State of Illinois
90th General Assembly
Legislation

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[ Introduced ]

90_HB0961eng

      35 ILCS 5/917             from Ch. 120, par. 9-917
      35 ILCS 120/11            from Ch. 120, par. 450
      35 ILCS 130/10b           from Ch. 120, par. 453.10b
      35 ILCS 135/20            from Ch. 120, par. 453.50
      35 ILCS 200/15-172
      35 ILCS 405/6             from Ch. 120, par. 405A-6
      35 ILCS 610/11            from Ch. 120, par. 467.11
      35 ILCS 615/11            from Ch. 120, par. 467.26
      35 ILCS 620/11            from Ch. 120, par. 478
      35 ILCS 625/11            from Ch. 120, par. 1421
      35 ILCS 630/15            from Ch. 120, par. 2015
      35 ILCS 705/2.5 new
          Amends the Tax Collection Suit Act  to  provide  that  in
      addition  to  any  other  authorized  methods used to collect
      delinquent taxes, the Department of Revenue may contract with
      private  collection  entities,  make  public   any   personal
      information  collected  by the Department, or implement other
      methods of collection deemed  necessary  by  the  Department.
      Provides  that before the Department takes measures that make
      public any  personal  information,  it  must  give  a  30-day
      written notice to the delinquent party.  Provides that if the
      delinquent  party  remedies  the  delinquency, the Department
      shall keep the information confidential.  Amends the Illinois
      Income Tax  Act,  the  Retailers'  Occupation  Tax  Act,  the
      Cigarette  Tax  Act,  the Cigarette Use Tax Act, the Property
      Tax  Code,  the  Illinois  Estate   and   Generation-Skipping
      Transfer  Tax  Act, the Messages Tax Act, the Gas Revenue Tax
      Act, the Public Utilities  Revenue  Act,  the  Water  Company
      Invested  Capital  Tax Act, and the Telecommunications Excise
      Tax  Act  to  make  an  exception  to   the   confidentiality
      provisions of those Acts. Effective January 1, 1998.
                                                     LRB9002184KDks
HB0961 Engrossed                               LRB9002184KDks
 1        AN ACT in relation to taxes, amending named Acts.
 2        Be  it  enacted  by  the People of the State of Illinois,
 3    represented in the General Assembly:
 4        Section 5.  The Illinois Income Tax  Act  is  amended  by
 5    changing Section 917 as follows:
 6        (35 ILCS 5/917) (from Ch. 120, par. 9-917)
 7        (Text of Section before amendment by P.A. 89-507)
 8        Sec. 917.  Confidentiality and information sharing.
 9        (a)  Confidentiality. Except as provided in this Section,
10    all information received by the Department from returns filed
11    under this Act, or from any investigation conducted under the
12    provisions  of  this  Act,  shall be confidential, except for
13    official  purposes  within  the  Department  or  pursuant  to
14    official procedures  for  collection  of  any  State  tax  or
15    pursuant  to  an investigation or audit by the Illinois State
16    Scholarship  Commission  of  a  delinquent  student  loan  or
17    monetary award  or  enforcement  of  any  civil  or  criminal
18    penalty or sanction imposed by this Act or by another statute
19    imposing  a  State  tax, and any person who divulges any such
20    information in any  manner,  except  for  such  purposes  and
21    pursuant  to  order  of  the Director or in accordance with a
22    proper  judicial  order,  shall  be  guilty  of  a  Class   A
23    misdemeanor.   However,  the provisions of this paragraph are
24    not  applicable  to  information  furnished  to  a   licensed
25    attorney  representing  the  taxpayer  where  an  appeal or a
26    protest has been filed on behalf of the taxpayer.
27        (b)  Public information. Nothing contained  in  this  Act
28    shall   prevent   the  Director  from  publishing  or  making
29    available to the public the names and  addresses  of  persons
30    filing  returns  under this Act, or from publishing or making
31    available reasonable statistics concerning the  operation  of
HB0961 Engrossed            -2-                LRB9002184KDks
 1    the  tax  wherein  the  contents  of returns are grouped into
 2    aggregates in such a way that the  information  contained  in
 3    any individual return shall not be disclosed.
 4        (c)  Governmental   agencies.   The   Director  may  make
 5    available to the Secretary of  the  Treasury  of  the  United
 6    States or his delegate, or the proper officer or his delegate
 7    of any other state imposing a tax upon or measured by income,
 8    for  exclusively  official  purposes, information received by
 9    the Department in the administration of this  Act,  but  such
10    permission shall be granted only if the United States or such
11    other  state,  as  the  case  may  be,  grants the Department
12    substantially similar privileges.  The Director may  exchange
13    information  with  the  Illinois Department of Public Aid for
14    the purpose of verifying sources and amounts  of  income  and
15    for other purposes directly connected with the administration
16    of  this  Act  and The Illinois Public Aid Code. The Director
17    may exchange information with the Director of the  Department
18    of  Employment  Security for the purpose of verifying sources
19    and  amounts  of  income  and  for  other  purposes  directly
20    connected with  the  administration  of  this  Act  and  Acts
21    administered  by  the  Department of Employment Security. The
22    Director  may  make  available  to  the  Illinois  Industrial
23    Commission information regarding employers for the purpose of
24    verifying the insurance coverage required under the  Workers'
25    Compensation Act and Workers' Occupational Diseases Act.
26        The  Director  may  make  available  to any State agency,
27    including the Illinois Supreme Court, which licenses  persons
28    to  engage  in  any  occupation,  information  that  a person
29    licensed by such agency has failed to file returns under this
30    Act or pay the tax, penalty and interest  shown  therein,  or
31    has  failed  to  pay  any final assessment of tax, penalty or
32    interest due under this  Act.  The  Director  may  also  make
33    available  to  the  Secretary  of  State  information  that a
34    corporation  which  has  been   issued   a   certificate   of
HB0961 Engrossed            -3-                LRB9002184KDks
 1    incorporation  by  the  Secretary of State has failed to file
 2    returns under this Act or pay the tax, penalty  and  interest
 3    shown  therein,  or has failed to pay any final assessment of
 4    tax, penalty or interest due under this Act. An assessment is
 5    final when all  proceedings  in  court  for  review  of  such
 6    assessment have terminated or the time for the taking thereof
 7    has  expired  without such proceedings being instituted.  For
 8    taxable years ending on  or  after  December  31,  1987,  the
 9    Director  may  make  available  to  the Director or principal
10    officer  of  any  Department  of  the  State   of   Illinois,
11    information  that  a  person  employed by such Department has
12    failed to file returns under this Act or pay the tax, penalty
13    and interest shown therein.  For purposes of this  paragraph,
14    the word "Department" shall have the same meaning as provided
15    in  Section  3  of the State Employees Group Insurance Act of
16    1971.
17        (d)  The  Director  shall  make  available   for   public
18    inspection  in  the  Department's  principal  office  and for
19    publication, at cost, administrative decisions issued  on  or
20    after  January  1,  1995.  These  decisions  are  to  be made
21    available  in  a  manner  so  that  the  following   taxpayer
22    information is not disclosed:
23             (1)  The   names,   addresses,   and  identification
24        numbers of the taxpayer, related entities, and employees.
25             (2)  At the sole discretion of the  Director,  trade
26        secrets  or  other confidential information identified as
27        such by the taxpayer, no later than 30 days after receipt
28        of an administrative  decision,  by  such  means  as  the
29        Department shall provide by rule.
30        The  Director  shall  determine the appropriate extent of
31    the deletions allowed in paragraph  (2).  In  the  event  the
32    taxpayer  does  not submit deletions, the Director shall make
33    only the deletions specified in paragraph (1).
