(35 ILCS 35/15)

Sec. 15. Enforcement.

(a) The Department may investigate the actions of any income tax return preparer doing business in the State and may bar or suspend an income tax return preparer from filing returns with the Department for good cause.

(b) In addition to any other penalty provided by law, any individual or person violating this Act by failing to provide his or her PTIN shall pay a civil penalty to the Department in the amount of $50 per offense, but not to exceed $25,000 per calendar year; however, no such penalty shall be imposed if it is shown that the failure is due to reasonable cause and not due to willful neglect, as determined by the Department.

(c) The Department shall, before taking any disciplinary action against an income tax return preparer under this Section, hold a hearing in accordance with this Act. The Department shall, at least 30 days before the date set for the hearing, (i) notify the accused in writing of the charges made and the time and place for the hearing on the charges, (ii) direct him or her to file a written answer to the charges with the Department under oath within 20 days after the service on him or her of the notice, and (iii) inform the accused that, if he or she fails to answer, disciplinary action shall be taken against him or her, as the Department may consider proper.

(d) At the time and place fixed in the notice, the Department shall proceed to hear the charges and the parties or their counsel shall be accorded ample opportunity to present any pertinent statements, testimony, evidence, and arguments. The Department may continue the hearing from time to time.

(e) In case the person, after receiving the notice, fails to file an answer, he or she may be subject to the disciplinary action set forth in the notice. The written notice may be served by registered or certified mail to the person's address of record.

(f) All final administrative decisions of the Department under this Section shall be subject to judicial review pursuant to the provisions of the Administrative Review Law. The term "administrative decision" is defined as in Section 3-101 of the Code of Civil Procedure. Proceedings for judicial review shall be commenced in the Circuit Court of the county in which the party applying for review resides; provided, that if such party is not a resident of this State, the venue shall be in Sangamon or Cook County.

(g) The Department shall not be required to certify any record to the court or file any answer in court or otherwise appear in any court in a judicial review proceeding, unless and until the Department has received from the plaintiff payment of the costs of furnishing and certifying the record, which costs shall be established by the Department. Exhibits shall be certified without cost. Failure on the part of the plaintiff to file such receipt in court shall be grounds for dismissal of the action.

(Source: P.A. 99-641, eff. 1-1-17.)