O-04-37VILLAGE OF DEERFIELD
LAKE AND COOK COUNTIES, ILLINOIS
ORDINANCE NO. 0-04-37
AN ORDINANCE ADOPTING CERTAIN PROCEDURES, RIGHTS AND
RESPONSIBILITIES RELATED TO LOCALLY IMPOSED AND
ADMINISTERED TAXES OF THE VILLAGE OF DEERFIELD UNDER THE
LOCAL GOVERNMENT TAXPAYERS' BILL OF RIGHTS ACT
Published in pamphlet form
by authority of the President
and Board of Trustees of the
Village of Deerfield, Lake and
Cook Counties, Illinois, this
7th day of July , 2004.
VILLAGE OF DEERFIELD
LAKE AND COOK COUNTIES, ILLINOIS
ORDINANCE NO. 0-04-37
AN ORDINANCE ADOPTING CERTAIN PROCEDURES, RIGHTS AND
RESPONSIBILITIES RELATED TO LOCALLY IMPOSED AND
ADMINISTERED TAXES OF THE VILLAGE OF DEERFIELD UNDER THE
LOCAL GOVERNMENT TAXPAYERS' BILL OF RIGHTS ACT
WHEREAS, the Local Government Taxpayers' Bill of Rights Act, 50 ILCS 45/1 et seq.,
requires that all municipalities adopt fair and consistent tax processes and procedures with regard
to the assessment, administration and enforcement of local tax laws; and
WHEREAS, it is the intention of the corporate authorities of the Village of Deerfield that
this Ordinance be interpreted in a manner consistent with the provisions of the Act; and
WHEREAS,, the corporate authorities of the Village of Deerfield (the "Village ") have
determined that it is reasonable and necessary to establish certain procedures in regard to locally
imposed and administered taxes;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE PRESIDENT AND BOARD OF
TRUSTEES OF THE VILLAGE OF DEERFIELD, LAKE AND COOK COUNTIES,
ILLINOIS, in the exercise of its home rule powers, as follows:
SECTION 1: Title. This ordinance shall be known as, and iinay be cited as, the "Local
Tax Rights and Responsibility Ordinance."
.SECTION 2: Scope. The provisions of this ordinance shall apply to the Village's
procedures in connection with all of the Village's locally imposed and administered taxes.
SECTION 3: Definitions. Certain words or terms herein shall have the meaning
ascribed to them as follows:
"Act" means the "Local Government Taxpayers' Bill of Rights Act."
"Corporate Authorities" means the Village's President and Board of Trustees.
"Locally imposed and administered tax" or "Tax" means each tax imposed by the
Village that is collected or administered by the Village, not an agency or department of the State.
It does not include any taxes imposed upon real property under the Property Tax Code, or fees
collected by the Village other than the Village's Municipal Infrastructure Maintenance Fees.
"Local tax administrator" means the Village's Director of Finance, who is charged
with the administration and collection of locally imposed and administered taxes, and shall
include Village staff, employees or agents to the extent they are authorized by the local tax
administrator to act in the local tax administrator's stead. The local tax administrator shall have
the authority to implement the terms of this ordinance to give full effect to this ordinance. The
exercise of such authority by the local tax administrator shall not be inconsistent with this
ordinance and the Act.
"Village" means the Village of Deerfield, Lake and Cook Counties, Illinois.
"Notice" means each audit notice, collection notice or other similar notice or
communication in connection with each of the Village's locally imposed and administered taxes.
"Tax Ordinance" means each ordinance adopted by the Village that imposes any locally
imposed and administered tax.
"Taxpayer" means any person required to pay any locally imposed and administered tax
and generally includes the person upon whom the legal incidence of such tax is placed and with
respect to consumer taxes includes the business or entity required to collect and pay the locally
imposed and administered tax to the Village.
"Tax collector" means, with respect to consumer taxes, the person, business or entity
required to collect and pay the locally imposed and administered tax to the Village.
SECTION 4: Notices. Unless otherwise provided herein, whenever notice is required to
be given, the notice is to be in writing mailed not less than seven (7) calendar days prior to the
day fixed for any applicable hearing, audit or other scheduled act of the local tax administrator.
The local tax administrator shall send the notice as follows:
(1) First class or express mail, or overnight mail, addressed to the person(s)
concerned at the person(s) last known address; or,
(2) Personal service or delivery.
