Sec. 156.204. TAX COLLECTION ON TERMINATION OF BUSINESS. (a) If a person who is liable for the payment of an amount under Section 156.151 of this code is the owner of the hotel and sells the hotel, the successor to the seller or the seller's assignee shall withhold an amount of the purchase price sufficient to pay the amount due until the seller provides a receipt from the state comptroller showing that the amount has been paid or a certificate stating that no amount is due.

(b) The purchaser of a hotel who fails to withhold an amount of the purchase price as required by this section is liable for the amount required to be withheld to the extent of the value of the purchase price.

(c) The purchaser of a hotel may request that the comptroller issue a certificate stating that no tax is due or issue a statement of the amount required to be paid before a certificate may be issued. The comptroller shall issue the certificate or statement within 60 days after receiving the request or within 60 days after the day on which the records of the former owner of the hotel are made available for audit, whichever period expires later, but in either event the comptroller shall issue the certificate or statement within 90 days after the date of receiving the request.

(d) If the comptroller fails to mail the certificate or statement within the applicable period provided by Subsection (c) of this section, the purchaser is released from the obligation to withhold the purchase price or pay the amount due.

(e) The period of limitation during which the comptroller may assess tax against the purchaser under this section is four years from the date when the former owner of the hotel sells the hotel or when a determination is made against the former owner, whichever event occurs later. At any time within three years after a deficiency determination against the purchaser has become due and payable the comptroller may bring an action in a district court of Travis County or a court of any other state of the United States in the name of the people of Texas to collect the delinquent amounts together with penalties and interest.

Added by Acts 1983, 68th Leg., p. 302, ch. 65, Sec. 1, eff. May 3, 1983.