34        The Director shall make available for  public  inspection
HB0961 Engrossed            -4-                LRB9002184KDks
 1    and  publication  an  administrative decision within 180 days
 2    after the issuance of the administrative decision.  The  term
 3    "administrative  decision" has the same meaning as defined in
 4    Section 3-101 of Article III of the Code of Civil  Procedure.
 5    Costs collected under this Section shall be paid into the Tax
 6    Compliance and Administration Fund.
 7    (Source: P.A. 88-669, eff. 11-29-94.)
 8        (Text of Section after amendment by P.A. 89-507)
 9        Sec. 917.  Confidentiality and information sharing.
10        (a)  Confidentiality. Except as provided in this Section,
11    all information received by the Department from returns filed
12    under this Act, or from any investigation conducted under the
13    provisions  of  this  Act,  shall be confidential, except for
14    official purposes within the Department, pursuant to  Section
15    2.5  of  the Tax Collection Suit Act, or pursuant to official
16    procedures for collection of any State tax or pursuant to  an
17    investigation  or  audit  by  the  Illinois State Scholarship
18    Commission of a delinquent student loan or monetary award  or
19    enforcement  of  any  civil  or  criminal penalty or sanction
20    imposed by this Act or by another statute  imposing  a  State
21    tax,  and any person who divulges any such information in any
22    manner, except for such purposes and pursuant to order of the
23    Director or in accordance with a proper judicial order, shall
24    be guilty of a Class A misdemeanor.  However, the  provisions
25    of this paragraph are not applicable to information furnished
26    to  a  licensed  attorney  representing the taxpayer where an
27    appeal or a protest has been filed on behalf of the taxpayer.
28        (b)  Public information. Nothing contained  in  this  Act
29    shall   prevent   the  Director  from  publishing  or  making
30    available to the public the names and  addresses  of  persons
31    filing  returns  under this Act, or from publishing or making
32    available reasonable statistics concerning the  operation  of
33    the  tax  wherein  the  contents  of returns are grouped into
34    aggregates in such a way that the  information  contained  in
HB0961 Engrossed            -5-                LRB9002184KDks
 1    any individual return shall not be disclosed.
 2        (c)  Governmental   agencies.   The   Director  may  make
 3    available to the Secretary of  the  Treasury  of  the  United
 4    States or his delegate, or the proper officer or his delegate
 5    of any other state imposing a tax upon or measured by income,
 6    for  exclusively  official  purposes, information received by
 7    the Department in the administration of this  Act,  but  such
 8    permission shall be granted only if the United States or such
 9    other  state,  as  the  case  may  be,  grants the Department
10    substantially similar privileges.  The Director may  exchange
11    information  with  the  Illinois Department of Public Aid and
12    the Department of Human Services (acting as successor to  the
13    Department  of  Public  Aid  under  the  Department  of Human
14    Services Act)  for  the  purpose  of  verifying  sources  and
15    amounts  of  income and for other purposes directly connected
16    with the administration of this Act and the  Illinois  Public
17    Aid  Code.  The  Director  may  exchange information with the
18    Director of the Department of  Employment  Security  for  the
19    purpose  of  verifying  sources and amounts of income and for
20    other purposes directly connected with the administration  of
21    this   Act   and  Acts  administered  by  the  Department  of
22    Employment Security. The Director may make available  to  the
23    Illinois    Industrial   Commission   information   regarding
24    employers for the purpose of verifying the insurance coverage
25    required under the Workers'  Compensation  Act  and  Workers'
26    Occupational Diseases Act.
27        The  Director  may  make  available  to any State agency,
28    including the Illinois Supreme Court, which licenses  persons
29    to  engage  in  any  occupation,  information  that  a person
30    licensed by such agency has failed to file returns under this
31    Act or pay the tax, penalty and interest  shown  therein,  or
32    has  failed  to  pay  any final assessment of tax, penalty or
33    interest due under this  Act.  The  Director  may  also  make
34    available  to  the  Secretary  of  State  information  that a
HB0961 Engrossed            -6-                LRB9002184KDks
 1    corporation  which  has  been   issued   a   certificate   of
 2    incorporation  by  the  Secretary of State has failed to file
 3    returns under this Act or pay the tax, penalty  and  interest
 4    shown  therein,  or has failed to pay any final assessment of
 5    tax, penalty or interest due under this Act. An assessment is
 6    final when all  proceedings  in  court  for  review  of  such
 7    assessment have terminated or the time for the taking thereof
 8    has  expired  without such proceedings being instituted.  For
 9    taxable years ending on  or  after  December  31,  1987,  the
10    Director  may  make  available  to  the Director or principal
11    officer  of  any  Department  of  the  State   of   Illinois,
12    information  that  a  person  employed by such Department has
13    failed to file returns under this Act or pay the tax, penalty
14    and interest shown therein.  For purposes of this  paragraph,
15    the word "Department" shall have the same meaning as provided
16    in  Section  3  of the State Employees Group Insurance Act of
17    1971.
18        (d)  The  Director  shall  make  available   for   public
19    inspection  in  the  Department's  principal  office  and for
20    publication, at cost, administrative decisions issued  on  or
21    after  January  1,  1995.  These  decisions  are  to  be made
22    available  in  a  manner  so  that  the  following   taxpayer
23    information is not disclosed:
24             (1)  The   names,   addresses,   and  identification
25        numbers of the taxpayer, related entities, and employees.
26             (2)  At the sole discretion of the  Director,  trade
27        secrets  or  other confidential information identified as
28        such by the taxpayer, no later than 30 days after receipt
29        of an administrative  decision,  by  such  means  as  the
30        Department shall provide by rule.
31        The  Director  shall  determine the appropriate extent of
32    the deletions allowed in paragraph  (2).  In  the  event  the
33    taxpayer  does  not submit deletions, the Director shall make
34    only the deletions specified in paragraph (1).
HB0961 Engrossed            -7-                LRB9002184KDks
 1        The Director shall make available for  public  inspection
 2    and  publication  an  administrative decision within 180 days
 3    after the issuance of the administrative decision.  The  term
 4    "administrative  decision" has the same meaning as defined in
 5    Section 3-101 of Article III of the Code of Civil  Procedure.
 6    Costs collected under this Section shall be paid into the Tax
 7    Compliance and Administration Fund.
 8    (Source: P.A. 88-669, eff. 11-29-94; 89-507, eff. 7-1-97.)
 9        Section 10.  The Retailers' Occupation Tax Act is amended
10    by changing Section 11 as follows:
11        (35 ILCS 120/11) (from Ch. 120, par. 450)
12        Sec. 11.  All information received by the Department from
13    returns  filed  under  this  Act,  or  from any investigation
14    conducted under this Act, shall be confidential,  except  for
15    official  purposes  or  pursuant  to  Section  2.5 of the Tax
16    Collection Suit Act, and any person  who  divulges  any  such
17    information in any manner, except in accordance with a proper
18    judicial  order  or  as  otherwise  provided by law, shall be
19    guilty of a Class B misdemeanor.
20        Nothing in this Act prevents the Director of Revenue from
21    publishing or making available to the public  the  names  and
22    addresses  of  persons  filing  returns  under  this  Act, or
23    reasonable statistics concerning the operation of the tax  by
24    grouping  the  contents  of returns so the information in any
25    individual return is not disclosed.
26        Nothing in this Act prevents the Director of Revenue from
27    divulging to the United States Government or  the  government
28    of  any  other  state,  or any village that does not levy any
29    real property taxes for village operations and that  receives
30    more  than  60%  of  its general corporate revenue from taxes
31    under the Use Tax Act, the Service Use Tax Act,  the  Service
32    Occupation Tax Act, and the Retailers' Occupation Tax Act, or
HB0961 Engrossed            -8-                LRB9002184KDks
 1    any  officer  or  agency  thereof,  for  exclusively official
 2    purposes,  information  received   by   the   Department   in
 3    administering this Act, provided that such other governmental
 4    agency  agrees  to  divulge  requested tax information to the
 5    Department.
 6        The Department's furnishing of information derived from a
 7    taxpayer's return or from an  investigation  conducted  under
 8    this  Act  to  the  surety on a taxpayer's bond that has been
 9    furnished to the Department under this Act, either to provide
10    notice to such surety of its potential  liability  under  the
11    bond  or,  in  order  to  support the Department's demand for
12    payment from such surety  under  the  bond,  is  an  official
13    purpose within the meaning of this Section.
