Sec. 162.361. BOND AND OTHER SECURITY FOR TAXES. (a) The comptroller shall determine the amount of security required of a dealer, taking into consideration the amount of tax that has or is expected to become due from the person, any past history of the person as a license holder under this chapter or its predecessor, and the necessity to protect this state against the failure to pay the tax as the tax becomes due.

(b) The comptroller may require a license holder to post a bond if the comptroller determines it is necessary for the license holder to post security to protect the revenues of this state. A license holder must post a bond equal to two times the maximum amount of tax that could accrue on compressed natural gas or liquefied natural gas produced, purchased, acquired, sold, or delivered during a reporting period. The minimum bond for a person described by Section 162.357(a) is $30,000. The comptroller shall prescribe the minimum bond for a person described by Section 162.357(b) or (c) who is not described by Section 162.357(a). The maximum bond is $600,000 unless the comptroller believes there is undue risk of loss of tax revenues, in which event the comptroller may require one or more bonds or securities in a total amount exceeding $600,000.

(c) A license holder who has filed a bond or other security under this subchapter is entitled, on request, to have the comptroller return, refund, or release the bond or security if in the judgment of the comptroller the person has for four consecutive years continuously complied with the conditions of the bond or other security filed under this subchapter. However, if the comptroller determines that the revenues of this state would be jeopardized by the return, refund, or release of the bond or security, the comptroller may elect not to return, refund, or release the bond or security and may reimpose a requirement of a bond or other security as the comptroller determines necessary to protect the revenues of this state.

(d) A bond must be a continuing instrument, must constitute a new and separate obligation in the penal sum named in the bond for each calendar year or portion of a year while the bond is in force, and must remain in effect until the surety on the bond is released and discharged.

(e) Instead of filing a surety bond, an applicant for a license may substitute the following security:

(1) cash in the form of United States currency in an amount equal to the required bond to be deposited in a suspense account of the state treasury;

(2) an assignment to the comptroller of a certificate of deposit in any bank or savings and loan association in this state that is a member of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation in an amount at least equal to the bond amount required; or

(3) an irrevocable letter of credit to the comptroller from any bank or savings and loan association in this state that is a member of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation in an amount of credit at least equal to the bond amount required.

(f) If the amount of an existing bond becomes insufficient or a security becomes unsatisfactory or unacceptable, the comptroller may require the license holder to file a new or an additional bond or security.

(g) A surety bond or other form of security may not be released until the comptroller determines by examination or audit that a tax, penalty, or interest liability does not exist. The comptroller shall release the cash or securities not later than the 60th day after the date the comptroller determines that liability does not exist.

(h) The comptroller may use the cash or certificate of deposit security to satisfy a final determination of delinquent liability or a judgment secured in any action by this state to recover compressed natural gas or liquefied natural gas taxes, costs, penalties, and interest found to be due to this state by a person on whose behalf the cash or certificate of deposit security was deposited.

(i) The comptroller shall release and discharge from liability to this state a surety on a bond furnished by a license holder on the 31st day after the date on which the surety files with the comptroller a written request to be released and discharged. The request does not relieve, release, or discharge the surety from a liability that already accrued or that accrues before the expiration of the 30-day period. The comptroller, promptly on receipt of the request, shall notify the license holder who furnished the bond, and unless the license holder, before the expiration date of the existing security, files with the comptroller a new bond with a surety company authorized to do business under the laws of this state, or other authorized security, in the amount required by this section, the comptroller shall cancel the license in the manner provided by this chapter.

(j) The comptroller shall immediately notify the issuer of a letter of credit of a final determination of the license holder's delinquent liability or a judgment secured in any action by this state to recover compressed natural gas or liquefied natural gas taxes, costs, penalties, and interest found to be due this state by a license holder on whose behalf the letter of credit was issued. The letter of credit allowed as security under this section must contain a statement that the issuer agrees to respond to the comptroller's notice of liability with amounts to satisfy the comptroller's delinquency claim against the license holder.

(k) A license holder may request an examination or audit to obtain release of the security when the license holder relinquishes the license or when the license holder wants to substitute one form of security for an existing one.

Added by Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 990 (H.B. 2148), Sec. 4, eff. September 1, 2013.