Section 510.120  Returns

a)         A return with respect to the tax imposed by Section 2a.1 of the Act (See Section 510.110(b)(1) and (2)) shall be made by every person for any taxable period for which such person is liable for such tax.  Returns shall be due and shall be filed with the Department not later than the 15th day of the third month following the close of the taxable period.  A taxpayer making a return shall, at the time of making such return, pay to the Department the remaining amount of tax herein imposed and due for the taxable period.  Such return shall contain the following information:

1)         Taxpayer's name;

2)         Address of taxpayer's principal place of business, and address of the principal place of business (if that is a different address) from which the taxpayer engages in the business of distributing electricity in this State;

3)         The total equity, in the case of electric cooperatives, in the annual reports filed with the Rural Utilities Service for the taxable period;

4)         The total kilowatt-hours of electricity distributed by a taxpayer, other than an electric cooperative, in this State for the taxable period covered by the return; and

5)         The amount of tax due for the taxable period (computed on the basis of the amounts set forth in Items 3 and 4.  [35 ILCS 620/2a.2]

b)         Each taxpayer shall make estimated quarterly payments on the 15^th day of the third, sixth, ninth and twelfth months of each taxable period.  Such estimated payments shall be 25% of the tax liability for the immediately preceding taxable period.

c)         If any payment provided for in this Section exceeds the taxpayer's liabilities under the Act, as shown on an original return, the taxpayer may credit such excess payment against liability subsequently to be remitted to the Department under the Act.  [35 ILCS 620/2a.2].

d)         Notwithstanding any other provision in the Act concerning the time within which a taxpayer may file a return, in the case of any taxpayer who ceases to engage in a kind of business which makes the taxpayer responsible for filing returns under the Act, such taxpayer shall file a final return under the Act with the Department not more than one month after discontinuing such business.

e)         The return is to be made on forms prescribed and furnished by the Department and must be signed by the taxpayer or the taxpayer's duly authorized agent for this purpose.  It is the duty of each taxpayer to obtain return forms, and failure to obtain such forms will not relieve a taxpayer from liability for any penalties attaching to failure to make any return.  Return forms may be found on the Department's website.  Returns may be submitted electronically on the Department's website at MyTax.Illinois.gov. 

f)         Any taxpayer who fails to make a return, or who makes a fraudulent return, or who willfully violates any other provision of the Act or any rule or regulation of the Department for the administration and enforcement of the Act, is guilty of a business offense and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined not less than $750 nor more than $7,500.  [35 ILCS 620/13]

(Source:  Amended at 47 Ill. Reg. 18748, effective November 28, 2023)