SECTION 5: Late payment. Any notice, payment, remittance or other filing required
to be made to the Village pursuant to any tax ordinance shall be considered late unless it is: (a)
physically received by the .Village on or before the due date; or, (b) received in an envelope or
other container displaying a valid, readable U.S. Postmark dated on or before the due date,
properly addressed to the Village, with adequate postage prepaid.
SECTION 6: Payment.
(a) Any payment or remittance received on or before the due date for a tax period shall be
applied in the following order: (1) first to the tax due for the applicable period; (2) second to the
interest due for the applicable period; and (3) third to the penalty for the applicable period.
(b) Any payment or remittance received after the due date for a tax period (a late
payment) shall be applied in the following order: (1) first to the interest due for the applicable
period; (2) second to the tax due for the applicable period; and (3) third to the penalty for the
applicable period.
SECTION 7: Certain Credits and Refunds.
(a) In the event that a locally imposed and administered tax, is declared invalidly enacted
or unconstitutional by a court of competent jurisdiction, the Village shall refund or credit any
taxes paid ' under written protest at the time of payment. Taxpayers that have paid a tax
voluntarily shall not be entitled to a refund or credit of any such taxes.
(b) Unless a shorter period is specifically adopted by the corporate authorities of the
Village with respect to a particular tax, the statute of limitations on a claim for credit or refund
shall be four (4) years after the end of the calendar year in which the tax payment or remittance
in error was made. The Village shall not grant a credit or refund of locally imposed and
administered taxes, interest, or penalties to a person who has not paid the amounts directly to the
Village.
(c) The procedure for claiming a credit or refund of locally imposed and administered
taxes, interest or penalties paid in error shall be as follows:
(1) The taxpayer shall submit to the Local Tax Administrator in writing a
claim for credit or refund together with a statement specifying:
(i) the name of the locally imposed and administered tax subject to the claim;
(ii) the tax period for the locally imposed and administered tax subject to the
claim;
(iii) the date of the tax payment subject to the claim and the canceled check or
receipt for the payment;
(iv) the taxpayer's recalculation, accompanied by an amended or revised tax
return, in connection with the claim; and
(v) a request for either a refund or a credit in connection with the claim to be
applied to the amount of tax, interest and penalties overpaid, and, as
applicable, related interest on the amount overpaid; provided, however, that
there shall be no refund and only a credit given in the event the taxpayer
owes any monies to the Village.
(2) Within twenty -one (2 1) days of the date of receipt by the Local Tax Administrator
of any claim for a refund or credit, the Local Tax Administrator shall either:
(i) grant the claim; or
(ii) deny the claim, in whole or in part; together with a statement as to the reason
for the denial or the partial grant and denial.
(3) In the event the Local Tax Administrator grants, in whole or in part, a claim for
refund or credit, the amount of the grant for refund or credit shall bear interest at
the rate of six percent (6 %) per annum, based on a year of 365 days and the
number of days elapsed, from the date of the overpayment to the date of mailing
of a refund check or the grant of a credit.
SECTION 8: Audit Procedure.
(a) Any request to audit a local taxpayers books and records shall be preceded by a
written notice to the taxpayer that:
(1) specifies the locally imposed and administered tax to be audited;
(2) specifies that time period to be audited;
(3) states the minimum documentation, books and records to be made available by the
taxpayer for the auditor.
(b) Any audit shall be conducted during normal business hours at a date selected by
the Local Tax Administrator, which shall be less than seven (7) days nor more than thirty (30)
days from the date the notice is given, unless the taxpayer and the Local Tax Administrator agree
to some other convenient time..
(c) If the date and time selected by the Local Tax Administrator is not agreeable to
the taxpayer, the taxpayer may request an extension of time to have an audit conducted. The
taxpayer may request that another date and time that is convenient to the taxpayer and to the
Local Tax Administrator be designated within thirty (30) days of the originally designated audit
date and during normal business hours.
(d) Every taxpayer shall keep accurate books and records of the taxpayer's business
or activities, including original source documents and books of entry denoting the transactions
which had given rise or may have given rise to any tax liability, exemption or deduction. All
books shall be kept in the English language and shall be subject to and available for inspection
by the Village.
(e) It is the duty and responsibility of every taxpayer to make available its books and
records for inspection by the Village. If the taxpayer fails to provide the documents necessary
for audit within the time provided, the Local Tax Administrator may issue a tax determination
and assessment based on the tax administrator's determination of the best estimate of the
taxpayer's tax liability.
(f) If an audit determines there has been an overpayment of a locally imposed and
administered tax as a result of the audit, written notice of the amount of overpayment shall be
given to the taxpayer within thirty (30) days of the Village's determination of the amount of
overpayment.
