed by thiS Section shall be at the
rate of ten percent (10%) of all charges made for such telephone
communication servIces and shall be collected from the service user by the
telephone commUnication services supplier or ItS billing agent To the extent
allowed by law, the tax on telephone communication services shall apply to
a service user If the billing or service address of the service user IS Within the
City's boundaries. If the billing address of the service user IS different from
the service address, the service address of the service user shall be used
(b) "Telephone commUnicatIon services" shall not Include "private
mobile radIO servIce," as defined In Part 20 ofTJtJe 47 of the Code of Federal
Regulations, or "private mobile service," as defined In 47 U.S CA. Section
332(d), which IS not Interconnected to a public SWitched network. The tax
Imposed under thiS chapter shall not be Imposed upon any person for uSing
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telephone commUnication services to the extent that, pursuant to Sections
4252 and 4253 of the Internal Revenue Code, the amounts paid for such
communication services are exempt from or are not subject to the tax
imposed under Section 4251 ofthe Internal Revenue Code In the event that
the federal excise tax on "communication services" as prOVided in Sections
4251, 4252, and 4253 of the Internal Revenue Code IS subsequently
repealed, any reference In this Chapter or In any administrative ruling to such
law, Including any related federal regulations, pnvate letter rulings, case law,
and other opinions interpreting these Sections, shall refer to that body of law
that existed Immediately pnor to the date of repeal as well as to any JudiCial
or administrative deCISion Interpreting such federal excise tax law which IS
published or rendered after the date of repeal.
(c) The Tax Administrator may, from time to time, Issue and
dIsseminate to telecommUnication service suppliers, which are subject to the
tax collection requirements of this Chapter, an administrative ruling
IdentIfying those telecommunication services that are subject to taxation
under this Chapter These administrative rulings shall remain In effect unless
altered or amended by the Tax Admmistrator and these administrative rulings
shall continue to be consistent With applicable legal requirements, including
any federal excise tax rules, regulatIons, and laws pertammg to
"commUnications services,"
(d) As used In this Section, the term "charges" shall include the
value of any other services, credits, property of every kind or natu re, or other
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consideration provided by the service user In exchange for the telephone
communIcatIon servIces. If a non-taxable servIce and a taxable servIce are
billed together under a single charge, the entire charge shall be deemed
taxable unless the service supplier can reasonably Identify charges not
subject to the utility users tax based upon Its books and records that are kept
In the regular course of business, which shall be consistent With generally
accepted accounting prinCiples. As used In thIS Section, the term "charges"
shall not include charges for services paid for by Inserting coins in cOIn-
operated telephones, except that where such coin-operated telephone
service IS furnished for a guaranteed amount, the amounts paid under such
guarantee plus any fixed monthly or other periodic charge shall be Included
in the base for computing the amount of tax due
(e) To prevent actual multi-jurisdictional taxation of telephone
commUnication services subject to tax under thiS Section, any service user,
upon proof to the Tax Administrator that the service user has previously paid
the same tax In another state or city on such telephone commUnication
services, shall be allowed a credit against the tax Imposed to the extent of
the amount of such tax legally imposed In such other state or city, provided,
however, the amount of credit shall not exceed the tax owed to the City
under this SectIon For purposes of establIshing a suffiCIent legal basis for
the Imposition and collection of utility users' tax on charges for telephone
communication services pursuant to thiS Chapter, "minimum contacts" shall
be construed broadly In favor of the Imposition and collection of the utll1ty
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users' tax to the fullest extent permitted by California and federal law, and as
it may change from time to tIme
(f) The tax on telephone communication service Imposed by this
SectIon shall be collected from the service user by the service supplier The
amount of tax collected In one (1) month shall be remitted to the Tax
Administrator, and IS due to the Tax AdmInistrator on or before the twentieth
(20th) day of the follOWing month
Section 6.72.030. Electricity Tax.