14        The  furnishing  upon  request of information obtained by
15    the  Department  from  returns  filed  under  this   Act   or
16    investigations  conducted  under  this  Act  to  the Illinois
17    Liquor Control Commission for official use is deemed to be an
18    official purpose within the meaning of this Section.
19        Notice to a surety of potential liability  shall  not  be
20    given  unless  the taxpayer has first been notified, not less
21    than 10 days prior thereto, of the Department's intent to  so
22    notify the surety.
23        The  furnishing  upon  request of the Auditor General, or
24    his authorized agents, for official use, of returns filed and
25    information related thereto under this Act is deemed to be an
26    official purpose within the meaning of this Section.
27        Where an appeal or a protest has been filed on behalf  of
28    a  taxpayer,  the furnishing upon request of the attorney for
29    the taxpayer of returns filed by the taxpayer and information
30    related thereto under this Act is deemed to  be  an  official
31    purpose within the meaning of this Section.
32        The  furnishing  of  financial information to a home rule
33    unit that has imposed a tax similar to that imposed  by  this
34    Act  pursuant to its home rule powers, or to any village that
HB0961 Engrossed            -9-                LRB9002184KDks
 1    does not levy any real property taxes for village  operations
 2    and  that  receives  more  than  60% of its general corporate
 3    revenue from taxes under the Use Tax Act, the Service Use Tax
 4    Act, the Service  Occupation  Tax  Act,  and  the  Retailers'
 5    Occupation  Tax  Act,  upon  request  of  the Chief Executive
 6    thereof, is an official purpose within the  meaning  of  this
 7    Section,    provided  the home rule unit or village that does
 8    not levy any real property taxes for village  operations  and
 9    that  receives more than 60% of its general corporate revenue
10    from taxes under the Use Tax Act, the Service  Use  Tax  Act,
11    the Service Occupation Tax Act, and the Retailers' Occupation
12    Tax  Act  agrees  in  writing  to  the  requirements  of this
13    Section.
14        For a village that does not levy any real property  taxes
15    for village operations and that receives more than 60% of its
16    general  corporate  revenue from taxes under the Use Tax Act,
17    Service  Use  Tax  Act,  Service  Occupation  Tax  Act,   and
18    Retailers'  Occupation  Tax  Act,  the  officers  eligible to
19    receive information from the Department of Revenue under this
20    Section are the  village  manager  and  the  chief  financial
21    officer of the village.
22        Information   so   provided   shall  be  subject  to  all
23    confidentiality provisions  of  this  Section.   The  written
24    agreement  shall  provide  for  reciprocity,  limitations  on
25    access,    disclosure,    and   procedures   for   requesting
26    information.
27        The Director may make  available  to  any  State  agency,
28    including  the Illinois Supreme Court, which licenses persons
29    to engage  in  any  occupation,  information  that  a  person
30    licensed by such agency has failed to file returns under this
31    Act  or  pay  the tax, penalty and interest shown therein, or
32    has failed to pay any final assessment  of  tax,  penalty  or
33    interest  due  under  this  Act.  The  Director may also make
34    available to  the  Secretary  of  State  information  that  a
HB0961 Engrossed            -10-               LRB9002184KDks
 1    limited  liability  company,  which  has  filed  articles  of
 2    organization  with  the  Secretary  of  State, or corporation
 3    which has been issued a certificate of incorporation  by  the
 4    Secretary  of State has failed to file returns under this Act
 5    or pay the tax, penalty and interest shown  therein,  or  has
 6    failed  to  pay  any  final  assessment  of  tax,  penalty or
 7    interest due under this Act. An assessment is final when  all
 8    proceedings  in  court  for  review  of  such assessment have
 9    terminated or the time for the  taking  thereof  has  expired
10    without such proceedings being instituted.
11        The  Director  shall make available for public inspection
12    in the Department's principal office and for publication,  at
13    cost,  administrative decisions issued on or after January 1,
14    1995. These decisions are to be made available in a manner so
15    that the following taxpayer information is not disclosed:
16             (1)  The  names,   addresses,   and   identification
17        numbers of the taxpayer, related entities, and employees.
18             (2)  At  the  sole discretion of the Director, trade
19        secrets or other confidential information  identified  as
20        such by the taxpayer, no later than 30 days after receipt
21        of  an  administrative  decision,  by  such  means as the
22        Department shall provide by rule.
23        The Director shall determine the  appropriate  extent  of
24    the  deletions  allowed  in  paragraph  (2). In the event the
25    taxpayer does not submit deletions, the Director  shall  make
26    only the deletions specified in paragraph (1).
27        The  Director  shall make available for public inspection
28    and publication an administrative decision  within  180  days
29    after  the  issuance of the administrative decision. The term
30    "administrative decision" has the same meaning as defined  in
31    Section  3-101 of Article III of the Code of Civil Procedure.
32    Costs collected under this Section shall be paid into the Tax
33    Compliance and Administration Fund.
34    (Source: P.A. 88-480;  88-669,  eff.  11-29-94;  89-89,  eff.
HB0961 Engrossed            -11-               LRB9002184KDks
 1    6-30-95.)
 2        Section 15.  The Cigarette Tax Act is amended by changing
 3    Section 10b as follows:
 4        (35 ILCS 130/10b) (from Ch. 120, par. 453.10b)
 5        Sec.  10b.   All  information  received by the Department
 6    from returns filed under this Act, or from any  investigation
 7    conducted  under  this Act, shall be confidential, except for
 8    official purposes or pursuant  to  Section  2.5  of  the  Tax
 9    Collection  Suit  Act,  and  any person who divulges any such
10    information in any manner, except in accordance with a proper
11    judicial order or as otherwise  provided  by  law,  shall  be
12    guilty of a Class A misdemeanor.
13        Nothing in this Act prevents the Director of Revenue from
14    publishing  or  making  available to the public the names and
15    addresses of  persons  filing  returns  under  this  Act,  or
16    reasonable  statistics concerning the operation of the tax by
17    grouping the contents of returns so that the  information  in
18    any individual return is not disclosed.
19        Nothing in this Act prevents the Director of Revenue from
20    divulging  to  the United States Government or the government
21    of any other state, or any officer  or  agency  thereof,  for
22    exclusively  official  purposes,  information received by the
23    Department in administering  this  Act,  provided  that  such
24    other  governmental  agency  agrees  to divulge requested tax
25    information to the Department.
26        The furnishing upon request of the  Auditor  General,  or
27    his authorized agents, for official use, of returns filed and
28    information related thereto under this Act is deemed to be an
29    official purpose within the meaning of this Section.
30        The  furnishing  of  financial information to a home rule
31    unit with a  population  in  excess  of  2,000,000  that  has
32    imposed  a  tax similar to that imposed by this Act under its
HB0961 Engrossed            -12-               LRB9002184KDks
 1    home rule powers, upon request of the Chief Executive of  the
 2    home  rule unit, is an official purpose within the meaning of
 3    this Section, provided the home rule unit agrees  in  writing
 4    to  the requirements of this Section. Information so provided
 5    is subject to all confidentiality provisions of this Section.
 6    The  written  agreement  shall   provide   for   reciprocity,
 7    limitations   on   access,  disclosure,  and  procedures  for
 8    requesting information.
 9        The Director may make  available  to  any  State  agency,
10    including  the Illinois Supreme Court, which licenses persons
11    to engage  in  any  occupation,  information  that  a  person
12    licensed by such agency has failed to file returns under this
13    Act  or  pay  the tax, penalty and interest shown therein, or
14    has failed to pay any final assessment  of  tax,  penalty  or
15    interest due under this Act.  An assessment is final when all
16    proceedings  in  court  for  review  of  such assessment have
17    terminated or the time for the  taking  thereof  has  expired
18    without such proceedings being instituted.
