(a) Each operator shall, on or before the twentieth day of each month, remit a Transient Occupancy Tax return for the preceding month by electronic funds transfer pursuant to subsection (b). Nothing in this subsection shall be construed as relieving an operator from complying with subsections (b) and (c).
(b) Except as otherwise provided in this paragraph, the payment of taxes by electronic funds transfer does not affect an operator’s obligation to file as required under this section. The Director of the Department of Finance may adopt rules governing the format for filing the returns under this section by operators who remit undeposited taxes by electronic funds transfer. The Director of the Department of Finance may permit the filing of returns at less frequent intervals than required by this section if the director determines that remittance by electronic funds transfer warrants less frequent filing of returns.
(c) The Director of the Department of Finance shall adopt rules governing the remittance of taxes by electronic funds transfer as required by this chapter. The rules shall govern the modes of electronic funds transfer and under what circumstances each mode is acceptable, the content and format of electronic funds transfers, the coordination of payment by electronic funds transfer and the filing of associated tax reports and returns, and any other matter that in the opinion of the Director of the Department of Finance facilitates payment by electronic funds transfer. The Director of the Department of Finance may grant an exemption to an operator from the duty to make payment by electronic funds transfer, upon application, for such exemption by the operator and operators demonstration to the Director of the Department of Finance that the requirement to make payment by electronic funds transfer will impose a substantial hardship upon the operator. The Director of the Department of Finance may implement means of acknowledging, upon request of the taxpayer, receipt of tax remittances made by electronic funds transfer, and may adopt rules governing acknowledgments. The cost of acknowledging receipt of electronic remittances shall be paid by the person requesting acknowledgment.
(d) On or before January 31 of each year beginning with the year 2005, each operator shall file a Transient Occupancy Tax annual reconciliation on a form prescribed by the Director of the Department of Finance. Such form shall state the annual amount of rent received, the annual amount of rent exempted for the preceding calendar year, and such other information as the Director may require. Such form or forms shall be furnished by or obtainable upon request from the Director of the Department of Finance.
(e) The Director of the Department of Finance may extend the time for making and filing returns. The Director of the Department of Finance may authorize operators whose tax liability is not such as to merit monthly returns, as determined by the Director of the Department of Finance upon the basis of administrative costs to the City, to make and file returns at less frequent intervals. Such authorization shall be in writing and shall indicate the intervals at which returns are to be filed. The Director of the Department of Finance, if he deems it necessary in order to insure the payment of the tax imposed by this chapter, may require returns and payments to be made for other than monthly periods. The returns shall be transmitted by the operator or his authorized agent. (Ord. 04-35. Passed 12-8-04.)