(a) There IS Imposed a tax upon every person uSing electnclty In
the City The tax Imposed by this Section shall be at the rate of ten percent
(10%) of all charges made for such electnclty, and for any supplemental
services or other associated activities directly related to or necessary for the
proVIsion of electnclty to the service user, which are proVided by a service
supplier or non-utility service supplier to a service user. The tax shall be
collected from the service user by the service supplier or non-utility service
supplier, or Its bIlling agent
(b) The Tax Administrator may, from time to time, survey the
electric service su pphers to Identify the vanous unbundled billing components
of electric retail service that they commonly proVide to resIdential,
commercial and mdustrial customers In the City, and the charges therefor,
including those Items that are mandated by state or federal regulatory
agencies as a condition of proViding such electric servIce. The Tax
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Administrator may, thereafter, issue and disseminate to such electric service
suppliers an administrative ruling IdentifYing those components and Items
whIch are: (I) necessary or common to the receipt, use and enjoyment of
electric service; or (II) currently, or hlstoncally have been, included In a single
or bundled rate for electriC service by a local distribution company to a class
of retail customers. Unbundled charges for such components and Item shall
be subject to the tax of subsection (a) above
(c) As used In thiS Section, the term "charges" shall Include the value
of any other services, credits, property of every kind or nature, or other
consideration provided by the service user In exchange for the electricity or
services related to the provIsion of such electnclty If a non-taxable service
and a taxable service are billed together under a single charge, the entire
charge shall be deemed taxable unless the service supplier can reasonably
Identify charges not subject to the utility users tax based upon Its books and
records that are kept In the regular course of bUSiness, which shall be
consistent With generally accepted accounting pnnclples
(d) As used In thiS Section, the term "using electriCity" shall not
Include electriCity used In water pumping by water corporations, nor shall the
term Include the mere receiving of such electnclty by an electrical corporation
at a pomt WIthIn the CIty for resale
(e) The tax on electricity provided by self-production or by a non-
utility service supplier not under the JUrisdiction of thiS Chapter shall be
collected and remitted In the manner set forth In Section 672.045 of this
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Chapter All other taxes on charges for electnclty Imposed by this Section
shall be collected from the service user by the electrIc service supplier or Its
billing agent The amount oftax collected in one (1) month shall be remitted
to the Tax Administrator on or before the twentieth (20th) day ofthe following
month, or, at the option of the person required to collect or remIt the tax,
such person shall remit an estimated amount of tax measured by the tax
billed in the prevIous month or upon the payment pattern of the service
users, which must be remitted to the Tax Administrator on or before the
twentieth (20th) day of the follOWing month
Section 6.72.040. Gas Tax.
(a) There is Imposed a tax upon every person uSing gas in the City
which is transported and delivered through any mains, pipes or other
dlstnbutlon pipeline system The tax Imposed by this Section shall be at the
rate of ten percent (10%) of all charges made for such gas, Including all
services related to the storage, transportation and delivery of such gas. The
tax shall be collected from the service user by the service supplier or non-
utility servIce supplier, or Its billing agent
(b) The Tax Administrator may, from time to time, survey the gas
servIce suppliers to IdentIfy the variOus bIlling components of gas retail
service that they commonly proVide to residential and commerclal/lndustnal
customers in the City, and the charges therefor, Including unbundled
components and those Items that are mandated by state or federal
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regulatory agencies as a condition of providing such gas service. The Tax
AdminIstrator may, thereafter, Issue and dlssemmate to such gas service
suppliers an administrative ruling Identifying those components and Items
which are (I) necessary or common to the receipt, use and enjoyment of gas
service, or (II) currently, or hlstoncally have been, Included in a single or
bundled rate for gas service by a local distribution company to a class of
retail customers Unbundled charges for such components and Item shall be
subject to the tax of subsection (a) above
(c) As used in thiS Section, the term "charges" shall Include the value
of any other services, credits, property of every kind or nature, or other
consideration proVided by the service user In exchange for the gas or
services related to the proviSion of such gas. If a non-taxable service and a
taxable service are blUed together under a single charge, the entire charge
shall be deemed taxable unless the service supplier can reasonably identify
charges not subject to the utility users tax based upon its books and records
that are kept In the regular course of bUSiness, which shall be consistent With
generally accepted accounting prinCiples
(d) There shall be excluded from the base on which the tax
imposed In thiS Section IS computed (1) charges made for gas which is to
be resold and delivered through mams, pipes, or any pIpeline dlstnbutlon
system, (2) charges made for gas to be used In the generation of electriCity
by an electrical corporation; and (3) charges made by a gas publiC utility for
gas used and consumed In the conduct of the bUSiness of gas pu bllc utilities
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(e) The tax on gas provided by self-production or by a non-utility
service supplier not under the Jurisdiction of this Chapter shall be collected
and remitted In the manner set forth In Section 6 72.045 of thiS Chapter All
other taxes on charges for gas Imposed by thiS Section shall be collected
from the service user by the gas service supplier or Its billing agent. The
amount of tax collected In one (1) month shall be remitted to the Tax
Administrator, and IS due to the Tax Administrator on or before the twentieth
(20th) day of the follOWing month; or, at the option of the person required to
collect or remit the tax, such person shall remit an estimated amount of tax
measured by the tax billed In the previous month or upon the payment
pattern of the service user, which must be remitted to the Tax Administrator
on or before the twentieth (20th) day of the follOWing month,
Section 6.72.045. Collection of Tax from Service Users Receiving
Direct Purchase of Gas or Electricity.