19        The  Director  shall make available for public inspection
20    in the Department's principal office and for publication,  at
21    cost,  administrative decisions issued on or after January 1,
22    1995. These decisions are to be made available in a manner so
23    that the following taxpayer information is not disclosed:
24             (1)  The  names,   addresses,   and   identification
25        numbers of the taxpayer, related entities, and employees.
26             (2)  At  the  sole discretion of the Director, trade
27        secrets or other confidential information  identified  as
28        such by the taxpayer, no later than 30 days after receipt
29        of  an  administrative  decision,  by  such  means as the
30        Department shall provide by rule.
31        The Director shall determine the  appropriate  extent  of
32    the  deletions  allowed  in  paragraph  (2). In the event the
33    taxpayer does not submit deletions, the Director  shall  make
34    only the deletions specified in paragraph (1).
HB0961 Engrossed            -13-               LRB9002184KDks
 1        The  Director  shall make available for public inspection
 2    and publication an administrative decision  within  180  days
 3    after  the  issuance of the administrative decision. The term
 4    "administrative decision" has the same meaning as defined  in
 5    Section  3-101 of Article III of the Code of Civil Procedure.
 6    Costs collected under this Section shall be paid into the Tax
 7    Compliance and Administration Fund.
 8    (Source: P.A. 88-669, eff. 11-29-94.)
 9        Section 20.  The Cigarette Use  Tax  Act  is  amended  by
10    changing Section 20 as follows:
11        (35 ILCS 135/20) (from Ch. 120, par. 453.50)
12        Sec.  20.    All  information  received by the Department
13    from returns filed under this Act, or from any  investigation
14    conducted  under  this Act, shall be confidential, except for
15    official purposes or pursuant  to  Section  2.5  of  the  Tax
16    Collection  Suit  Act,  and  any person who divulges any such
17    information in any manner, except in accordance with a proper
18    judicial order or as otherwise  provided  by  law,  shall  be
19    guilty of a Class A misdemeanor.
20        Nothing in this Act prevents the Director of Revenue from
21    publishing  or  making  available to the public the names and
22    addresses of  persons  filing  returns  under  this  Act,  or
23    reasonable  statistics concerning the operation of the tax by
24    grouping the contents of returns so that the  information  in
25    any individual return is not disclosed.
26        Nothing in this Act prevents the Director of Revenue from
27    divulging  to  the United States Government or the government
28    of any other state, or any officer  or  agency  thereof,  for
29    exclusively  official  purposes,  information received by the
30    Department in administering  this  Act,  provided  that  such
31    other  governmental  agency  agrees  to divulge requested tax
32    information to the Department.
HB0961 Engrossed            -14-               LRB9002184KDks
 1        The furnishing upon request of the  Auditor  General,  or
 2    his authorized agents, for official use, of returns filed and
 3    information related thereto under this Act is deemed to be an
 4    official purpose within the meaning of this Section.
 5        The  furnishing  of  financial information to a home rule
 6    unit with a  population  in  excess  of  2,000,000  that  has
 7    imposed  a  tax similar to that imposed by this Act under its
 8    home rule powers, upon request of the Chief Executive of  the
 9    home  rule unit, is an official purpose within the meaning of
10    this Section, provided the home rule unit agrees  in  writing
11    to  the requirements of this Section. Information so provided
12    is subject to all confidentiality provisions of this Section.
13    The  written  agreement  shall   provide   for   reciprocity,
14    limitations   on   access,  disclosure,  and  procedures  for
15    requesting information.
16        The Director may make  available  to  any  State  agency,
17    including  the Illinois Supreme Court, which licenses persons
18    to engage  in  any  occupation,  information  that  a  person
19    licensed by such agency has failed to file returns under this
20    Act  or  pay  the tax, penalty and interest shown therein, or
21    has failed to pay any final assessment  of  tax,  penalty  or
22    interest due under this Act.  An assessment is final when all
23    proceedings  in  court  for  review  of  such assessment have
24    terminated or the time for the  taking  thereof  has  expired
25    without such proceedings being instituted.
26        The  Director  shall make available for public inspection
27    in the Department's principal office and for publication,  at
28    cost,  administrative decisions issued on or after January 1,
29    1995. These decisions are to be made available in a manner so
30    that the following taxpayer information is not disclosed:
31             (1)  The  names,   addresses,   and   identification
32        numbers of the taxpayer, related entities, and employees.
33             (2)  At  the  sole discretion of the Director, trade
34        secrets or other confidential information  identified  as
HB0961 Engrossed            -15-               LRB9002184KDks
 1        such by the taxpayer, no later than 30 days after receipt
 2        of  an  administrative  decision,  by  such  means as the
 3        Department shall provide by rule.
 4        The Director shall determine the  appropriate  extent  of
 5    the  deletions  allowed  in  paragraph  (2). In the event the
 6    taxpayer does not submit deletions, the Director  shall  make
 7    only the deletions specified in paragraph (1).
 8        The  Director  shall make available for public inspection
 9    and publication an administrative decision  within  180  days
10    after  the  issuance of the administrative decision. The term
11    "administrative decision" has the same meaning as defined  in
12    Section  3-101 of Article III of the Code of Civil Procedure.
13    Costs collected under this Section shall be paid into the Tax
14    Compliance and Administration Fund.
15    (Source: P.A. 88-669, eff. 11-29-94.)
16        Section 25.  The Property Tax Code is amended by changing
17    Section 15-172 as follows:
18        (35 ILCS 200/15-172)
19        Sec. 15-172. Senior Citizens Assessment Freeze  Homestead
20    Exemption.
21        (a)  This  Section  may  be  cited as the Senior Citizens
22    Assessment Freeze Homestead Exemption.
23        (b)  As used in this Section:
24        "Applicant"  means  an  individual  who  has   filed   an
25    application under this Section.
26        "Base  amount"  means  the  base  year equalized assessed
27    value of  the  residence  plus  the  first  year's  equalized
28    assessed  value of any added improvements which increased the
29    assessed value of the residence after the base year.
30        "Base year" means the taxable year prior to  the  taxable
31    year  for which the applicant first qualifies and applies for
32    the exemption provided that in the  prior  taxable  year  the
HB0961 Engrossed            -16-               LRB9002184KDks
 1    property  was  improved  with  a permanent structure that was
 2    occupied as a residence by the applicant who was  liable  for
 3    paying real property taxes on the property and who was either
 4    (i)  an  owner  of  record  of  the  property or had legal or
 5    equitable interest in the property as evidenced by a  written
 6    instrument  or  (ii)  had  a legal or equitable interest as a
 7    lessee in the parcel  of  property  that  was  single  family
 8    residence.
 9        "Chief   County  Assessment  Officer"  means  the  County
10    Assessor or Supervisor of Assessments of the county in  which
11    the property is located.
12        "Equalized  assessed  value"  means the assessed value as
13    equalized by the Illinois Department of Revenue.
14        "Household"  means  the  applicant,  the  spouse  of  the
15    applicant,  and  all  persons  using  the  residence  of  the
16    applicant as their principal place of residence.
17        "Household income"  means  the  combined  income  of  the
18    members  of  a  household for the calendar year preceding the
19    taxable year.
20        "Income" has the same meaning as provided in Section 3.07
21    of the Senior Citizens  and  Disabled  Persons  Property  Tax
22    Relief and Pharmaceutical Assistance Act.
23        "Internal  Revenue  Code of 1986" means the United States
24    Internal Revenue Code of 1986 or any successor  law  or  laws
25    relating  to  federal  income  taxes  in  effect for the year
26    preceding the taxable year.
