61-3-117. Payment of fees by credit card or other commercially acceptable means. (1) The department may accept payment of any fee, tax, or penalty that the department administers by credit card, debit card, electronic funds transfer, or other commercially acceptable means.

(2) (a) If the payment is made by credit card, debit card, charge card, or similar method, the liability is not discharged and the person has not paid the tax, fee, or penalty until the department, its authorized agent, or the county treasurer receives payment or credit from the financial institution or credit card company responsible for making the payment or credit and as long as the payment or credit is not subsequently charged back to the state by the financial institution or credit card company. Upon receipt of the payment or credit, the amount is considered paid on the date on which the charge was made by the person unless the payment or credit is subsequently charged back to the department, its authorized agent, or the county treasurer by the financial institution or credit card company.

(b) Upon notice of nonpayment, the department may charge the person who attempted the payment of the fee, tax, or penalty an additional fee not to exceed the costs of processing the claim for payment of the fee, tax, or penalty. The amount of the additional fee must be added to the fee, tax, or penalty due and must be collected in the same manner as the fee, tax, or penalty due.

(3) A person making a payment pursuant to this section shall pay any fee required by a financial institution or credit card company for the payment method used.

History: En. Sec. 4, Ch. 596, L. 2005.