(a) Any service user subJect to the tax Imposed by Section 6 72.030
or by Section 6 72 040 of thiS Chapter, which produces gas or electricity for
self-use. or which receives gas or electncity, including any related
supplemental services, directly from a non-utility service supplier not under
the JUrisdiction of this Chapter, or WhICh, for any other reason, is not haVIng
the full tax collected and remitted by ItS service supplier, a non-utility service
supplier, or ItS billing agent on the use of gas or electnclty, Including any
related supplemental services, In the City, shall report such facts to the Tax
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Administrator and shall remit the tax due directly to the Tax Administrator
within thirty (30) days of such use In lIeu of paying saId actual tax, the
servIce user may, at Its option, remit to the Tax Administrator within thirty
(30) days of such use an estimated amount of tax measured by the tax billed
in the prevIous month, or upon the payment pattern of similar customers of
the service supplier uSing similar amounts of gas or electricity, provided that
the service user shall submit an adjusted payment or request for credit, as
appropnate, Within sixty (60) days follOWing each calendar quarter. The
credit, If approved by the Tax Administrator, may be applied against any
subsequent tax bill that becomes due
(b) The Tax Administrator may require said service user to Identify Its
non-utility service supplier and proVide, subject to audit, inVOiCeS, books of
account, or other satisfactory eVidence documenting the quantity of gas or
electncity used, Including any related supplemental services, and the cost or
pnce thereof If the service user IS unable to provide such satIsfactory
eVidence, or, If the administrative cost of calculating the tax In the opinion of
the Tax Administrator IS exceSSIve, the Tax Administrator may determine the
tax by applYing the tax rate to the eqUivalent charges the service user would
have Incurred If the gas or electnclty used, including any related
supplemental services, had been provided by the service supplier that IS the
primary supplier of gas or electnclty Within the City Rate schedules for thiS
purpose shall be available from the City
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Section 6.72.050. Cable Television.
(a) There IS Imposed a tax upon every person uSIng a cable
television service in the City from a cable teleVISion supplier The tax
Imposed by this Section shall be at the rate of ten percent (10%) of all
charges made for such cable teleVISion service. The tax shall be collected
from the service user by the cable television service supplier, or ItS billing
agent
(b) The Tax Administrator may, from time to tIme, survey the cable
television servIce suppliers In the City to identify the vanous components of
cable teleVISIon service that are being offered to customers Within the City,
and the charges therefor. The Tax Administrator may, thereafter, issue and
disseminate to such cable televIsion service suppliers an administrative
ruling IdentIfying those components: (I) that are necessary or common to the
receipt, use and enjoyment of cable televIsion service, or (II) which currently
are, or hlstoncally have been, included In a bundled rate for cable teleVision
service by a local distribution company. Charges for such components shall
be subject to the tax of subsection (a) above.
(c) As used in thiS Section, the term "charges" shall include the value
of any other services, credits, property of every kind or nature, or other
conSIderation proVIded by the servIce user In exchange for the cable
teleVISion services If a non-taxable service and a taxable service are billed
together under a Single charge, the entire charge shall be deemed taxable
unless the service supplier can reasonably IdentIfy charges not su bJect to the
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utility users tax based upon Its books and records that are kept In the regular
course of business, whIch shall be consistent WIth generally accepted
accounting pnnclples,
(d) The tax Imposed by this Section shall be collected from the
service user by the cable teleVISion supplier, Its billing agent, or a reseller of
such services In the case of cable teleVISion service, the service user shall
be deemed to be the purchaser of the bulk cable teleVISion service (e.g , an
apartment owner), unless such service is resold to Individual users, In which
case the service user shall be the ultimate purchaser of the cable teleVISion
service The amount of tax collected In one (1) month shall be remitted to
the Tax Administrator, and IS due to the Tax Administrator on or before the
twentieth (20th) day of the follOWing month.
Section 6.72.055. Water and Wastewater Usage Tax.
(a) There is hereby Imposed a tax upon every person In the City
uSing the City's water and wastewater services The tax imposed by this
Section shall be at the rate of ten percent (10%) of all charges made for
such water and wastewater services. The tax shall be collected from the
service user by the water and wastewater service supplier, or Its billing
agent
(b) As used In thiS Section, the term "charges" shall Include charges
made for (1) metered and unmetered water usage, (2) waste water
discharge including sewer service charges; and (3) minimUm, fixed and
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vanable charges for service, Including all customer charges, service charges,
demand charges, standby charges, and annual, monthly and bImonthly
charges
Section 6.72.060. Constitutional and Statutory Exemptions.
(a) Nothing in this Chapter shall be construed as imposing a tax
upon (1) the City, or (2) any person or service supplier If Imposition of such
tax would be In Violation of a federal or California statute, the Constitution of
the United States~ or the Constitution of the State of California
(b) Any service user that is exempt from the tax Imposed by thIS
Chapter pursuant to subsection (a) shall file an application with the Tax
Ad mlnlstratorfor an exemptIon I provided, however, thiS reqUirement shall not
apply to a service user that is a state or federal agency or subdivision with
a commonly recognized name, or IS a service user of telephone
commUnication services that has receIved a federal excise tax exemption
certificate for such service Said application shall be made upon a form
approved by the Tax Administrator and shall state those facts, declared
under penalty of perJury, which qualify the applicant for an exemption, and
shall Include the names of all utIlity service suppliers serving that service
user, If deemed exempt by the Tax AdminIstrator, such servIce user shall
give the Tax Administrator timely wntten notice of any change In utility
service suppliers so that the Tax Administrator can properly notify the new
utilIty service supplier of the service user's tax exempt status A service user
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that falls to comply with this Section shall not be entitled to a refund of utility
users' taxes collected and remItted to the Tax Administrator from such
service user as a result of such noncompliance Upon request of the Tax
Administrator, a service supplier or non-utility service supplier, or its billing
agent, shall provide a list of the names and addresses of those customers
WhiCh, according to Its blllmg records, are deemed exempt from the utility
users' tax With respect to a service user of telephone communication
services, a service supplier of such telephone commUnication services dOing
business In the City shall, upon the request of the Tax Administrator, provide
a copy of the federal exemption certificate for each exempt customer Within
the City that IS served by such service supplier
Section 6.72.070. Collection of Tax.
