Any taxpayer who meets the requirements of Section 19754 may elect the application of either, but not both, of the following:
(a) Voluntary compliance without appeal. If this option is elected, then each of the following shall apply:
(1) The Franchise Tax Board shall waive or abate all penalties imposed by this part, for all taxable years where the taxpayer elects to participate in the initiative, as a result of the underreporting of tax liabilities attributable to the use of abusive tax avoidance transactions.
(2) Except as provided in Section 19753, no criminal action shall be brought against the taxpayer for the taxable years with respect to issues for which the taxpayer voluntarily complies under this article.
(3) No penalty may be waived or abated under this article if the penalty imposed is attributable to an assessment of taxes that became final prior to December 31, 2003.
(4) Notwithstanding Chapter 6 (commencing with Section 19301) of this part, the taxpayer may not file a claim for refund for the amounts paid in connection with abusive tax avoidance transactions under this article.
(b) Voluntary compliance with appeal. If this option is elected, then each of the following shall apply:
(1) The Franchise Tax Board shall waive or abate all penalties, except the accuracy related penalty under Section 19164 (as in effect immediately before enactment of the act adding this section), imposed by this part, for each of the taxable years for which the taxpayer elects to participate in the initiative, that are owed as a result of the underreporting of tax liabilities attributable to the use of abusive tax avoidance transactions.
(2) Except as provided in Section 19753, no criminal action may be brought against the taxpayer for each of the taxable years for which the taxpayer voluntarily complies under this section.
(3) No penalty may be waived under this article if the penalty imposed is attributable to an assessment of taxes that became due and payable prior to December 31, 2003.
(4) The taxpayer may file a claim for refund under Chapter 6 (commencing with Section 19301) of this part. Notwithstanding Section 19331, the taxpayer may not file an appeal to the board until after either of the following:
(A) The date the Franchise Tax Board takes action on the claim for refund for the tax year to which this article applies.
(B) The later of either of the following dates:
(i) The date that is 180 days after the date of a final determination by the Internal Revenue Service with respect to the transaction or transactions to which this article applies.
(ii) The date that is four years after the date the claim for refund was filed or one year after full payment of all tax, including penalty and interest was made, whichever date is later.
(5) The taxpayer shall be subject to the accuracy related penalty under Section 19164.
(A) The penalty may be assessed:
(i) When the Franchise Tax Board takes action on the claim for refund.
(ii) When a federal determination becomes final for the same issue, in which case the penalty shall be assessed (and may not be abated) if the penalty was assessed at the federal level.
(B) In determining the amount of the underpayment of tax, Treasury Regulation Section 1.6664-2(c)(2), as promulgated under Section 6664 of the Internal Revenue Code, relating to qualified amended returns, shall not apply. The amount of the underpayment is the difference between the amount of tax shown on the original return and the correct amount of tax for the taxable year. The underpayment amount shall not be less than the amount of the claim for refund filed by the taxpayer under paragraph (4) that was denied.
(C) The penalty is due and payable upon notice and demand pursuant to Section 19049. Only after the taxpayer has paid all amounts due, including the penalty, and the claim is denied in whole or in part, may the taxpayer file an appeal under Chapter 6 (commencing with Section 19301), of this part in conjunction with the appeal filed under paragraph (4).
(c) A taxpayer’s election under this section shall be made for all taxable years of the taxpayer governed by this article. A separate election for each taxable year governed by this article is not allowed.
(Amended (as added by Stats. 2003, Ch. 656) by Stats. 2011, Ch. 14, Sec. 13. (SB 86) Effective March 24, 2011.)