(A) Any business entity doing business in Cave City which fails to obtain an occupational license prior to doing such business, or within ten days thereafter, shall be subject to a civil penalty of $100 for the first offense, $200 for the second offense, and $500 for each offense thereafter.
(B) (1) A business entity subject to tax on net profits may be subject to a penalty equal to 5% of the tax due for each calendar month or fraction thereof if the business entity:
(a) Fails to file any return or report on or before the due date prescribed for filing or as extended by the city; or
(b) Fails to pay the tax computed on the return or report on or before the due date prescribed for payment.
(2) The total penalty levied pursuant to this division (A) shall not exceed 25% of the total tax due; however, the penalty shall not be less than $25.
(C) Every employer who fails to file a return or pay the tax on or before the date prescribed under § 111.05 of this chapter may be subject to a penalty in an amount equal to 5% of the tax due for each calendar month or fraction thereof. The total penalty levied pursuant to this section shall not exceed 25% of the total tax due; however, the penalty shall not be less than $25.
(D) In addition to the penalties prescribed in this section, any business entity or employer shall pay, as part of the tax, an amount equal to 12% per annum simple interest on the tax shown due, but not previously paid, from the time the tax was due until the tax is paid to the city. A fraction of a month is counted as an entire month.
(E) Every tax imposed by this chapter, and all increases, interest and penalties thereon, shall become, from the time the tax is due and payable, a personal debt of the taxpayer to the city.
(F) The city may enforce the collection of the occupational tax due under § 111.03 of this chapter and any fees, penalties and interest as provided in divisions (A), (B), (C) and (D) above by civil action in a court of appropriate jurisdiction. To the extent authorized by law, the city shall be entitled to recover all court costs and reasonable attorney fees incurred by it in enforcing any provision of this chapter.
(G) In addition to the penalties prescribed in this section, any person, business entity or employer who willfully fails to make a return, willfully makes a false return or who willfully fails to pay taxes owing or collected, with the intent to evade payment of the tax or amount collected, or any part thereof, shall be subject to the imposition of a civil penalty not to exceed $500, as determined by the Code Enforcement Board.
(H) Any person who willfully aids or assists in, or procures, counsels or advises the preparation or presentation under, or in connection with, any matter arising under this chapter of a return, affidavit, claim or other document, which is fraudulent or is false as to any material matter, whether or not the falsity or fraud is with the knowledge or consent of the person authorized or required to present the return, affidavit, claim or document, shall be guilty of a Class A misdemeanor.
(I) A return for the purpose of this section shall mean and include any return, declaration or form prescribed by the city and required to be filed with the city by the provisions of this chapter, or by the rules of the city or by written request for information to the business entity by the city.
(J) (1) Any person violating the provisions of § 111.12 of this chapter by intentionally inspecting confidential taxpayer information without authorization, shall be fined not more than $500 or imprisoned for not longer than six months, or both.
(2) Any person violating the provisions of § 111.12 of this chapter by divulging confidential taxpayer information shall be fined not more than $1,000 or imprisoned for not more than one year, or both.
(K) All violations of this chapter for which a civil penalty is provided shall be under the jurisdiction of and authority of the Code Enforcement Board, which is granted power of enforcement.
(Ord. 07-12-11A, passed 12-10-2007; Ord. 16-12-9B, passed 10-10-2016)