The duty of service suppliers to collect and remit the taxes Imposed
by the provIsions of thiS Chapter shall be performed as follows:
(a) The tax shall be collected Insofar as practicable at the same
time as, and along With, the collection of charges made m accordance With
the regular billing practice of the service supplier Where the amount paid
by a service user to a service supplier is less than the full amount of the
charge and tax whIch was accrued for the billing penod, a proportIonate
share of both the charge and the tax shall be deemed to have been paid In
those cases where a service user has notified the service supplier of refusal
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to pay the tax Imposed on said charges, Section 6 72 11 O(b) of this Chapter
shall apply
(b) The duty to collect tax from a service user shall commence with
the beginning ofthe first regular billing period applicable to that person which
starts on or after the July 1, 1969 Where a person receives more than one
billing, one or more being for different periods than another, the duty to
collect shall arise separately for each billing period
Section 6.72.080. Reporting and Remitting.
(a) Each person required by this Chapter to remit a tax shall file a
return with the Tax Administrator on forms approved by the Tax
Administrator on or before the due date At the time the return IS filed, the
full amount of the tax owed shall be remitted to the Tax Administrator. The
Tax Administrator IS authonzed to reqUire such further information as he or
she deems necessary to properly determine If the tax here Imposed IS being
levied, collected and remitted In accordance with this Chapter. Returns and
remittances are due immediately upon cessation of business for any reason
Pursuant to Revenue and Tax Code Section 72846, the Tax Admimstrator,
and hiS or her agents, shall maintain the filed returns as confidential
information, and not subJect to disclosure underthe Public Records Act. Any
person reqUired to remit a tax may, upon wntten application to, and With the
written consent of, the Tax Ad mlnlstrator, may make reports and remittances
on a quarterly baSISa
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(b) A tax shall be considered remitted to the Tax Administrator If It IS
sent, postage paid, by United States Postal Service first class mail and
postmarked on or before Its due date
(c) Any person who collects or remits a tax under this Chapter and
who IS authonzed to remIt an estimated tax amount, shall remit an adjusted
tax payment or request for credit, as appropriate, WIthin Sixty (60) days
follOWing each calendar quarter The credIt, If approved by the Tax
Administrator, may be applied against any subsequent tax bill that becomes
due,
(d) A direct depOSit, including electronic fund transfers and other
Similar methods of electronically exchanging mOnies between financial
accounts, made by a servIce supplIer In satIsfactIon of its remitting
obligations under this Chapter, shall be considered timely remitted if the
transfer is Initiated on or before the due date, and the transfer settles into the
City's account by no later than the follOWing bUSiness day
Section 6.72.090. Penalty.
(a) Taxes collected from a service user, or owed by a service user
subject to Section 6.72.045 of this Chapter, which are not remitted to the Tax
Administrator on or before the due dates proVided In thiS Chapter are
delinquent Should the due date occur on a weekend or legal holiday, the
return must be received by the Tax Administrator on the first regular working
day follOWing the weekend or legal holiday
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(b) If the person required to collect or remit the utility users' tax
falls to collect the tax, such as by fa/lIng to properly assess the tax on one or
more services or charges on the customer's billing, or falls to remit the tax
collected, or, in the case of a service user that falls to property self-collect
and remit the tax under Section 6 72 045 of thiS Chapter, the Tax
Administrator shall attach a penalty atthe rate of fifteen percent (15%) of the
total tax that is delinquent or defiCient In the remittance. Notwithstanding the
foregOing, a person required to collect or remit the utIlity users' tax shall not
be subject to the 15% penalty and Interest for an "Improper assessment," if
such "Improper assessment" IS voluntarily disclosed to the Tax Administrator,
or Its agent, and promptly corrected thereafter by such person, whether the
disclosure occurs In the course of a Tax Administrator survey under this
Chapter or the disclosure IS voluntanly initiated by such person For
purposes of this subsection, the term "voluntanly disclosed" shall mean
information prOVided by a service supplier to the CIty for the purpose of
increaSing the accuracy of the service supplier's tax collection or remittances
before the Issue has been raised or an InqUiry has been Initiated by the City
or any other California municipality
(c) The Tax Administrator shall have power to Impose additional
penaltIes upon persons reqUIred to collect or remIt taxes under the provisions
of thiS Chapter for fraud or gross negligence In reporting or remitting at the
rate of fifteen percent (15%) of the amount of the tax collected or reqUired to
be remitted, or as recomputed by the Tax Administrator.
