(35 ILCS 735/3-4) (from Ch. 120, par. 2603-4)

Sec. 3-4. Penalty for failure to file correct information returns.

(a) Failure to file correct information returns - imposition of penalty.

(1) In general. Unless otherwise provided in a tax Act, in the case of a failure described in paragraph (2) of this subsection (a) by any person with respect to an information return, that person shall pay a penalty of $5 for each return or statement with respect to which the failure occurs, but the total amount imposed on that person for all such failures during any calendar year shall not exceed $25,000.

(2) Failures subject to penalty. The following failures are subject to the penalty imposed in paragraph (1) of this subsection (a):

(A) any failure to file an information return with the Department on or before the required filing date, or

(B) any failure to include all of the information required to be shown on the return or the inclusion of incorrect information.

(b) Reduction where correction in specified period.

(1) Correction within 60 days. If any failure described in subsection (a) (2) is corrected within 60 days after the required filing date:

(A) the penalty imposed by subsection (a) shall be reduced by 50%; and

(B) the total amount imposed on the person for all such failures during any calendar year which are so corrected shall not exceed 50% of the maximum prescribed in subsection (a) (1).

(c) Information return defined. An information return is any tax return required by a tax Act to be filed with the Department that does not, by law, require the payment of a tax liability.

(d) If a taxpayer has a tax liability for the taxable period ending after June 30, 1983 and prior to July 1, 2002 that is eligible for amnesty under the Tax Delinquency Amnesty Act and the taxpayer fails to satisfy the tax liability during the amnesty period provided for in that Act for that taxable period, then the penalty imposed by the Department under this Section shall be imposed in an amount that is 200% of the amount that would otherwise be imposed under this Section.

(e) If a taxpayer has a tax liability for the taxable period ending after June 30, 2002 and prior to July 1, 2009 that is eligible for amnesty under the Tax Delinquency Amnesty Act, except for any tax liability reported pursuant to Section 506(b) of the Illinois Income Tax Act (35 ILCS 5/506(b)) that is not final, and the taxpayer fails to satisfy the tax liability during the amnesty period provided for in that Act for that taxable period, then the penalty imposed by the Department under this Section shall be imposed in an amount that is 200% of the amount that would otherwise be imposed under this Section.

(Source: P.A. 96-1435, eff. 8-16-10.)