(A) Action of delinquent tax; time for. At any time within four years after any tax or any amount of tax required to be collected becomes due and payable, and at any time within four years after the delinquency of any tax or any amount of tax required to be collected, the governing authority may bring an action in a court of competent jurisdiction in the name of the city to collect the amount delinquent together with penalty, court fees, filing fees, attorney’s fees and other legal fees incident thereto. The governing authority may also seek to have the lodging provider enjoined from operating the hotel until such time as the delinquency is paid, as well as to require forfeiture of any applicable collection fee retained by the lodging provider.
(B) Lodging provider selling or quitting business. If any lodging provider liable for any amount under this subchapter sells out his or her business or quits his or her business, he or she shall make a final return and remittance within 15 days after the date of selling or quitting the business.
(C) Duty of successors or assignees of lodging provider to withhold tax from purchase money. If any lodging provider liable for any amount of tax, interest or penalty under this subchapter sells out his or her business or quits the business, his or her successors or assigns shall withhold sufficiently from the purchase price to cover such amount until the former owner produces from the Finance Director either a receipt reflecting full payment or a certificate stating that no amount is due.
(D) Liability for failure to withhold. If the purchaser of a business fails to withhold from the purchase price as required, he or she shall be personally liable for the payment of the amount required to be withheld by him or her to the extent of the purchase price.
(E) Credit for tax or penalty paid more than once or erroneously or illegally collected. Whenever the amount of any tax or penalty has been paid more than once, or has been erroneously or illegally collected or received by the city, it may be refunded by the governing authority. If the lodging provider or person determines that he or she has overpaid or paid more than once, which fact has not been determined by the Finance Director, such person shall have four years from the date of payment to file a claim in writing stating the specific ground upon which the claim is founded. The claimant may request a hearing before the governing authority at which the claim and any other information available will be considered. The governing authority shall approve or disapprove the claim, and notify the claimant of its action.
(Ord. 2008-17, passed 8-5-08)