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(d) In addition to any other penalties imposed by this Chapter, any
person required to collect or remit any tax Imposed under the provIsions of
this Chapter who falls to collect the tax or who fails to remit the tax collected,
or, in the case of a service user that falls to properly self-collect and remit the
tax under Section 6.72,045 of this Chapter, shall pay Interest at the rate of
three-quarters of one percent (3/4%) per month, or any fraction thereof, on
the amount of the tax from the date on which the remittance first became
delinquent, until paid
(e) The Tax Administrator shall have the power to reduce or to
waive any penalty upon persons reqUired to collect and remit taxes under the
proVIsions of this Chapter so long as such reduction or waiver IS In wntlng
and complies With any administrative rules adopted by resolution of the City
Council to facIlitate the Implementation of this Chapter Any request for
reduction orwalverof any penalty assessed pursuant to this Section shall be
made In wntlng no later than thirty (30) days following the assessment of
penalty,
Section 6.72.100. Actions to Collect.
Any tax reqUired to be paid by a service user under the provIsions of
this Chapter shall be deemed a debt owed by the servIce user to the CIty.
Any such tax collected from a service user which has not been remitted to
the Tax Administrator shall be deemed a debt owed to the City by the person
reqUired to collect and remit and shall no longer be a debt of the service
22
user Any person oWing money to the City under the provIsions of this
Chapter shall be lIable In aA action brought In the name of the CIty for the
recovery of such amount. plus any collection costs Incurred by the City as a
result of the person's noncompliance With thiS Chapter Including, but not
limited to. reasonable attorneys' fees
Section 6.72.110. Failure to Pay Tax. Administrative Remedy.
(a) Whenever the Tax Administrator determines that a service user
has deliberately Withheld the amount of the tax owed by him or her from the
amounts remitted to a service supplier required to collect the tax, that a
service user has failed to pay the amount of the tax for a period of two (2) or
more billing periods, or whenever the Tax Administrator deems it in the best
interest of the CIty, the Tax Administrator, In his or her sole discretion, may
relieve the service supplier of the obligation to collect taxes due under thiS
Chapter from certain named service users for speCified billing periods The
service su ppller shall proVide the City With the names and addresses of such
service users and the amounts of taxes owed under the ProVisions of thiS
Chapter
(b) The Tax Administrator shalt notify the service user that he or she
has assumed responsibility to collect the taxes due for the stated periods and
demand payment of such taxes The notice shall be served on the service
user personally or by depOSit of the notice in the United States mall, postage
prepaid thereon, addressed to the service user at the address to which billing
23
was made by the service supplier, or should the service user have changed
his or her address, to his or her last known address. If a service user fails to
remit the tax to the Tax Administrator Within fifteen (15) days from the date
of the service of the notice upon him or her, which shall be the date of
mailing If service IS not accomplished In person, a penalty of twenty-five
percent (25%) of the amount of the tax set forth In the notice shall be
Imposed, along With Interest at the rate of three-quarters of one percent
(3/4 %) per month, or any fraction thereof, on the amount ofthe tax, exclUSive
of penalties, from the date on which the remittance first became delinquent,
until paid, but not less than Five Dollars ($5.00)
(c) The Tax Administrator may make an assessment for taxes not
paid or remitted by a service user who was required to payor remit a tax
under this Chapter The Tax Administrator shall mall a notice of such
assessment, which shall identify the amount of the taxes and other charges,
Interest or penalties due or Imposed and the time and place where the
assessment may be contested, to the person selling the service and to the
service user at least ten (10) days prior to the date of the hearing and shall
conspicuously post such notice for at least five (5) continuous days prior to
the date of the hearing at the Chambers of the City Council Any interested
party havmg any obJectIons may appear and be heard at the hearing
proVided hiS or her objection IS filed In wntlng with the Tax Administrator pnor
to the time set for the hearing At the time fixed for considering said
24
assessment, the Tax Administrator shall hear the assessment together With
any abJectIon fIled and thereupon may confirm or modIfy the assessment
Section 6.72.120. Additional Power and Duties of Tax
Administrator.
(a) The Tax Administrator shall have the power and duty, and IS
hereby directed, to enforce each and all of the proVIsions of thiS Chapter
(b) The Tax Administrator may adopt administrative rules, issue
administrative rulings and regulations consistent with the provisions of thiS
Chapter for the pu rpose of carrying out and enforcing the payment, collection
and remittance of the taxes Imposed by thiS Chapter. A copy of the
administrative rules and regulations shall be on file In the Tax Administrator's
office, In performing hiS or her duties under thiS Chapter, the Tax
Administrator shall not Impose a new tax or Increase an eXisting tax except
as authonzed by law.
(c) Upon a proper shOWing of good cause, the Tax Administrator may
make administrative agreements, with appropriate conditions, to vary from
the strict requirements of this Chapter and thereby (i) conform to the billing
procedures of a particular service supplier (or service user subject to Section
6 72 045 of thIS Chapter) so long as saId agreements result In the collectIon
of the tax In conformance With the general purpose and scope of thiS
Chapter, or, (II) to aVOid a hardship where the administrative costs of
collection and remittance greatly outweigh the tax benefit. A copy of each
25
such agreement shall be on file In the Tax AdmInistrators office, and are
vOidable by the Tax Administrator or the City at any tIme
(d) The Tax Administrator shall be authorized to determine the
eligibility of any person who asserts a right to exemption from or a refund of,
the tax Imposed by this Chapter
Section 6.72.125. Appeals.