27        "Life care facility  that  qualifies  as  a  cooperative"
28    means  a  facility  as  defined in Section 2 of the Life Care
29    Facilities Act.
30        "Residence"  means  the  principal  dwelling  place   and
31    appurtenant  structures used for residential purposes in this
32    State occupied  on  January  1  of  the  taxable  year  by  a
33    household  and  so much of the surrounding land, constituting
34    the parcel upon which the dwelling place is situated,  as  is
HB0961 Engrossed            -17-               LRB9002184KDks
 1    used for residential purposes. If the Chief County Assessment
 2    Officer  has  established  a specific legal description for a
 3    portion of property constituting  the  residence,  then  that
 4    portion  of  property  shall  be deemed the residence for the
 5    purposes of this Section.
 6        "Taxable year" means the calendar year  during  which  ad
 7    valorem  property  taxes  payable in the next succeeding year
 8    are levied.
 9        (c)  Beginning in taxable year 1994,  a  senior  citizens
10    assessment  freeze  homestead  exemption  is granted for real
11    property that is improved with a permanent structure that  is
12    occupied  as  a residence by an applicant who (i) is 65 years
13    of age or older during the taxable year, (ii) has a household
14    income of $35,000 or less, (iii) is liable  for  paying  real
15    property  taxes  on  the  property,  and  (iv) is an owner of
16    record of the property or has a legal or  equitable  interest
17    in  the  property  as evidenced by a written instrument. This
18    homestead exemption shall also apply to a leasehold  interest
19    in  a  parcel of property improved with a permanent structure
20    that is a single family  residence  that  is  occupied  as  a
21    residence  by  a  person  who (i) is 65 years of age or older
22    during the taxable year,  (ii)  has  a  household  income  of
23    $35,000  or  less,  (iii)  has a legal or equitable ownership
24    interest in the property as lessee, and (iv)  is  liable  for
25    the payment of real property taxes on that property.
26        The  amount  of  this  exemption  shall  be the equalized
27    assessed value of the residence in the taxable year for which
28    application is made minus the base amount.
29        When the applicant is a surviving spouse of an  applicant
30    for  a  prior  year  for  the  same  residence  for  which an
31    exemption under this Section has been granted, the base  year
32    and  base  amount  for that residence are the same as for the
33    applicant for the prior year.
34        Each year at the time the assessment books are  certified
HB0961 Engrossed            -18-               LRB9002184KDks
 1    to  the County Clerk, the Board of Review or Board of Appeals
 2    shall give to the County Clerk a list of the assessed  values
 3    of  improvements on each parcel qualifying for this exemption
 4    that were added after the base year for this parcel and  that
 5    increased the assessed value of the property.
 6        In  the  case of land improved with an apartment building
 7    owned and operated as a cooperative or a building that  is  a
 8    life  care  facility  that  qualifies  as  a cooperative, the
 9    maximum reduction from the equalized assessed  value  of  the
10    property  is  limited to the sum of the reductions calculated
11    for each unit occupied as a residence by a person or  persons
12    65  years  of age or older with a household income of $35,000
13    or less who is liable, by contract with the owner  or  owners
14    of record, for paying real property taxes on the property and
15    who is an owner of record of a legal or equitable interest in
16    the  cooperative  apartment  building, other than a leasehold
17    interest. In the instance of a cooperative where a  homestead
18    exemption   has   been   granted   under  this  Section,  the
19    cooperative association or its management firm  shall  credit
20    the  savings  resulting  from  that  exemption  only  to  the
21    apportioned  tax liability of the owner who qualified for the
22    exemption.  Any person who willfully refuses to  credit  that
23    savings to an owner who qualifies for the exemption is guilty
24    of a Class B misdemeanor.
25        When  a  homestead  exemption has been granted under this
26    Section and  an  applicant  then  becomes  a  resident  of  a
27    facility  licensed  under  the  Nursing  Home  Care  Act, the
28    exemption shall be granted in subsequent years so long as the
29    residence (i) continues  to  be  occupied  by  the  qualified
30    applicant's  spouse or (ii) if remaining unoccupied, is still
31    owned by the qualified applicant for the homestead exemption.
32        Beginning January 1, 1997, when an  individual  dies  who
33    would have qualified for an exemption under this Section, and
34    the  surviving spouse does not independently qualify for this
HB0961 Engrossed            -19-               LRB9002184KDks
 1    exemption because of age, the exemption  under  this  Section
 2    shall be granted to the surviving spouse for the taxable year
 3    preceding  and  the taxable year of the death, provided that,
 4    except  for  age,  the  surviving  spouse  meets  all   other
 5    qualifications  for  the granting of this exemption for those
 6    years.
 7        When married persons maintain  separate  residences,  the
 8    exemption provided for in this Section may be claimed by only
 9    one of such persons and for only one residence.
10        For  taxable year 1994 only, in counties having less than
11    3,000,000 inhabitants, to receive  the  exemption,  a  person
12    shall submit an application by February 15, 1995 to the Chief
13    County Assessment Officer of the county in which the property
14    is   located.    In   counties   having   3,000,000  or  more
15    inhabitants, for taxable year 1994 and all subsequent taxable
16    years, to receive the  exemption,  a  person  may  submit  an
17    application  to  the  Chief  County Assessment Officer of the
18    county in which the property is located during such period as
19    may be specified by the Chief County Assessment Officer.  The
20    Chief County Assessment Officer in counties of  3,000,000  or
21    more   inhabitants   shall   annually   give  notice  of  the
22    application period by mail or by  publication.   In  counties
23    having   less  than  3,000,000  inhabitants,  beginning  with
24    taxable year 1995 and thereafter, to receive the exemption, a
25    person shall submit an application by July 1 of each  taxable
26    year  to the Chief County Assessment Officer of the county in
27    which the property is located.  A county may,  by  ordinance,
28    establish  a  date  for  submission  of  applications that is
29    earlier than July 1, but in no event shall a county establish
30    a date for submission of applications that is later than July
31    1.  The  applicant  shall  submit  with  the  application  an
32    affidavit  of  the  applicant's  total household income, age,
33    marital status (and if married the name and  address  of  the
34    applicant's  spouse,  if known), and principal dwelling place
HB0961 Engrossed            -20-               LRB9002184KDks
 1    of members of the household on January 1 of the taxable year.
 2    The  Department  shall  establish,  by  rule,  a  method  for
 3    verifying the accuracy  of  affidavits  filed  by  applicants
 4    under  this Section. The applications shall be clearly marked
 5    as applications for the  Senior  Citizens  Assessment  Freeze
 6    Homestead Exemption.
 7        In counties having less than 3,000,000 inhabitants, if an
 8    applicant  was  denied  an exemption in taxable year 1994 and
 9    the denial occurred due  to  an  error  on  the  part  of  an
10    assessment  official,  or  his or her agent or employee, then
11    beginning in taxable year 1997 the applicant's base year, for
12    purposes of determining the amount of the exemption, shall be
13    1993 rather than 1994. In addition, in taxable year 1997, the
14    applicant's exemption shall also include an amount  equal  to
15    (i)  the  amount  of any exemption denied to the applicant in
16    taxable year 1995 as a result  of  using  1994,  rather  than
17    1993,  as  the  base  year,  (ii) the amount of any exemption
18    denied to the applicant in taxable year 1996 as a  result  of
19    using 1994, rather than 1993, as the base year, and (iii) the
20    amount  of  the exemption erroneously denied for taxable year
21    1994.
22        For purposes of this Section, a person  who  will  be  65
23    years  of  age  during  the  current  taxable  year  shall be
24    eligible to apply for the  homestead  exemption  during  that
25    taxable   year.    Application   shall  be  made  during  the
26    application period in effect for the county  of  his  or  her
27    residence.
