99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2015 and 2016
HB4031

 

Introduced , by Rep. Marcus C. Evans, Jr.

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
New Act

    Creates the Tax Consultant and Tax Preparer Licensure Act. Provides that tax consultants must be licensed by the Department of Revenue. Provides that a person may not prepare or advise or assist in the preparation of personal income tax returns for another for valuable consideration, or represent that the person is so engaged, unless the person is licensed as a tax consultant. Provides that a tax preparer may prepare or advise or assist in the preparation of tax returns only under the supervision of a licensed tax consultant, and provides that those tax preparers must also be licensed by the Department of Revenue. Contains provisions concerning fees, suspension or revocation of licenses, and prohibited activities. Contains provisions concerning refund anticipation loans. Effective immediately.


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FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

HB4031LRB099 09104 HLH 29297 b

1    AN ACT concerning regulation.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the Tax
5Consultant and Tax Preparer Licensure Act.
 
6    Section 5. Definitions. As used in this Act:
7    "Department" means the Department of Revenue.
8    "Facilitator" means a person that individually or in
9conjunction or cooperation with another person processes,
10receives, or accepts for delivery an application for a refund
11anticipation loan or a check in payment of refund anticipation
12loan proceeds or in any other manner materially facilitates the
13making of a refund anticipation loan.
14    "Facilitator" does not mean a financial institution, an
15affiliate that is a servicer for a financial institution, a
16person issued a certificate as a certified public accountant or
17licensed as a public accountant, or any person that acts solely
18as an intermediary and does not deal with a taxpayer in the
19making of a refund anticipation loan.
20    "Lender" means a person that makes a refund anticipation
21loan with the person's own funds or a line of credit or other
22funding from a financial institution, but does not include a
23financial institution.

 

 

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1    "Refund anticipation loan" means a loan that the lender
2arranges to be repaid directly from the proceeds of the
3taxpayer's federal or State personal income tax refund.
4    "Refund anticipation loan fee" means the charges, fees, or
5other consideration charged or imposed by the lender or
6facilitator for the making of a refund anticipation loan.
7    "Refund anticipation loan fee" does not mean any charge,
8fee, or other consideration usually charged or imposed by the
9facilitator in the ordinary course of business for non-loan
10services, including fees for tax return preparation and fees
11for electronic filing of tax returns.
12    "Taxpayer" means an individual who files a federal or
13Illinois personal income tax return.
 
14    Section 10. Prohibited activities.
15    (a) Except as otherwise provided in this Act, a person may
16not prepare, or advise or assist in the preparation of,
17personal income tax returns for another for valuable
18consideration, or represent that the person is so engaged,
19unless the person is licensed as a tax consultant under this
20Act.
21    (b) A tax preparer may prepare or advise or assist in the
22preparation of tax returns only under the supervision of a
23licensed tax consultant, and subject to such conditions and
24limitations as the Department by rule may impose.
25    (c) A person may not be a facilitator of a refund

 

 

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1anticipation loan without first being issued a license as a tax
2consultant or tax preparer under this Act.
 
3    Section 15. Qualifications for tax consultant and tax
4preparer; examination.
5    (a) Every applicant for a license as a tax consultant and
6every applicant for licensing as a tax preparer must:
7        (1) be 18 years of age or older;
8        (2) possess a high school diploma or have passed an
9    equivalency examination;
10        (3) present evidence satisfactory to the Department
11    that the applicant has successfully completed at least 80
12    hours in basic personal income tax law, theory, and
13    practice at a school training session or educational
14    institution approved by the Department; and
15        (4) possess a preparer tax identification number
16    issued by the Internal Revenue Service.
17    (b) In addition to the requirements of subsection (a) of
18this Section, every applicant for licensing as a tax preparer
19must pass an examination in the form and manner prescribed by
20the Department. The examination must measure the applicant's
21knowledge of Illinois and federal personal income tax law,
22theory, and practice.
23    (c) In addition to the requirements of subsection (a) of
24this Section, every applicant for licensing as a tax consultant
25must do all of the following:

 

 

