(a) Any person who does any of the following shall be guilty of a felony and, upon conviction, shall be fined not more than fifty thousand dollars ($50,000) or imprisoned pursuant to subdivision (h) of Section 1170 of the Penal Code, or both, together with the costs of investigation and prosecution:
(1) Willfully makes and subscribes any return, statement, or other document, that contains or is verified by a written declaration that it is made under penalty of perjury, and he or she does not believe to be true and correct as to every material matter.
(2) Willfully aids or assists in, or procures, counsels, or advises the preparation or presentation under, or in connection with any matter arising under, the Personal Income Tax Law or the Corporation Tax Law, of a return, affidavit, claim, or other document, that is fraudulent or is false as to any material matter, whether or not that falsity or fraud is with the knowledge or consent of the person authorized or required to present that return, affidavit, claim, or document.
(3) Simulates or falsely or fraudulently executes or signs any bond, permit, entry, or other document required by the provisions of the Personal Income Tax Law or the Corporation Tax Law, or by any regulation pursuant to that law, or procures the same to be falsely or fraudulently executed or advises, aids in, or connives at that execution.
(4) Removes, deposits, or conceals, or is concerned in removing, depositing, or concealing, any goods or commodities for or in respect whereof any tax is or shall be imposed, or any property upon which levy is authorized by Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 19201); or Chapter 8 (commencing with Section 688.010) of Division 1 of, and Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 706.010) of Division 2 of, Title 9 of the Code of Civil Procedure, with intent to evade or defeat the assessment or collection of any tax, additions to tax, penalty, or interest imposed by Part 10 (commencing with Section 17001), Part 11 (commencing with Section 23001), or this part.
(5) In connection with any settlement under Section 19442, or offer of that settlement, or in connection with any closing agreement under Section 19441 or offer to enter into that agreement, or compromise under Section 19443, or offer of that compromise, willfully does any of the following:
(A) Conceals from any officer or employee of this state any property belonging to the estate of a taxpayer or other person liable in respect of the tax.
(B) Receives, withholds, destroys, mutilates, or falsifies any book, document, or record, or makes any false statement, relating to the estate or financial condition of the taxpayer or other person liable in respect of the tax.
(b) In the case of a corporation, the fifty thousand dollars ($50,000) limitation specified in subdivision (a) shall be increased to two hundred thousand dollars ($200,000).
(c) The fact that an individual’s name is signed to a return, statement, or other document filed, including a return, statement, or other document filed using electronic technology pursuant to Section 18621.5, shall be prima facie evidence for all purposes that the return, statement, or other document was actually signed by him or her.
(d) For purposes of this section, “person” means the taxpayer, any member of the taxpayer’s family, any corporation, agent, fiduciary, or representative of, or any other individual or entity acting on behalf of, the taxpayer, or any other corporation or entity owned or controlled by the taxpayer, directly or indirectly, or which owns or controls the taxpayer, directly or indirectly.
(e) The changes made to this section by the act adding this subdivision apply to offers made on or after January 1, 1999.
(Amended by Stats. 2011, Ch. 15, Sec. 572. (AB 109) Effective April 4, 2011. Operative October 1, 2011, by Sec. 636 of Ch. 15, as amended by Stats. 2011, Ch. 39, Sec. 68.)