Returns and remittance of tax - civil penalty

(1) Every distributor shall file a return with the department each quarter.  The return, which shall be upon forms prescribed and furnished by the department, shall contain, among other things, the total amount of tobacco products purchased by the distributor during the preceding quarter and the tax due thereon.
(2) Every distributor shall file a return with the department by the twentieth day of the month following the month reported and shall therewith remit the amount of tax due, less three and one-third percent of any sum so remitted that consists of tax collected before July 1, 2003, or on or after July 1, 2005, and less two and one-third percent of any sum so remitted that consists of tax collected on or after July 1, 2003, but before July 1, 2005, to cover the distributor's expense in the collection and remittance of said tax;  except that no part of the tax imposed pursuant to section 39-28.5-102.5 and section 21 of article X of the state constitution shall be subject to the discount provided for in this subsection (2).  If any distributor is delinquent in remitting said tax, other than in unusual circumstances shown to the satisfaction of the executive director of the department, the distributor shall not be allowed to retain any amounts to cover his or her expense in collecting and remitting said tax, and in addition the penalty imposed under section 39-28.5-110(2)(b) shall apply.
(3) The department may require distributors to use electronic funds transfers to remit tax payments due pursuant to this article 28.5 and section 21 of article X of the state constitution to the department and may require distributors to file tax returns electronically.  The department may promulgate rules governing electronic payment and filing.
(4)(a) Any person, firm, limited liability company, partnership, or corporation, other than a distributor, in possession of tobacco products for which taxes have not otherwise been remitted pursuant to this section shall be liable and responsible for the uncollected tax that is levied pursuant to section 39-28.5-102 and section 21 of article X of the state constitution on behalf of the distributor who failed to pay the tax.  The person or entity shall make the payment to the department within thirty days of first taking possession of the tobacco product.  The department shall establish a form to be used for remittance of the payment.  The department shall remit the proceeds it receives pursuant to this paragraph (a) to the state treasurer for distribution as follows:
(I) For all moneys received and collected in payment of the tax imposed pursuant to section 39-28.5-102 , fifteen percent shall be credited to the tobacco tax enforcement cash fund created in section 39-28-107(1)(b) , and eighty-five percent shall be credited to the old age pension fund;  and
(II) All moneys received and collected in payment of the tax imposed pursuant to section 39-28.5-102.5 shall be credited to the tobacco tax cash fund created in section 24-22-117, C.R.S .
(b) The executive director of the department may impose a civil penalty on any person, firm, limited liability company, partnership, or corporation in possession of tobacco products that fails to make a payment required pursuant to paragraph (a) of this subsection (4) or who is a distributor by virtue of being the first person who receives the tobacco products in the state and who fails to make a payment required pursuant to this section in an amount that does not exceed five hundred percent of such payment.  Any moneys received pursuant to this paragraph (b) shall be remitted to the state treasurer for deposit in the tobacco tax enforcement cash fund created in section 39-28-107(1)(b) .