28        The  Chief  County  Assessment  Officer may determine the
29    eligibility of a life  care  facility  that  qualifies  as  a
30    cooperative  to receive the benefits provided by this Section
31    by use  of  an  affidavit,  application,  visual  inspection,
32    questionnaire,  or other reasonable method in order to insure
33    that  the  tax  savings  resulting  from  the  exemption  are
34    credited by  the  management  firm  to  the  apportioned  tax
HB0961 Engrossed            -21-               LRB9002184KDks
 1    liability  of  each  qualifying  resident.   The Chief County
 2    Assessment Officer may  request  reasonable  proof  that  the
 3    management firm has so credited that exemption.
 4        Except  as  provided  in  this  Section,  all information
 5    received by  the  chief  county  assessment  officer  or  the
 6    Department  from  applications  filed  under this Section, or
 7    from any investigation conducted under the provisions of this
 8    Section, shall be confidential, except for official  purposes
 9    or  pursuant  to  Section  2.5 of the Tax Collection Suit Act
10    pursuant to official procedures for collection of  any  State
11    or  local tax or enforcement of any civil or criminal penalty
12    or sanction  imposed  by  this  Act  or  by  any  statute  or
13    ordinance  imposing  a  State  or  local  tax. Any person who
14    divulges any  such  information  in  any  manner,  except  in
15    accordance with a proper judicial order, is guilty of a Class
16    A misdemeanor.
17        Nothing  contained  in  this  Section  shall  prevent the
18    Director or chief county assessment officer  from  publishing
19    or  making  available  reasonable  statistics  concerning the
20    operation of the exemption contained in this Section in which
21    the contents of claims are grouped into aggregates in such  a
22    way  that information contained in any individual claim shall
23    not be disclosed.
24    (Source: P.A. 88-669, eff. 11-29-94;  88-682,  eff.  1-13-95;
25    89-62, eff. 1-1-96; 89-426, eff. 6-1-96; 89-557, eff. 1-1-97;
26    89-581, eff. 1-1-97; 89-626, eff. 8-9-96; revised 9-3-96.)
27        Section  30.  The Illinois Estate and Generation-Skipping
28    Transfer Tax Act is amended by changing Section 6 as follows:
29        (35 ILCS 405/6) (from Ch. 120, par. 405A-6)
30        Sec. 6.  Returns and payments.
31        (a)  Due Dates.  The Illinois transfer tax shall be  paid
32    and  the  Illinois  transfer tax return shall be filed on the
HB0961 Engrossed            -22-               LRB9002184KDks
 1    due date or dates, respectively,  including  extensions,  for
 2    paying  the  related  federal  transfer  tax  and  filing the
 3    related federal return.
 4        (b)  Installment payments and  deferral.   In  the  event
 5    that  any  portion of the federal transfer tax is deferred or
 6    to be paid  in  installments  under  the  provisions  of  the
 7    Internal  Revenue  Code, the portion of the Illinois transfer
 8    tax which is subject to deferral or payable  in  installments
 9    shall  be determined by multiplying the Illinois transfer tax
10    by a fraction, the numerator of which is the gross  value  of
11    the  assets included in the transferred property having a tax
12    situs in this State and which give rise to  the  deferred  or
13    installment payment under  the Internal Revenue Code, and the
14    denominator  of  which  is  the  gross  value  of  all assets
15    included in the transferred property having a  tax  situs  in
16    this State.  Deferred payments and installment payments, with
17    interest,  shall  be  paid  at  the same time and in the same
18    manner as payments of the federal transfer tax  are  required
19    to  be  made  under  the  applicable Sections of the Internal
20    Revenue Code, provided that the rate of  interest  on  unpaid
21    amounts  of  Illinois  transfer tax shall be determined under
22    this Act.  Acceleration of payment under this  Section  shall
23    occur  under the same circumstances and in the same manner as
24    provided in the Internal Revenue Code.
25        (c)  Who shall file and pay.  The Illinois  transfer  tax
26    return  (including  any supplemental or amended return) shall
27    be filed,  and  the  Illinois  transfer  tax  (including  any
28    additional tax that may become due) shall be paid by the same
29    person  or persons, respectively, who are required to pay the
30    related federal transfer tax and  file  the  related  federal
31    return.
32        (d)  Where   to   file  return.   The  executed  Illinois
33    transfer tax return shall be filed with the Attorney General.
34    In addition, a copy of the Illinois transfer tax return shall
HB0961 Engrossed            -23-               LRB9002184KDks
 1    be filed with the  county  treasurer  to  whom  the  Illinois
 2    transfer tax is paid, determined under subsection (e) of this
 3    Section.
 4        (e)  Where  to  pay tax.  The Illinois transfer tax shall
 5    be paid to the treasurer of the county determined  under  the
 6    following rules:
 7             (1)  Illinois  Estate  Tax.  The Illinois estate tax
 8        shall be paid to the treasurer of the county in which the
 9        decedent was a resident on the  date  of  the  decedent's
10        death  or,  if  the  decedent  was not a resident of this
11        State on the date of  death,  the  county  in  which  the
12        greater part, by gross value, of the transferred property
13        with a tax situs in this State is located.
14             (2)  Illinois Generation-Skipping Transfer Tax.  The
15        Illinois   generation-skipping   transfer  tax  involving
16        transferred property from or in a resident trust shall be
17        paid to the county treasurer for the county in which  the
18        grantor  resided at the time the trust became irrevocable
19        (in the case of an inter vivos trust) or  the  county  in
20        which  the  decedent  resided  at death (in the case of a
21        trust created by the will of a decedent). In the case  of
22        an  Illinois  generation-skipping  transfer tax involving
23        transferred property from or in a non-resident trust, the
24        Illinois generation-skipping transfer tax shall  be  paid
25        to  the  county  treasurer  for  the  county in which the
26        greater part, by gross value, of the transferred property
27        with a tax situs in this State is located.
28        (f)  Forms; confidentiality.  The Illinois  transfer  tax
29    return  shall  be  in  all  respects  in  the manner and form
30    prescribed by the regulations of the  Attorney  General.   At
31    the  same time the Illinois transfer tax return is filed, the
32    person required to file shall also  file  with  the  Attorney
33    General  a  copy of the related federal return.  The Illinois
34    transfer tax return and the copy of the federal return  filed
HB0961 Engrossed            -24-               LRB9002184KDks
 1    with  the  Attorney  General or any county treasurer shall be
 2    confidential, and the Attorney General, each county treasurer
 3    and all of their assistants or employees are prohibited  from
 4    divulging in any manner any of the contents of those returns,
 5    except  only  in a proceeding instituted under the provisions
 6    of this Act or pursuant to Section 2.5 of the Tax  Collection
 7    Suit Act.
 8        (g)  County  Treasurer  shall  accept payment.  No county
 9    treasurer shall refuse to accept payment of  any  amount  due
10    under  this  Act on the grounds that the county treasurer has
11    not yet received a copy of the appropriate Illinois  transfer
12    tax return.
13    (Source: P.A. 86-737.)
14        Section  35.  The Messages Tax Act is amended by changing
15    Section 11 as follows:
16        (35 ILCS 610/11) (from Ch. 120, par. 467.11)
17        Sec. 11. All information received by the Department  from
18    returns  filed  under  this  Act,  or from any investigations
19    conducted under this Act, shall be confidential,  except  for
20    official  purposes  or  pursuant  to  Section  2.5 of the Tax
21    Collection Suit Act, and any person  who  divulges  any  such
22    information in any manner, except in accordance with a proper
23    judicial  order  or  as  otherwise  provided by law, shall be
24    guilty of a Class B misdemeanor.
25        Provided,  that  nothing  contained  in  this  Act  shall
26    prevent the Director from publishing or making  available  to
27    the  public  the  names  and  addresses  of  taxpayers filing
28    returns  under  this  Act,  or  from  publishing  or   making
29    available  reasonable  statistics concerning the operation of
30    the tax wherein the contents  of  returns  are  grouped  into
31    aggregates  in  such  a way that the information contained in
32    any individual return shall not be disclosed.