(a) If the servIce user or service supplier IS ag9neved by any deCision
or administrative ruling of the Tax Administrator, or With the failure to grant
a refund or exemption as provided for under this Chapter, he or she may
appeal to the City Manager, or hiS or her duly authonzed deSignee, by filing
a notIce of appeal WIth the City Clerk within fourteen (14) days of the
deCision or administrative ruling which aggrieved the service user or service
supplier The City Clerk shall thereupon fix a time and place for a hearing of
such appeal wlthm forty-five (45) days of the date that the notice of appeal
IS filed with the City Clerk The City Clerk shall give notice to such person of
the time and place of hearing as herein proVided,
(b) The deCISion of the City Manager, or hiS or her duly authonzed
deSignee, shall be final and not appealable to the City Council, but subject
to JudiCIal review pursuant to CalIfornia Code of CIVil Procedure Section
1094 5
(c) No Injunction or Writ of mandate or other legal or eqUitable
process shall Issue In any SUit, action, or proceeding In any court against the
26
CIty or against any office ofthe City to prevent or enjoin the collection under
this Chapter of any tax or any amount of'tax required to be collected or
remitted
Section 6.72.130. Records.
(a) It shall be the duty of every person required to collect or remit to
the City and tax Imposed by this Chapter to keep and preserve, for a period
of at least three (3) years, all records as may be necessary to determine the
amount of such tax as he or she may have been liable for the collection of
or remittance to the Tax Administrator, which records the Tax Administrator,
or the Tax Administrator's deSIgnated representative, shall have the right to
Inspect at a reasonable time
(b) The City may Issue an administrative subpoena to compel a
person to deliver, to the Tax Administrator, copies of all records deemed
necessary by the Tax Administrator to establish compliance with thiS
Chapter, including the delivery of records In a common electroniC format on
readily available media If such records are kept electrOnically by the person
In the usual and ordinary course of bUSiness As an alternative to dellvenng
the subpoenaed records to the Tax Administrator on or before the due date
proVIded in the adminIstratIve subpoena, such person may provide access
to such records to the CIty on or before the due date, proVided that such
person shall reimburse the City for all reasonable travel expenses Incurred
by the City to Inspect those records, including travel, lodging, meals, and
27
other similar expenses, but excluding the normal salary or hourly wages of
those persons designated by the City to conduct the inspection
(c) The Tax Administrator, or the Tax Administrator's designated
representative, is authorized to execute a non-disclosure agreement
approved by the City Attorney to protect the confidentiality of customer
Information pursuant to California Revenue and Tax Code Sections 7284.6
and 7284 7 The Tax Administrator, or the Tax Administrator's deSignated
representative, may request from a person prOViding transportation or
distribution services of gas or electnclty to servIce users Within the City, a list
of the names, billing and service addresses, quantities of gas or electriCIty
delivered, and other pertinent information, of Its transportation customers
Within the City pursuant to Section 6354(e) of the California Public Utilities
Code
(d) If a service supplier uses a billing agent or billing aggregatorto
bill, collect, or remit the tax, the service supplier shall: I) proVide to the Tax
Administrator the name, add ress and telephone nu mber of each billing agent
and billing aggregator currently authonzed by the service supplIer to bill,
collect, and/or remit the tax to the City; and, ii) upon request of the tax
administrator, delIver, or effect the delivery of, any information or records in
the possession of such billing agent or billIng aggregator that, In the opinIon
of the Tax Administrator, IS necessary to verify the proper application,
calculation, collection or remittance of such tax to the City.
28
(e) If any person subject to record-keeping under this Section
unreasonably denles the Tax Admlnlstrator, or the Tax Admlnlstrator's
desIgnated representative, access to such records, or falls to produce the
Information requested In an administrative subpoena Within the time
specified. the Tax Administrator or the Tax Administrator's designated
representative may Impose a penalty offive hundred dollars ($500) on such
person for each day following: I) the Initial date that the person refuses to
provide such access; or, II) the due date for production of records as set forth
In the administrative subpoena ThiS penalty shall be In addition to any other
penalty Imposed under thiS Chapter
Section 6.72.140. Refunds.
