(a) Any person who, with intent to defraud, does any of the following is liable for a penalty of not more than ten thousand dollars ($10,000):
(1) Willfully utters, passes, or negotiates a state-issued income tax refund warrant generated as a result of the filing of a return knowing that the recipient is not entitled to the refund.
(2) Willfully procures a state-issued income tax refund, in any form, generated as a result of the filing of a return knowing that the recipient is not entitled to the refund.
(3) Willfully aids, abets, advises, encourages, or counsels any individual to utter, pass, or negotiate a state-issued income tax refund warrant, or to procure a state-issued income tax refund, in any form, generated as a result of the filing of a return, knowing the recipient is not entitled to the refund.
(b) The person is also punishable by imprisonment in a county jail not to exceed one year, or in the state prison, or by a fine not to exceed fifty thousand dollars ($50,000), or by both that fine and imprisonment, at the discretion of the court, together with the costs of investigation and prosecution.
(c) The fact that an individual’s name is endorsed to a state-issued refund warrant shall be prima facie evidence for all purposes that the refund warrant was actually signed by him or her.
(d) The penalty shall be recovered in the name of the people in any court of competent jurisdiction. Counsel for the Franchise Tax Board may, upon request of the district attorney or other prosecuting attorney, assist the prosecuting attorney in presenting the law or facts to recover the penalty at the trial or a criminal proceeding for violation of this section.
(e) Any individual guilty under this part shall be subject to Section 502.01 of the Penal Code.
(Amended by Stats. 2004, Ch. 163, Sec. 2. Effective January 1, 2005.)