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1        (1) Present evidence satisfactory to the Department of
2    employment as a tax preparer in this or another state in a
3    capacity that is, in the judgment of the Department,
4    equivalent to that of a tax preparer or tax consultant, for
5    not less than a cumulative total of 1,100 hours during at
6    least 2 of the last 5 years. The Department shall consider
7    certification submitted by a tax consultant that the
8    applicant was employed as a tax preparer under his or her
9    supervision for the period indicated in the certificate to
10    be satisfactory evidence of the applicant's employment as a
11    tax preparer for the period indicated. If an applicant has
12    worked less than a cumulative total of 1,100 hours in at
13    least 2 of the last 5 years, the Department may consider
14    the number of hours employed, the number of years employed,
15    the number of tax returns prepared, and whether the work
16    involved contributed directly to the professional
17    competence of the individual in determining if a tax
18    preparer or tax consultant has met the work experience
19    requirement.
20        (2) Pass an examination in the form and manner
21    prescribed by the Department. The examination must measure
22    the applicant's knowledge of Illinois and federal personal
23    income tax law, theory, and practice, and be of a more
24    exacting nature and require higher standards of knowledge
25    of personal income tax law, theory, and practice than the
26    examination for a tax preparer's license.

 

 

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1    (d) If, in the judgment of the Department, an applicant
2has, in combination, the education and experience to qualify
3for a tax consultant's or preparer's license, but does not meet
4or cannot present evidence of strict compliance with the
5requirements of paragraph (3) of subsection (a) or item (1) of
6subsection (c) of this Section, the Department may allow some
7of the applicant's education or experience to substitute one
8for the other. However, this subsection does not allow a waiver
9of, or substitution for, any qualifications needed for a tax
10consultant's or preparer's license other than those described
11in those paragraphs.
 
12    Section 20. Tax consultant's application. Every person
13desiring to be licensed as a tax consultant shall apply in
14writing to the Department. The application forms shall be
15approved by the Department. Each application shall include or
16be accompanied by evidence, satisfactory to the Department,
17that the applicant meets the qualifications prescribed in this
18Act. Each application shall be accompanied by the examination
19fee as provided under Section 70.
 
20    Section 25. Tax preparer's application. Every person
21desiring to be licensed as a tax preparer shall apply in
22writing to the Department. The application forms shall be
23approved by the Department. Each application shall include or
24be accompanied by evidence, satisfactory to the Department,

 

 

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1that the applicant meets the qualifications prescribed in this
2Act. The application shall be accompanied by the examination
3fee as provided under Section 70.
 
4    Section 30. Licensing of person licensed in another state
5or enrolled to practice before Internal Revenue Service;
6requirements; fees.
7    (a) The Department may issue a license to an applicant for
8a license as a tax consultant or as a tax preparer who:
9        (1) presents evidence satisfactory to the Department
10    that the applicant is licensed as a tax consultant or
11    preparer in a state that has requirements for licensing
12    substantially similar to the requirements for licensing in
13    this State; and
14        (2) has passed to the satisfaction of the Department an
15    examination covering Illinois personal income tax law,
16    theory, and practice, the provisions of this Act, and the
17    code of professional conduct prescribed by the Department.
18    (b) Notwithstanding subsection (a) of this Section, the
19Department shall license as a tax consultant any person who is,
20on the date of the application for a tax consultant's license,
21enrolled to practice before the Internal Revenue Service if the
22person has passed to the satisfaction of the Department an
23examination covering Illinois personal income tax law, theory,
24and practice, the provisions of this Act, and the code of
25professional conduct prescribed by the Department.

 

 

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1    (c) Except as otherwise provided in this Section, an
2examination is not required for licensing under this Section.
3    (d) Any person desiring to be licensed under this Section
4shall make written application to the Department and shall pay
5to the Department at the time required by the Department the
6examination and license fees provided by rule of the
7Department.
 
8    Section 35. Issuance of licenses. The Department shall
9license as a tax consultant or a tax preparer each applicant
10who:
11        (1) demonstrates to the satisfaction of the Department
12    fitness for a license;
13        (2) pays to the Department an initial license fee as
14    provided under Section 70; and
15        (3) has no disciplinary actions pending before the
16    Department.
17    The Department shall issue evidence of licensing to each
18person licensed.
 