(g) In the event a tax payment is incorrectly submitted to Village, the Local Tax
Administrator shall notify the correct local governmental entity imposing such tax.
SECTION 9: Appeal.
(a) Whenever the Local Tax Administrator issues to a taxpayer a notice of tax due, a
bill, a claim denial, or a notice of claim reduction regarding any locally imposed and
administered tax that is protestable under this Ordinance, such notice shall be sent by United
States registered or certified mail, and shall include a written statement of the taxpayer's rights
under this Ordinance containing the following information:
(1) the reason for the assessment;
(2) the amount of the tax liability proposed;
(3) the procedure for appealing the assessment; and
(4) the obligations of the Village during the audit, appeal, refund and collection
process.
(b) A taxpayer who receives written notice from the Local Tax Administrator of a
determination of tax due or assessment may file with the Local Tax Administrator a written
protest and petition for hearing, setting forth the basis of the taxpayer's request for a hearing.
The written protest and petition for hearing must be filed with the Local Tax Administrator
within forty -five (45) days of receipt of the written notice of the tax determination and
assessment..
(c) If a timely written notice and petition for hearing is filed, the Local Tax
Administrator shall fix the time and place for hearing and shall give written notice to the
taxpayer. The hearing shall be scheduled for a date within thirty (30) days of receipt of the
written protest and petition for hearing, unless the taxpayer requests a later date convenient to all
parties.
(d) If a written protest and petition for hearing is not filed within the forty -five (45)
day protest period, the tax determination, audit or assessment shall become a final bill due and
owing without further notice.
(e) Upon the showing of reasonable cause by the taxpayer and the full payment of the
contested tax liability along with interest accrued as of the due date of the tax, the Local Tax
Administrator may reopen or extend the time for filing a written protest and petition for hearing.
In no event shall the time for filing a written protest and petition for hearing be reopened or
extended for more. than ninety (90) days after the expiration of the forty -five (45) day period.
SECTION 10: Hearin.
(a) Whenever a taxpayer or a tax collector has filed a timely written protest and
petition for hearing under Section 9, above, the Local Tax Administrator shall conduct a hearing
regarding any appeal.
(b) No continuances shall be granted except in cases where a continuance is
absolutely necessary to protect the rights of the taxpayer. Lack of preparation shall not be
grounds for a continuance. Any continuance granted shall not exceed fourteen (14) days.
(c) At the hearing the Local Tax Administrator shall preside and shall hear testimony
and accept any evidence relevant to the tax determination, audit or assessment. The strict rules
of evidence applicable to judicial proceedings shall not apply.
(d) At the conclusion of the hearing, the Local Tax Administrator shall make a
written determination on the basis of the evidence presented at the hearing. The taxpayer or tax
collector shall be provided with a copy of the written decision.
SECTION 11: Interest and Penalties. In the event a determination has been made that
a tax is due and owing, through audit, assessment or other bill sent, the tax must be paid within
the time frame otherwise indicated.
(a) Interest. The Village hereby provides for the amount of interest to be assessed on
a late payment, underpayment, or nonpayment of the tax, to be 1.5% per month or part thereof.
(b) Late Filing and Payment Penalties. If a tax return is not filed within the time and
manner provided by the controlling tax ordinance, a late filing penalty, of five percent (5 %) of
the amount of tax required to be shown as due on a return shall be imposed; and a late payment
penalty of five percent (5 %) of the tax due shall be imposed. If no return is filed within the time
or manner provided by the controlling tax ordinance and prior to the Village issuing a notice of
tax delinquency or notice of tax liability, then a failure to file penalty shall be assessed equal to
twenty-five percent (25 %) of the total tax due for the applicable reporting period for which the
return was required to be filed. If no return is filed after the issuance of a notice of tax
delinquency or notice of tax liability, then a failure to file penalty shall be assessed equal to
thirty -five (35 %) of the total tax due for the applicable reporting period for which the return was
required to be filed. A late filing or payment penalty shall not apply if a failure to file penalty is
imposed by -the controlling ordinance.
SECTION 12: Abatement. The Local Tax Administrator shall have the authority to
waive or abate any late filing penalty, late payment penalty or failure to file penalty if the local
tax administrator shall determine reasonable cause exists for delay or failure to make a filing.
