(a) On and after January 1, 1994, and before January 1, 1995, every surplus line broker whose annual taxes for business done in calendar year 1992 or whose quarterly taxes for business done in calendar year 1993 exceed fifty thousand dollars ($50,000) shall make payment by electronic funds transfer. On and after January 1, 1995, every surplus line broker whose annual taxes for business done in calendar year 1993 or in any calendar year thereafter exceed twenty thousand dollars ($20,000) shall make payment by electronic funds transfer. The surplus line broker shall choose one of the acceptable methods described in Section 45 for completing the electronic funds transfer.

(b) Payment is deemed complete on the date the electronic funds transfer is initiated, if settlement to the state’s demand account occurs on or before the banking day following the date the transfer is initiated. If settlement to the state’s demand account does not occur on or before the banking day following the date the transfer is initiated, payment is deemed to occur on the date settlement occurs.

(c) (1) Any surplus line broker required to remit taxes by electronic funds transfer pursuant to this section who remits those taxes by means other than an appropriate electronic funds transfer, shall be assessed a penalty in an amount equal to 10 percent of the taxes due at the time of the payment.

(2) If the department finds that a surplus line broker’s failure to make payment by an appropriate electronic funds transfer in accordance with subdivision (a) is due to reasonable cause or circumstances beyond the surplus line broker’s control, and occurred notwithstanding the exercise of ordinary care and in the absence of willful neglect, that surplus line broker shall be relieved of the penalty provided in paragraph (1).

(3) Any surplus line broker seeking to be relieved of the penalty provided in paragraph (1) shall file with the department a statement under penalty of perjury setting forth the facts upon which the claim for relief is based.

(Added by renumbering Section 1776.8 by Stats. 1995, Ch. 721, Sec. 7. Effective January 1, 1996.)