19    Section 40. Preparation of tax returns by corporation,
20firm, or partnership; requirements; liability; prohibitions.
21    (a) A sole proprietorship, partnership, corporation or
22other legal entity, through individuals who are authorized
23within this State to render those services, may engage in the
24preparation, or in advising or assisting in the preparation of

 

 

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1personal income tax returns for another for valuable
2consideration and represent that it is so engaged if the
3entity:
4        (1) registers annually with the Department in the
5    manner prescribed by the Department;
6        (2) designates and reports in the manner prescribed by
7    the Department the authorized individual or individuals
8    who are responsible for the tax return preparation
9    activities and decisions of the entity; and
10        (3) complies with this Act and the rules adopted by the
11    Department.
12    (b) A sole proprietorship, partnership, corporation, or
13other legal entity shall not be relieved of responsibility for
14the conduct or acts of its agents, employees, or officers by
15reason of its compliance with subsection (a) of this Section,
16nor shall a licensed tax consultant be relieved of
17responsibility for professional services performed by reason
18of employment by or relationship with such sole proprietorship,
19partnership, corporation or other legal entity.
20    (c) A sole proprietorship, partnership, corporation or
21other legal entity shall not engage in tax return preparation
22activities under subsection (a) of this Section if the tax
23consultant, or the proprietor, a partner, a principal, an
24officer, director or manager, or a shareholder of the entity,
25is:
26        (1) an individual whose license as a tax consultant or

 

 

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1    tax preparer has been permanently revoked;
2        (2) an individual to whom the Department has refused to
3    issue or renew a license on the basis of dishonest conduct
4    or conduct involving tax preparation;
5        (3) an individual whose occupational license, permit,
6    or registration has been revoked or refused by another
7    state regulatory agency or the Internal Revenue Service for
8    dishonest conduct or conduct involving tax preparation;
9        (4) a sole proprietorship, partnership, corporation,
10    or other legal entity prohibited from engaging in tax
11    return preparation activities under subsection (a) of this
12    Section by reason of this subsection.
13    (d) The shareholders referred to in subsection (c) of this
14Section are:
15        (1) if the corporation is publicly traded, a
16    shareholder that owns more than 10% in value of the
17    outstanding stock of the corporation; and
18        (2) if the corporation is not publicly traded, any
19    shareholder.
20    (e) For purposes of subsections (c) and (d) of this
21Section, "publicly traded" means traded on an established
22securities market.
23    (f) If a sole proprietorship, partnership, corporation or
24other legal entity must sever a relationship in order that it
25may engage or may continue to engage in tax preparation
26activities in compliance with this Section, the entity shall be

 

 

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1allowed a reasonable time to sever the relationship. Except as
2otherwise provided in this Section, the time allowed to sever a
3relationship shall not exceed 180 days after the Department
4gives notice that the severance is required. The notice shall
5include a statement affording an opportunity for hearing on the
6issue of severance.
7    (g) If a hearing is requested under subsection (f) of this
8Section, or if an appeal is taken of the Department's order
9following hearing, the Department or court may allow additional
10time for the affected parties to comply with any order
11requiring severance.
 
12    Section 45. Renewal of licenses; restoration of lapsed
13license; rules.
14    (a) Each licensed tax consultant or tax preparer shall
15apply to the Department and pay the fee for a renewal of the
16license. The application shall be made annually, on or before a
17date established by the Department by rule. The application
18shall be accompanied by evidence satisfactory to the Department
19that the person applying for renewal of the license has
20completed the continuing education required by Section 50.
21    (b) At least 30 days before the annual renewal date, the
22Department shall notify the licensee that the annual renewal
23application and fee are due.
24    (c) Any license that is not renewed within 15 days after
25the annual renewal date shall lapse.

 

 

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1    (d) The Department may restore any lapsed license upon
2payment to the Department of all past unpaid renewal fees and a
3fee for restoration of a lapsed license and upon proof of
4compliance with any continuing education requirements that may
5be adopted by the Department by rule.
 