HB0961 Engrossed            -25-               LRB9002184KDks
 1        And provided, that nothing contained in  this  Act  shall
 2    prevent  the  Director  from  making  available to the United
 3    States Government or  any  officer  or  agency  thereof,  for
 4    exclusively  official  purposes,  information received by the
 5    Department in the administration of this Act.
 6        The furnishing upon request of the  Auditor  General,  or
 7    his authorized agents, for official use, of returns filed and
 8    information related thereto under this Act is deemed to be an
 9    official purpose within the meaning of this Section.
10        The  Director  may  make  available  to any State agency,
11    including the Illinois Supreme Court, which licenses  persons
12    to  engage  in  any  occupation,  information  that  a person
13    licensed by such agency has failed to file returns under this
14    Act or pay the tax, penalty and interest  shown  therein,  or
15    has  failed  to  pay  any final assessment of tax, penalty or
16    interest due under this Act.  An assessment is final when all
17    proceedings in court  for  review  of  such  assessment  have
18    terminated  or  the  time  for the taking thereof has expired
19    without such proceedings being instituted.
20        The Director shall make available for  public  inspection
21    in  the Department's principal office and for publication, at
22    cost, administrative decisions issued on or after January  1,
23    1995. These decisions are to be made available in a manner so
24    that the following taxpayer information is not disclosed:
25             (1)  The   names,   addresses,   and  identification
26        numbers of the taxpayer, related entities, and employees.
27             (2)  At the sole discretion of the  Director,  trade
28        secrets  or  other confidential information identified as
29        such by the taxpayer, no later than 30 days after receipt
30        of an administrative  decision,  by  such  means  as  the
31        Department shall provide by rule.
32        The  Director  shall  determine the appropriate extent of
33    the deletions allowed in paragraph  (2).  In  the  event  the
34    taxpayer  does  not submit deletions, the Director shall make
HB0961 Engrossed            -26-               LRB9002184KDks
 1    only the deletions specified in paragraph (1).
 2        The Director shall make available for  public  inspection
 3    and  publication  an  administrative decision within 180 days
 4    after the issuance of the administrative decision.  The  term
 5    "administrative  decision" has the same meaning as defined in
 6    Section 3-101 of Article III of the Code of Civil  Procedure.
 7    Costs collected under this Section shall be paid into the Tax
 8    Compliance and Administration Fund.
 9    (Source: P.A. 88-669, eff. 11-29-94.)
10        Section  40.   The  Gas  Revenue  Tax  Act  is amended by
11    changing Section 11 as follows:
12        (35 ILCS 615/11) (from Ch. 120, par. 467.26)
13        Sec. 11. All information received by the Department  from
14    returns  filed  under  this  Act,  or from any investigations
15    conducted under this Act, shall be confidential,  except  for
16    official  purposes  or  pursuant  to  Section  2.5 of the Tax
17    Collection Suit Act, and any person  who  divulges  any  such
18    information in any manner, except in accordance with a proper
19    judicial  order  or  as  otherwise  provided by law, shall be
20    guilty of a Class B misdemeanor.
21        Provided,  that  nothing  contained  in  this  Act  shall
22    prevent the Director from publishing or making  available  to
23    the  public  the  names  and  addresses  of  taxpayers filing
24    returns  under  this  Act,  or  from  publishing  or   making
25    available  reasonable  statistics concerning the operation of
26    the tax wherein the contents  of  returns  are  grouped  into
27    aggregates  in  such  a way that the information contained in
28    any individual return shall not be disclosed.
29        And provided, that nothing contained in  this  Act  shall
30    prevent  the  Director  from  making  available to the United
31    States Government or  any  officer  or  agency  thereof,  for
32    exclusively  official  purposes,  information received by the
HB0961 Engrossed            -27-               LRB9002184KDks
 1    Department in the administration of this Act.
 2        The furnishing upon request of the  Auditor  General,  or
 3    his authorized agents, for official use, of returns filed and
 4    information related thereto under this Act is deemed to be an
 5    official purpose within the meaning of this Section.
 6        The  Director  may  make  available  to any State agency,
 7    including the Illinois Supreme Court, which licenses  persons
 8    to  engage  in  any  occupation,  information  that  a person
 9    licensed by such agency has failed to file returns under this
10    Act or pay the tax, penalty and interest  shown  therein,  or
11    has  failed  to  pay  any final assessment of tax, penalty or
12    interest due under this Act.  An assessment is final when all
13    proceedings in court  for  review  of  such  assessment  have
14    terminated  or  the  time  for the taking thereof has expired
15    without such proceedings being instituted.
16        The Director shall make available for  public  inspection
17    in  the Department's principal office and for publication, at
18    cost, administrative decisions issued on or after January  1,
19    1995. These decisions are to be made available in a manner so
20    that the following taxpayer information is not disclosed:
21             (1)  The   names,   addresses,   and  identification
22        numbers of the taxpayer, related entities, and employees.
23             (2)  At the sole discretion of the  Director,  trade
24        secrets  or  other confidential information identified as
25        such by the taxpayer, no later than 30 days after receipt
26        of an administrative  decision,  by  such  means  as  the
27        Department shall provide by rule.
28        The  Director  shall  determine the appropriate extent of
29    the deletions allowed in paragraph  (2).  In  the  event  the
30    taxpayer  does  not submit deletions, the Director shall make
31    only the deletions specified in paragraph (1).
32        The Director shall make available for  public  inspection
33    and  publication  an  administrative decision within 180 days
34    after the issuance of the administrative decision.  The  term
HB0961 Engrossed            -28-               LRB9002184KDks
 1    "administrative  decision" has the same meaning as defined in
 2    Section 3-101 of Article III of the Code of Civil  Procedure.
 3    Costs collected under this Section shall be paid into the Tax
 4    Compliance and Administration Fund.
 5    (Source: P.A. 88-669, eff. 11-29-94.)
 6        Section  45.  The Public Utilities Revenue Act is amended
 7    by changing Section 11 as follows:
 8        (35 ILCS 620/11) (from Ch. 120, par. 478)
 9        Sec. 11. All information received by the Department  from
10    returns  filed  under  this  Act,  or from any investigations
11    conducted under this Act, shall be confidential,  except  for
12    official  purposes  or  pursuant  to  Section  2.5 of the Tax
13    Collection Suit Act, and any person  who  divulges  any  such
14    information in any manner, except in accordance with a proper
15    judicial  order  or  as  otherwise  provided by law, shall be
16    guilty of a Class B misdemeanor.
17        Provided,  that  nothing  contained  in  this  Act  shall
18    prevent the Director from publishing or making  available  to
19    the  public  the  names  and  addresses  of  taxpayers filing
20    returns  under  this  Act,  or  from  publishing  or   making
21    available  reasonable  statistics concerning the operation of
22    the tax wherein the contents  of  returns  are  grouped  into
23    aggregates  in  such  a way that the information contained in
24    any individual return shall not be disclosed.
25        And provided, that nothing contained in  this  Act  shall
26    prevent  the  Director  from  making  available to the United
27    States Government or  any  officer  or  agency  thereof,  for
28    exclusively  official  purposes,  information received by the
29    Department in the administration of this Act.
30        The furnishing upon request of the  Auditor  General,  or
31    his authorized agents, for official use, of returns filed and
32    information related thereto under this Act is deemed to be an
HB0961 Engrossed            -29-               LRB9002184KDks
 1    official purpose within the meaning of this Section.
 2        The  Director  may  make  available  to any State agency,
 3    including the Illinois Supreme Court, which licenses  persons
 4    to  engage  in  any  occupation,  information  that  a person
 5    licensed by such agency has failed to file returns under this
 6    Act or pay the tax, penalty and interest  shown  therein,  or
 7    has  failed  to  pay  any final assessment of tax, penalty or
 8    interest due under this Act.  An assessment is final when all
 9    proceedings in court  for  review  of  such  assessment  have
10    terminated  or  the  time  for the taking thereof has expired
11    without such proceedings being instituted.
