(a) Duty to Receive Tax Imposed. It shall be the duty of the Administrator to receive the tax imposed by this chapter in the manner prescribed herein from the taxpayers; to keep an accurate record thereof; and to report all moneys so received.
(b) Duty to Enforce Collection. It shall be the duty of the Administrator to enforce payment of all taxes owing to the City, to keep accurate records for a maximum of five years showing the amount due from each taxpayer required to file a declaration and make any return, or both, including taxes withheld, and to show the dates and amounts of payments thereof.
(c) Authority to Make and Enforce Regulations. The Administrator is hereby charged with the enforcement of the provisions of this chapter, and is hereby empowered, subject to the approval of the Board of Review, to adopt and promulgate and to enforce rules and regulations relating to any matter or thing pertaining to the collection of taxes and the administration and enforcement of the provisions of this chapter including provisions for the reexamination and correction of returns.
(d) Authority to Arrange Installment Payments.
(1) The Administrator is authorized to arrange for the payment of unpaid taxes, interest and penalties on a schedule of installment payments when the taxpayer has proved to the Administrator that, due to certain hardships and conditions, he is unable to pay the full amount of the tax due. Such authorization shall not be granted until proper returns are filed by the taxpayer for all amounts owed by him under this chapter.
(e) Authority to Determine Amount of Tax Due. In any case where a taxpayer has failed to file a return or has filed a return which does not show the proper amount of tax due, the Administrator may determine the amount of tax appearing to be due the City from the taxpayer and shall send to such taxpayer a written statement showing the amount of tax so determined together with interest and penalties thereon, if any.
(f) Authority to Make Investigations. The Administrator, or any authorized employee, is hereby authorized to examine the books, papers, records and Federal income tax returns of any employer or of any taxpayer or person subject to, or whom the Administrator believes is subject to the provisions of this chapter, for the purpose of verifying the accuracy of any return made, or, if no return was made, to ascertain the tax due under this chapter. Every such employer, supposed employer, taxpayer or supposed taxpayer, is hereby directed and required to furnish upon written request by the Administrator, or his duly authorized agent or employee, the means, facilities and opportunity for making such examinations and investigations as are hereby authorized.
(g) Authority to Compel Production of Records. The Administrator is hereby authorized to order any person presumed to have knowledge of the facts to appear before him and may examine such person, under oath, concerning any income which was or should have been returned for taxation or any transaction tending to affect such income, and for this purpose may compel the production of books, papers, records and Federal income tax returns and the attendance of all persons before him, whether as parties or witnesses, whenever he believes such persons have knowledge or such income or information pertinent to such inquiry.
(h) Refusal to Produce Records. The refusal to produce books, papers, records and Federal income tax returns, or the refusal to submit to such examination by any employer or persons subject or presumed subject to the tax or by any officer, agent or employee of a person subject to the tax or required to withhold tax or the failure of any person to comply with the provisions of this chapter or with an order or subpoena of the Administrator authorized hereby shall be deemed in violation of this chapter, punishable as provided in Section 191.08
(e).
(i) Confidential Nature of Information Obtained.
(1) Any information gained as the result of any returns, investigations, hearings or verifications required or otherwise authorized by this chapter shall be confidential except for official purposes, or except in accordance with proper judicial order. Any person divulging such information in violation of this section, shall, upon conviction thereof, be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree and shall be subject to a fine of not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000) or imprisonment for not more than six months, or both. Each disclosure shall constitute a separate offense.
(2) In addition to the above penalty, any employee of the City who violates the provisions of this section relative to the disclosures of confidential information shall be guilty of an offense punishable by immediate dismissal.
(j) Taxpayer Required to Retain Records. Every taxpayer shall retain all records necessary to compute his tax liability for a period of five years from the date his return is filed, or the withholding taxes are paid.
(k) Authority to Contract for Central Collection Facilities. The Mayor may, and he is authorized hereby, to enter into an agreement on behalf of the City with any other municipal corporation, firm or private corporation to permit such other municipal corporation to act as agent for the City for the purpose of administering the income tax laws of the City and of providing a central collection facility for the collection of the income tax on behalf of the City. Such agreement shall be approved by Council.
(l) Assignment of Duties and Authority of the Administrator. In the event the Mayor, on behalf of the City enters into an agreement with any other municipal corporation, firm or private corporation, to act as agent for the City for the purpose of administering the income tax laws of the City and of providing a central facility for the collection of the income tax, as provided in subsection (k) hereof, then all or part of the duties and authority of the Administrator may be assigned by such agreement to such other municipal corporation. Such agreement shall be approved by Council.
(1978 Code Sec. 281.12)