6    Section 50. Continuing education requirement; waiver.
7    (a) Except as provided in subsection (b) of this Section,
8upon annual renewal of a tax preparer's or tax consultant's
9license, each person licensed as a tax consultant or tax
10preparer under this Act shall submit evidence satisfactory to
11the Department that the person has completed at least 30 hours
12of instruction or seminar in subjects related to income tax
13preparation since the preceding license renewal date. If the
14Department does not receive evidence that the continuing
15education requirement has been completed by the applicant, the
16Department shall not renew the applicant's active license.
17    (b) The Department may exempt a tax consultant or tax
18preparer from the continuing education required by this Section
19upon application showing evidence satisfactory to the
20Department of inability to comply because of unusual or
21extenuating circumstances.
 
22    Section 55. Licenses to be displayed. Each tax consultant
23and preparer shall display the evidence of licensing issued to
24the tax consultant or tax preparer in accordance with rules

 

 

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1adopted by the Department.
 
2    Section 60. Use of title. An individual may not assume or
3use the title or designation "tax consultant" unless the person
4is licensed as a tax consultant under this Act.
5    A sole proprietorship, partnership, corporation, or other
6legal entity may not assume or use the title or designation
7"tax consultant" unless the entity is in compliance with
8Section 40.
 
9    Section 65. Inactive status; application; renewal;
10reactivation; revocation or suspension; prohibition; rules.
11    (a) Whenever a tax consultant or tax preparer ceases to
12engage in the preparation or in advising or assisting in the
13preparation of personal income tax returns, the consultant or
14preparer may apply to the Department for inactive status. A
15license that is granted inactive status may be renewed upon
16payment of the applicable license fee. No proof that the
17continuing education required by Section 50 has been fulfilled
18need be presented to the Department for renewal of an inactive
19license.
20    (b) A license in inactive status may be reactivated upon
21payment of a reactivation fee and upon proof of compliance with
22such continuing education requirements as may be adopted by the
23Department by rule.
24    (c) A license in inactive status may be revoked or

 

 

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1suspended by the Department when conditions exist under which
2the Department would have been authorized to revoke or suspend
3the license if it were active.
4    (d) No person whose license is inactive shall act as a tax
5consultant or as a tax preparer.
 
6    Section 70. Fees. The Department shall by rule adopt fees
7for:
8        (1) application for examination for a tax consultant's
9    license;
10        (2) application for examination for a tax preparer's
11    license;
12        (3) issuance or renewal of a tax consultant's license;
13        (4) issuance or renewal of a tax preparer's license;
14        (5) issuance or renewal of a tax consultant's inactive
15    license;
16        (6) issuance or renewal of a tax preparer's inactive
17    license;
18        (7) reactivation of a tax consultant's inactive
19    license or reactivation of a tax preparer's inactive
20    license;
21        (8) restoration of lapsed license;
22        (9) issuance or replacement of a duplicate license;
23        (10) issuance of a replacement or duplicate tax
24    consultant certificate;
25        (11) registration or registration renewal for a sole

 

 

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1    proprietorship, partnership, corporation, or other legal
2    entity;
3        (12) issuance or renewal of a combined tax consultant's
4    or tax preparer's license and registration for a sole
5    proprietorship, partnership, corporation, or other legal
6    entity; eligibility for a combined license shall be
7    determined under rules adopted by the Department; and
8        (13) annual registration of a branch office of a sole
9    proprietorship, partnership, corporation or other legal
10    entity.
 
11    Section 75. Tax consultant's records.
12    (a) Except as provided in this Section, every person
13licensed as a tax consultant shall keep records of all personal
14income tax returns prepared by the person, or in the
15preparation of which advice or assistance of the person has
16been given. The records of the returns shall be kept for a
17period of not less than 4 years after the date of the
18preparation, advice, or assistance.
19    (b) If a tax consultant is employed by another tax
20consultant, the records shall be kept by the employing tax
21consultant.
22    (c) If tax consultant who has been designated as
23responsible for the tax return preparation activities and
24decisions of a partnership, corporation, or other legal entity
25ceases to be connected with the partnership, corporation, or

 

 

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1other legal entity, the records shall be retained by the
2partnership, corporation, or other legal entity.
 