12        The Director shall make available for  public  inspection
13    in  the Department's principal office and for publication, at
14    cost, administrative decisions issued on or after January  1,
15    1995. These decisions are to be made available in a manner so
16    that the following taxpayer information is not disclosed:
17             (1)  The   names,   addresses,   and  identification
18        numbers of the taxpayer, related entities, and employees.
19             (2)  At the sole discretion of the  Director,  trade
20        secrets  or  other confidential information identified as
21        such by the taxpayer, no later than 30 days after receipt
22        of an administrative  decision,  by  such  means  as  the
23        Department shall provide by rule.
24        The  Director  shall  determine the appropriate extent of
25    the deletions allowed in paragraph  (2).  In  the  event  the
26    taxpayer  does  not submit deletions, the Director shall make
27    only the deletions specified in paragraph (1).
28        The Director shall make available for  public  inspection
29    and  publication  an  administrative decision within 180 days
30    after the issuance of the administrative decision.  The  term
31    "administrative  decision" has the same meaning as defined in
32    Section 3-101 of Article III of the Code of Civil  Procedure.
33    Costs collected under this Section shall be paid into the Tax
34    Compliance and Administration Fund.
HB0961 Engrossed            -30-               LRB9002184KDks
 1    (Source: P.A. 88-669, eff. 11-29-94.)
 2        Section  50.   The Water Company Invested Capital Tax Act
 3    is amended by changing Section 11 as follows:
 4        (35 ILCS 625/11) (from Ch. 120, par. 1421)
 5        Sec. 11.  All information received by the Department from
 6    returns filed under this  Act,  or  from  any  investigations
 7    conducted  under  this Act, shall be confidential, except for
 8    official purposes or pursuant  to  Section  2.5  of  the  Tax
 9    Collection  Suit  Act,  and  any person who divulges any such
10    information in any manner, except in accordance with a proper
11    judicial order or as otherwise  provided  by  law,  shall  be
12    guilty of a Class B misdemeanor.
13        Nothing  contained in this Act shall prevent the Director
14    from publishing or making available to the public  the  names
15    and  addresses of taxpayers filing returns under this Act, or
16    from publishing or  making  available  reasonable  statistics
17    concerning  the  operation of the tax wherein the contents of
18    returns are grouped into aggregates in such a  way  that  the
19    information  contained  in any individual return shall not be
20    disclosed.
21        Nothing contained in this Act shall prevent the  Director
22    from  making available to the United States Government or any
23    officer or agency thereof, for exclusively official purposes,
24    information received by the Department in the  administration
25    of this Act.
26        The  furnishing  upon  request of the Auditor General, or
27    his authorized agents, for official use, of returns filed and
28    information related thereto under this Act is deemed to be an
29    official purpose within the meaning of this Section.
30        The Director may make  available  to  any  State  agency,
31    including  the Illinois Supreme Court, which licenses persons
32    to engage  in  any  occupation,  information  that  a  person
HB0961 Engrossed            -31-               LRB9002184KDks
 1    licensed by such agency has failed to file returns under this
 2    Act  or  pay  the tax, penalty and interest shown therein, or
 3    has failed to pay any final assessment  of  tax,  penalty  or
 4    interest due under this Act.  An assessment is final when all
 5    proceedings  in  court  for  review  of  such assessment have
 6    terminated or the time for the  taking  thereof  has  expired
 7    without such proceedings being instituted.
 8    (Source: P.A. 83-1415.)
 9        Section  55.   The  Telecommunications  Excise Tax Act is
10    amended by changing Section 15 as follows:
11        (35 ILCS 630/15) (from Ch. 120, par. 2015)
12        Sec.  15.  Confidential  information.   All   information
13    received  by  the  Department  from  returns filed under this
14    Article, or from  any  investigations  conducted  under  this
15    Article,  shall be confidential, except for official purposes
16    or pursuant to Section 2.5 of the Tax  Collection  Suit  Act,
17    and  any  person  who  divulges  any  such information in any
18    manner, except in accordance with a proper judicial order  or
19    as  otherwise  provided  by law, shall be guilty of a Class B
20    misdemeanor.
21        Provided, that nothing contained in  this  Article  shall
22    prevent  the  Director from publishing or making available to
23    the public the names and addresses of retailers or  taxpayers
24    filing  returns  under  this  Article,  or from publishing or
25    making  available  reasonable   statistics   concerning   the
26    operation  of  the  tax  wherein  the contents of returns are
27    grouped into aggregates in such a way  that  the  information
28    contained in any individual return shall not be disclosed.
29        And  provided,  that  nothing  contained  in this Article
30    shall prevent the  Director  from  making  available  to  the
31    United  States  Government  or  the  government  of any other
32    state, or any officer  or  agency  thereof,  for  exclusively
HB0961 Engrossed            -32-               LRB9002184KDks
 1    official  purposes, information received by the Department in
 2    the  administration  of   this   Article,   if   such   other
 3    governmental   agency   agrees   to   divulge  requested  tax
 4    information to the Department.
 5        The furnishing upon request of the  Auditor  General,  or
 6    his authorized agents, for official use, of returns filed and
 7    information  related  thereto under this Article is deemed to
 8    be an official purpose within the meaning of this Section.
 9        The Director shall make available for  public  inspection
10    in  the Department's principal office and for publication, at
11    cost, administrative decisions issued on or after January  1,
12    1995. These decisions are to be made available in a manner so
13    that the following taxpayer information is not disclosed:
14             (1)  The   names,   addresses,   and  identification
15        numbers of the taxpayer, related entities, and employees.
16             (2)  At the sole discretion of the  Director,  trade
17        secrets  or  other confidential information identified as
18        such by the taxpayer, no later than 30 days after receipt
19        of an administrative  decision,  by  such  means  as  the
20        Department shall provide by rule.
21        The  Director  shall  determine the appropriate extent of
22    the deletions allowed in paragraph  (2).  In  the  event  the
23    taxpayer  does  not submit deletions, the Director shall make
24    only the deletions specified in paragraph (1).
25        The Director shall make available for  public  inspection
26    and  publication  an  administrative decision within 180 days
27    after the issuance of the administrative decision.  The  term
28    "administrative  decision" has the same meaning as defined in
29    Section 3-101 of Article III of the Code of Civil  Procedure.
30    Costs collected under this Section shall be paid into the Tax
31    Compliance and Administration Fund.
32    (Source: P.A. 88-669, eff. 11-29-94.)
33        Section  60.   The  Tax Collection Suit Act is amended by
HB0961 Engrossed            -33-               LRB9002184KDks
 1    adding Section 2.5 as follows:
 2        (35 ILCS 705/2.5 new)
 3        Sec. 2.5.  Collection  efforts  of  the  Department.   In
 4    addition  to any methods to collect delinquent taxes that are
 5    authorized by the Illinois Income Tax Act, the Department may
 6    contract with private collection entities,  make  public  any
 7    personal information gathered by the Department, or implement
 8    other   methods   of   collection  deemed  necessary  by  the
 9    Department.
10        Before  personal  information   is   made   public,   the
11    Department   shall  give  a  30-day  written  notice  to  the
12    delinquent  party.   If  the  delinquent   party   pays   the
13    delinquency  or makes arrangements with the Department to pay
14    the delinquency, then the Department shall keep the  personal
15    information confidential.
16        Section  95.   No  acceleration or delay.  Where this Act
17    makes changes in a statute that is represented in this Act by
18    text that is not yet or no longer in effect (for  example,  a
19    Section  represented  by  multiple versions), the use of that
20    text does not accelerate or delay the taking  effect  of  (i)
21    the  changes made by this Act or (ii) provisions derived from
22    any other Public Act.
23        Section  99.  Effective  date.   This  Act  takes  effect
24    January 1, 1998.

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