(a) Whenever the amount of any tax has been overpaid, paid more
than once, or has been erroneously or Illegally collected or received by the
Tax Admlnlstrator under this Chapter, It may be refunded as proVided In this
Sectlon
(b) The Tax Administrator may refund any tax that has been overpaid,
paid more than once, or has been erroneously or Illegally collected or
received by the Tax Administrator under this Chapter, prOVided that no
refund shall be paid under the proVISions of this Section unless the claimant
or hiS or her guardian, conservator, executor or adminlstrator has submitted
a wntten claim to the Tax Administrator Within one (1) year of the
overpayment or erroneous or Illegal collection of said tax The claim must
29
clearly establish claimant's right to the refund by written records shOWing
entitlement thereto Nothing herein shall permit the filing of a claim on behalf
of a class or group of taxpayers
(c) The submission of a written claim shall be a prerequisite to a suit
for a refund as proVided for In Government Code Section 935 The City shall
act upon the refund claim Within the time period set forth In Government
Code Section 912.4. Ifthe City falls or refuses to act on a refund claIm within
the time prescribed by Government Code SectIon 912.4, the claIm shall be
deemed to have been rejected by the City on the last day of the period within
which the CIty was reqUired to act upon the claIm as proVided in Government
Code Section 912 4
(d) Notwithstanding other proVISions of thiS Section, whenever a
service supplier, pursuant to an order of the California Public Utilities
Commission or court of competent Junsdlctlon, makes a refund to service
users of charges for past utility services, the taxes paid pursuant to thiS
Chapter on the amount of such refunded charges shall also be refunded to
the service users, and the servIce supplier shall be entitled to claim a credit
for such refunded taxes against the amount of tax which IS due upon the next
monthly returns The service supplier shall proVide to the Tax Administrator
such documentatIon concerning Its entItlement to a credIt under thIS
subsection as the Tax Administrator may deem necessary In the event thiS
Chapter IS repealed, the amounts of any refundable taxes shall be borne by
the City
30
(e) Notwithstanding subsections (b) and (d) above, a service supplIer
shall be entitled to take any overpayment as a credit against an
underpayment whenever such overpayment has been received by the City
within three (3) years next preceding a notice of tax defiCiency or
assessment by the Tax AdminIstrator, or dUring any year for which the
service supplier, at the request of the Tax Administrator, has executed a
waiver of the defense of the statute of limitations With regard to any claim the
City may have for a utility users tax. Under no circumstances shall an
overpayment taken as a credit against an underpayment pursuant to thIs
subsection qualify a Service Supplier for a refund to which It would not
otherwise be entitled under the one-year wntten claim requirement of this
Section
(f) Nothing In this section IS Intended to limit any nght to refund
that may be ordered by the California PubliC Utilities CommiSSion.
Section 6.72.150. Special Exemption.
(a) In additIon to the refund procedures set forth In Section
6.72 140, there IS hereby established speCial exemption procedures for
natural persons meeting the eligibility cntena established by thiS Section.
(b) To be eligible for the speCIal exemption proVIded for In thIS
Section, a person must be sixty-two (62) years of age or older, or such
person must meet the cntena of disability as established by the SOCial
Security Administration's supplemental secunty income program for the
31
aged, blind and disabled (Title XVI of the Social Secunty Act, as amended)
In addition, no person shall be eligible for the specIal exemption provIded for
In this SectIon If such person's annual gross household Income, as
hereinafter defined, exceeds the maximum dollar amount for the calendar
year for which a refund is claimed. The maximum dollar amount will be
established and from time to time amended by administrative action of the
City For the purposes of this Section, "gross household Income" shall be
and Include the Income of every member of the household received dUring
the year, including, but not limIted to, wages, salanes, bonuses, tipS, gross
amounts of pensions and annuities, retirement benefits, SOCial secunty
payments, disability payments, life Insurance benefits, mterest, capital gains
and mhentances
(c) Notwithstanding Subsections (a) and (b), persons who receive
taxable utility service from master meters, or for whom utilIty charges are
Included In house, apartment, or other rental charges shall not be eligIble for
the speCial exemption proVided for In this Section Persons receiVing funds
from any public agency specifically for the payment of such utility users taxes
shall, likewise, not be eligible for the rebate proVided for herein.
(d) Reserved.
(e) Special Exemption procedures are as follows.
(1) Any person eligible under subsections (a) and (b) may
file an application for an exemption With the Tax Administrator or his or her
deSignee. The application shall be submitted on the forms prOVided by the
32
City and all statements made therein shall be under oath and subject to
penalty of perjury No application shall be granted unless the applicant
establishes his or her nght thereto by written record shOWing entitlement
thereto The Tax Administrator or his or her designee may require such
additional eVidence as he or she deems necessary or appropnate In
determining entitlement
(2) The Tax Administrator or hiS or her deSignee shall
review all such applications and shall certify as exempt those applicants
determined to qualify therefor The Tax Administrator or his or her deSignee
shall notify all service suppliers affected that such exemptions have been
approved Foreach exemption, the follOWing information shall be transmitted
to the service supplier.