3    Section 80. Secretary of State as agent for service of
4process against nonresident; fee.
5    (a) The acceptance by a nonresident of a license as tax
6consultant or a tax preparer shall be considered equivalent to
7the appointment by the nonresident of the Secretary of State as
8attorney upon whom may be served any summons, process, or
9pleading in any action or suit against the nonresident in any
10court of this State, arising out of any business done by the
11nonresident as a tax consultant or tax preparer in this State.
12    (b) The acceptance of a license shall be considered
13equivalent to any agreement by the nonresident that any
14summons, process, or pleading in the action or suit may be made
15by leaving a copy thereof, with a fee of $2, with the Office of
16the Secretary of State. Such service shall be sufficient and
17valid personal service upon the defendant if notice of such
18service and a copy of the summons, process, or pleading is sent
19forthwith by registered mail or by certified mail with return
20receipt by the plaintiff or the attorney of the plaintiff to
21the defendant at the most recent address furnished to the
22Department by the nonresident tax consultant or tax preparer or
23to the last known address. An affidavit of the plaintiff or the
24attorney of the plaintiff of the mailing shall be appended to
25the summons, process, or pleading and entered as a part of the

 

 

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1return thereof. However, personal service outside of the State
2in accordance with the statute relating to personal service of
3summons outside of the State shall relieve the plaintiff from
4such mailing requirement.
5    (c) Any summons received or provided in this Section shall
6require the defendant to appear and answer the complaint within
74 weeks after receipt thereof by the Secretary of State. The
8court in which the action or suit is brought may order such
9continuance as may be necessary to afford the defendant
10reasonable opportunity to defend the action. The fee of $2 paid
11by the plaintiff to the Secretary of State shall be taxed as
12costs in favor of the plaintiff if the plaintiff prevails in
13the action. The Secretary of State shall keep a record of each
14summons, process, or pleading served upon the Secretary of
15State under this Section, showing the day and hour of service.
 
16    Section 85. Continuing authority of the Department. The
17lapsing, suspension, or revocation of a license by operation of
18law or by order of the Department or by decision of a court of
19law, or the voluntary surrender of a license by a licensee,
20shall not deprive the Department of jurisdiction to proceed
21with any investigation of or any action or disciplinary
22proceeding against the licensee, or to revise or render null
23and void an order suspending or revoking the license.
 
24    Section 90. Disciplinary action; grounds. The Department

 

 

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1may refuse to issue or renew a tax consultant or preparer's
2license, or may suspend or revoke a tax consultant or
3preparer's license, or may reprimand any person licensed as a
4tax consultant or tax preparer for:
5        (1) a violation of Section 10, Section 95, or Section
6    105;
7        (2) failure to keep records as required under this Act;
8        (3) negligence or incompetence in tax consultant or tax
9    preparer practice, or when acting in the capacity of a tax
10    preparer or tax consultant in another state or under an
11    exempt status, or in preparation of the personal income tax
12    return for another state or the federal government;
13        (4) conviction of any crime, an essential element of
14    which is dishonesty, fraud, or deception, under the laws of
15    any state or of the United States;
16        (5) conviction of willful failure to pay any tax or
17    estimated tax, file any tax return, keep records or supply
18    information required under the tax laws of any state or of
19    the United States, or conviction of the willful making,
20    rendering, delivery, disclosure, signing or verifying of
21    any false or fraudulent list, return, account, statement or
22    other document, or of supplying any false or fraudulent
23    information, required under the tax laws of any state or of
24    the United States.
25        (6) failure to comply with continuing education
26    requirements under this Act;

 

 

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1        (7) violation of the code of professional conduct
2    prescribed by the Department;
3        (8) failure to timely pay any civil penalty incurred
4    under this Act; or
5        (9) cancellation, revocation, or refusal to renew by
6    any State or federal agency, or entry of a consent order,
7    stipulated agreement, or judgment related to, the person's
8    or business's authority to practice law, to practice as a
9    certified public accountant or a public accountant, or to
10    practice under other regulatory law in any state, or to
11    practice as an enrolled agent, if the grounds for the
12    cancellation, revocation, refusal to renew, consent order,
13    stipulated agreement, or judgment were related to income
14    tax preparation or if dishonesty, fraud, or deception was
15    involved.
 