SECTION 13: Installment Contracts. The Village may enter into an installment
contract with the taxpayer for the payment of taxes under the controlling tax ordinance. The
Local Tax Administrator may not cancel any installment contract so entered unless the taxpayer
fails to pay any amount due and owing. Upon written notice by the Local Tax Administrator that
the payment is thirty (30) days delinquent, the taxpayer shall have fourteen (14) working days to
cure any delinquency. If the taxpayer fails to cure the delinquency within the fourteen (14) day
period or fails to demonstrate good faith in restructuring the installment contract with the Local
Tax Administrator, the installment contract shall be canceled without further notice to the
taxpayer.
SECTION 14: Period For Requesting Refund or Making Payment of Remaining
Tax Due. The Village, through the Local Tax Administrator, shall review all tax returns in a
prompt and timely manner and inform taxpayers of any amounts due and. owing. The taxpayer
shall ;have forty -five (45) days after receiving notice of the reviewed tax returns to make any
request for refund or provide any tax still due and owing.
SECTION 15: Statute of Limitations.
(a) No determination of tax due and owing may be issued more than four (4) years
after ,the end of the calendar year for which the return for the applicable period was filed or for
the calendar year in which the return .for the applicable period was due, whichever occurs later.
(b) If any tax return is not filed, or if during any four (4) year period for which a
notice of tax determination or assessment may be issued by the Village, the tax paid was less
than 75% of the tax due, the statute of limitations shall be six (6) years maximum after the end of
the calendar year in which return for the applicable period was due or the end of the calendar
year in which the return for the applicable period was filed.
(c) If a fraudulent tax return was filed by the taxpayer, there shall be no limit on the
time period within which the Village can issue a notice of tax determination or assessment for the
period covered by the fraudulent return.
SECTION 16: Voluntary Disclosure. For any locally imposed and administered tax
for which a taxpayer has not received a written notice of an audit, investigation, or assessment
from the Local Tax Administrator, a taxpayer is entitled to file an application with the Local Tax
Administrator for a voluntary disclosure of the tax due. A taxpayer filing a voluntary disclosure
application must agree to pay the amount of tax due, along with interest of one percent (1 %) per
month, for all periods prior to the filing of the application but not more than four (4) years before
the date of filing the application. A taxpayer filing a valid voluntary disclosure application may
not be liable for any additional tax, interest, or penalty for any period before the date the
application was filed. However, if the taxpayer incorrectly determined and underpaid the amount
of tax due, the. taxpayer is liable for the underpaid tax along with applicable interest on the
underpaid tax, unless the underpayment was the result of fraud on the part of the taxpayer, in
which case the application shall be deemed invalid and void. The payment of tax and interest
must be ' made by no later than ninety (90) days after the filing of the voluntary disclosure
application or the date agreed to by the local tax administrator. However, any additional
amounts owed as a result of an underpayment of tax and interest previously paid under this
Section must be paid within ninety (90) days after a final determination and the exhaustion of all
appeals of the additional amount owed or the date agreed to by the Local Tax Administrator,
whichever is longer.
SECTION 17: Publication of Tax Ordinances. Any locally administered tax
ordinance shall be published via normal or standard publishing requirements, including but not
limited to, publication in pamphlet form. The posting of a tax ordinance on the Internet shall
satisfy the publication requirements. Copies of all tax ordinances shall be made available to the
public upon request at the Village Clerk's office.
SECTION 18: Liens. The Local Tax Administrator shall establish an internal review
procedure regarding any liens filed against any taxpayers for unpaid taxes. Upon a.determination
by the local tax administrator that the lien is valid, the lien shall remain in full force and effect.
If the lien is determined to be improper, the local tax administrator shall:
(a) timely remove the lien at the Village's expense;
(b) correct the taxpayer's credit record; and
(c) correct any public disclosure of the improperly imposed lien.
SECTION 19: Application: This Ordinance shall be liberally construed and
administered to supplement all of the Village's tax ordinances. To the extent that any tax
ordinance is in conflict with or inconsistent with this Ordinance, this Ordinance shall be
controlling.
SECTION 20: Severability. If any section, paragraph or provision of this Ordinance
shall be held to be invalid or unenforceable for any reason, the invalidity or unenforceability of
such section, paragraph or provision shall not affect any of the remaining provisions of this
Ordinance.
SECTION 21: Effective Date. That this Ordinance shall be in full force and effect
from
and after its passage, approval and publication in pamphlet form as provided by law.
PASSED this 6th day of
July , 2004.
AYES: Benton, Kayne, Rosenthal, Seiden, Wylie (5)
NAYS: None (0 )
ABSENT: Swanson (1)
ABSTAIN: None (0 )
APPROVED this 6 th da,
F.11009kis
b8pq7-y Village Clerk