(I) Name of exempt applicant
(II) Account number shown on utility bill
(III) Address to which exempt service IS being
supplied
(IV) Any other information as may be necessary for
the service supplier to remove the exempt service user from Its tax billing
procedure
(3) Upon receIpt of such notification, the service supplier
shall not be reqUired to continue to bill any further tax Imposed by thiS
Chapter from such exempt service user, until further notice by the Tax
Administrator or hiS or her deSignee is given, The service supplier shall
33
eliminate such exempt service user from its tax billing procedure no later
than sixty (60) days after receipt of such notice from the Tax Administrator
or his or her designee
(4) All exemptions shall continue and be renewed
automatically by the Tax Admin Istrator or his or her designee, so long as the
prerequIsite facts supporting the Initial qualIfication for exemption shall
continue. The exemption shall automatically terminate with any change In the
service address or reSidence of the exempt service user, except that such
service user may apply for a new exemption
(5) The Tax Administrator or his or herdesignee shall have
the nght and the power to demand eVidence of continued eligibility of a
service user for exemption Failure to provide any eVidence requested by the
Tax Administrator or hiS or her deSignee as IS wlthm the control of a service
user to so proVide shall be grounds for the immediate dIscontinuance of the
exemption EVidence proVided to the Tax Administrator or hiS or her
deSignee upon request may not be used against such service user as
evidence of Violation of the provIsions of this Section, such eVidence may
only be used as grounds for termination of the exemption
(6) Any indIvidual exempt from the tax shall notify the Tax
Administrator or hiS or her deSignee Within ten (10) days of any change In
fact or Clrcu mstance which might disqualify the indivIdual from receivIng such
exemption No person shall knOWingly receive the benefits ofthe exemptions
34
provided by this Section, when the basIs for such exemption either does not
exist or ceases to eXIst.
(7) If the Tax Administrator or his or her designee
determines that an application for an exemption IS faulty or that the applicant
has failed to truthfully set forth the required facts, the application for
exemption shall be denied In writing to the applicant.
(f) A determination of the Tax Administrator or hiS or her designee
to deny an application for exemption may be appealed In accordance With
prior MUnicipal Code Section 6 16020 Within ten (10) days after the date of
mailing of the rejection of the claim or denial of the application. If an appeal
by an aggrieved claimant or applicant IS not taken Within the ten (10) day
penod, no appeal of the deCISion of the Tax Administrator or hiS or her
designee may thereafter be taken. and the determinatIOn of the Tax
Administrator or hiS or her deSignee shall become final
Section 6.72.160. Severability.
If any section, subsection, subdiVISion, paragraph, sentence, clause
or phrase of this Chapter or any part thereof IS for any reason held to be
Invalid, unlawful or unconstitutional, such deCISion shall not affect the valIdIty
of the remaining portions of thiS Chapter or any part thereof. The City
Council hereby declares that It would have passed each section, subsection,
subdiVIsion, paragraph, sentence, clause or phrase thereof, Irrespective of
35
the fact that anyone or more sections, subsectIons, subdivIsions,
paragraphs, sentences, clauses or phrases be declared unconstitutional
Section 6.72.170. Notice of Changes to Ordinance.
If a tax underthis Chapter IS added, repealed, Increased, reduced, or
the tax base IS changed, the Tax Administrator shall follow the notice
requirements of Pubhc Utilities Code Section 799 or other applicable law,
Pnorto the effective date of the ordinance change, the servIce supplier shall
provide the Tax Administrator With a copy of any wntten procedures
descnblng the information that the service supplier needs to Implement the
ordinance change. If the service supplier falls to provide such written
Instructions, the Tax Administrator, or its agent, shall send, by first class mall,
a copy of the ordinance change to all collectors and remitters of the City's
utility users taxes according to the latest payment records of the Tax
Administrator
SECTION 2 Any provIsion of the Santa Monica MUniCipal Code or appendices
thereto InconSistent with the proVIsions of thiS Ordmance, to the extent of such
InconSistencies and no further, is hereby repealed or modified to that extent necessary to
effect the proVIsions of thiS OrdInance
SECTION 3 If any section, subsection, sentence, clause, or phrase of thiS
Ordinance IS for any reason held to be invalid or unconstitutional by a deCISion of any court
36
of competent JUriSdictIon, such decIsion shall not affect the validity of the remaining
portIons of this OrdInance The City CouncIl hereby declares that It would have passed thIS
Ordinance and each and every sectton, subsection, sentence, clause, or phrase not
declared invalid or unconstitutional without regard to whether any portion of the Ordinance
would be subsequently declared invalid or unconstitutional.
SECTION 4 The Mayor shall sign and the City Clerk shall attest to the passage of
thiS Ordinance. The City Clerk shall cause the same to be published once in the official
newspaper Within 15 days after Its adoption ThiS Ordinance shall become effective 30
days from Its adoption,
APPROVED AS TO FORM
~~' .~A;k;{w
MARSHAJ ES M~tT~~
City Attorne
37
Adopted and approved this 25th day of July, 2000
State of California )
County of Los Angeles) ss
City of Santa MOnica )
I, Mana M Stewart, City Clerk of the City of Santa Monica, do hereby certify that the
foregoing Ordinance No 1979 (CCS) had It's introductIon on July 11, 2000, and was
adopted at the Santa MOnica City CounCil meeting held on July 25,2000, by the
fOllowmg vote"
Ayes.
CounCil members. Holbrook, Rosenstein, McKeown, Feinstein, Bloom,
Mayor Pro Tem O'Connor, Mayor Genser
Noes.
CounCil members: None
Abstam CounCil members. None
Absent CounCil members None
ATTEST
'--- -
~ '---w-~~
Mana M Stewart, City Clerk