(A) Any public utility subject to an excise tax imposed by section 5727.30 of the Revised Code whose tax equals or exceeds fifty thousand dollars shall make each payment required under division (B) of section 5727.31 of the Revised Code for the second ensuing and each succeeding year by electronic funds transfer as prescribed by division (C) of this section.

If the tax in each of two consecutive years is less than fifty thousand dollars, the public utility is relieved of the requirement to remit taxes by electronic funds transfer for the year that next follows the second of the consecutive years in which the tax certified is less than fifty thousand dollars, and is relieved of that requirement for each succeeding year unless the tax in a subsequent year equals or exceeds fifty thousand dollars.

(B) The tax commissioner shall notify each public utility required by this section or section 5727.25 of the Revised Code to remit taxes by electronic funds transfer of the public utility's obligation to do so and shall maintain an updated list of those public utilities . Failure by the tax commissioner to notify a public utility subject to this section to remit taxes by electronic funds transfer does not relieve the public utility of its obligation to remit taxes by electronic funds transfer.

(C) Public utilities required by this section or section 5727.25 of the Revised Code to remit periodic payments by electronic funds transfer shall remit such payments to the treasurer of state in the manner prescribed by rules adopted by the treasurer of state under section 113.061 of the Revised Code. The payment of public utility excise taxes by electronic funds transfer does not affect a public utility's obligation to file the annual statement and periodic reports in the manner and at the times prescribed by section 5727.31 of the Revised Code.

A public utility required by this section or section 5727.25 of the Revised Code to remit taxes by electronic funds transfer may apply to the tax commissioner in the manner prescribed by the commissioner to be excused from that requirement. The commissioner may excuse the public utility from remittance by electronic funds transfer for good cause shown for the period of time requested by the public utility or for a portion of that period. The commissioner shall notify the public utility of the commissioner's decision as soon as is practicable.

(D) If a public utility required by this section or section 5727.25 of the Revised Code to remit taxes by electronic funds transfer remits those taxes by some means other than by electronic funds transfer as prescribed by this section and the rules adopted by the treasurer of state, and the tax commissioner determines that the failure to remit taxes as required was not due to reasonable cause or was due to willful neglect, the commissioner may impose an additional charge on the public utility equal to five per cent of the amount of the taxes required to be paid by electronic funds transfer, but not to exceed five thousand dollars. Any additional charge imposed under this section is in addition to any other penalty or charge imposed under this chapter, and shall be considered as revenue arising from excise taxes imposed by this chapter.

No additional charge shall be assessed under this division against a public utility that has been notified of its obligation to remit taxes under this section and that remits its first two tax payments after such notification by some means other than electronic funds transfer. The additional charge may be assessed upon the remittance of any subsequent tax payment that the public utility remits by some means other than electronic funds transfer.

Amended by 132nd General Assembly File No. TBD, HB 49, §101.01, eff. 9/29/2017.

Effective Date: 06-15-2000 .