16    Section 95. Prohibited acts. It is unlawful for any person
17to:
18        (1) obtain or attempt to obtain a license as a tax
19    consultant or a tax preparer by any fraudulent
20    representation;
21        (2) represent that the person is licensed as a tax
22    consultant or a tax preparer if the person is not so
23    licensed;
24        (3) present or attempt to use the license of another
25    person;

 

 

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1        (4) attempt to use a suspended, lapsed, or revoked
2    license;
3        (5) falsely impersonate a licensee under this Act;
4        (6) engage in dishonesty, fraud, or deception relating
5    to the preparation of personal income tax returns; and
6        (7) violate a position of trust, including a position
7    of trust outside the licensee's professional practice.
 
8    Section 100. Exclusions. Sections 5 through 95 of this Act
9do not apply to any of the following:
10        (1) Any full-time or part-time employee hired to fill a
11    permanent position, who in connection with the duties as an
12    employee, has the incidental duty of preparing income tax
13    returns for the business of the employer only.
14        (2) Any attorney rendering services in the performance
15    of the duties of an attorney.
16        (3) While acting as such, any fiduciary, or the regular
17    employees thereof, acting on behalf of the fiduciary
18    estate, the testator, trustor, grantor, or beneficiaries
19    thereof.
20        (4) A certified public accountant who holds an active
21    permit issued by any state, a public accountant, or a
22    public accounting firm registered in any state.
23        (5) Any employee of a certified public accountant,
24    public accountant or registered public accounting firm
25    described in paragraph (4) of this Section.

 

 

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1        (6) Any person employed by a local, State, or federal
2    governmental agency but only in performance of official
3    duties.
 
4    Section 105. Refund anticipation loan disclosures.
5    (a) Prior to a taxpayer's completion of an application for
6a refund anticipation loan, the facilitator shall clearly
7disclose in writing to the taxpayer on a form separate from the
8application:
9        (1) a listing or table of refund anticipation loan fees
10    and the annual percentage rates, as defined by the federal
11    Truth in Lending Act, 15 U.S.C. 1601 et seq., charged by
12    the facilitator or lender for 3 or more representative
13    refund anticipation loan amounts; for each loan amount, the
14    schedule shall list separately the amount of each fee and
15    the amount of interest charged by the facilitator or lender
16    and the total amount of fees and interest charged;
17        (2) that the refund anticipation loan is a loan and not
18    the taxpayer's actual personal income tax refund;
19        (3) that electronic filing of the taxpayer's tax return
20    is available without applying for a refund anticipation
21    loan;
22        (4) the average time announced by the appropriate
23    taxing authority within which the taxpayer can expect to
24    receive a refund if the taxpayer does not obtain a refund
25    anticipation loan and the taxpayer's return is filed:

 

 

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1            (A) electronically and the refund is directly
2        deposited in the taxpayer's bank account; or
3            (B) by mail and the refund is directly deposited in
4        the taxpayer's bank account or mailed to the taxpayer;
5        (5) that the Internal Revenue Service does not
6    guarantee that the full amount of the anticipated refund
7    will be paid or a specific date on which the taxpayer will
8    receive the refund;
9        (6) that the taxpayer is responsible for repayment of
10    the loan and related fees in the event the tax refund is
11    not paid or is not paid in full;
12        (7) the estimated time within which the proceeds of the
13    loan will be paid to the taxpayer if the loan is approved;
14    and
15        (8) the fees charged by the facilitator or lender if
16    the refund anticipation loan is not approved.
17    (b) Prior to entering into a refund anticipation loan
18agreement, the facilitator shall clearly disclose to the
19taxpayer:
20        (1) the estimated total fees for the loan; and
21        (2) the estimated annual percentage rate, as defined by
22    the federal Truth in Lending Act, for the loan.
 
23    Section 999. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
24becoming law.