South Carolina § 12-28-920 - Liability of terminal operator for motor fuel user fee; payment.

§ 12-28-920. Liability of terminal operator for motor fuel user fee; payment.

(A) The terminal operator of a terminal in this State is jointly and severally liable for the user fee imposed under Section 12-28-310 and shall remit payment to this State upon discovery of either of the following conditions:

(1) The supplier with respect to the motor fuel subject to the user fee is a person other than the terminal operator and is not a licensed supplier. The terminal operator is relieved of liability if he establishes all of the following:

(a) The terminal operator has a valid terminal operator's license issued for the facility from which the motor fuel is withdrawn.

(b) The terminal operator has an unexpired notification certificate from the supplier as required by the department or the Internal Revenue Service.

(c) The terminal operator has no reason to believe that any information on the certificate is false.

(2) In connection with the removal of diesel fuel that is not dyed and marked in accordance with Internal Revenue Service requirements, the terminal operator provides a person with a bill of lading, shipping paper, or similar document indicating that the diesel fuel is dyed and marked in accordance with Internal Revenue Service requirements.

(B) The terminal operator is severally liable for the user fee imposed by this chapter and measured in accordance with Section 12-28-520(B) which is not allocable to a licensed supplier and shall remit the user fee due with the annual report required under Section 12-28-1330(E). No user fee is due if the terminal operator can establish by substantial evidence that the gallons lost were diesel fuel dyed before receipt by that terminal operator. No collection allowance or deductions are allowed with respect to payment of this user fee. If the gallons lost or unaccounted for exceed five percent of the gallons removed from that terminal across the rack, a penalty of one hundred percent of the user fee otherwise due must be paid by the terminal operator with the user fee due.

HISTORY: 1995 Act No. 136, SECTION 2.