Legislature(1997 - 1998)
1997-01-15 House Journal
Full Journal pdf1997-01-15 House Journal Page 0070 HB 72 HOUSE BILL NO. 72 by the House Rules Committee by request of the Governor, entitled: An Act repealing certain filing statements and bonds for enforcement and collection of certain taxes and license fees; relating to service of process on nonresident taxpayers; and providing for an effective date. was read the first time and referred to the House Special Committee on Economic Development, the Labor & Commerce and Finance Committees. 1997-01-15 House Journal Page 0071 HB 72 The following fiscal notes apply: Zero fiscal note, Dept. of Commerce & Economic Development, 1/15/97 Zero fiscal note, Dept. of Revenue, 1/15/97 The Governor's transmittal letter, dated January 15, 1997, appears below: Dear Speaker Phillips: Much of my effort in advertising Alaska as open and ready for business includes removing unnecessary barriers to doing business in our state. This bill does just that. It discontinues our requirement that nonresident businesses file a bond or other security with the Department of Revenue -- a requirement, I must note, that makes Alaska unique among all 50 states. In this area, Id rather join the norm than be different. The bonding requirement, with a minimum $1,000 bond, was enacted in 1955 to ensure the collection of state taxes and license fees from nonresident businesses which have little security or property in the state. It may have made sense back then when it was hard to find people if they abruptly closed up shop and left the state with a tax debt. But modern technology has fixed that problem. Many taxpayers now complain the bonding and related filing requirements are excessive considering the amount of business they do in the state. Moreover, no one in the Department of Revenue can recall a case where a bond was actually used to pay a delinquent tax lien; the department has other means of ensuring that tax payments are made. In fiscal year 1995, more than 2,000 corporations had to fill out lengthy paperwork and file these bonds. If the program is eliminated, the time the state spends on processing all these forms can be redirected toward expanded tax compliance work which would result in increased revenue to the state. 1997-01-15 House Journal Page 0072 HB 72 I submitted this same proposal last year to the legislature where it received much support. It passed the Senate as well as every committee of referral in the House of Representatives. The non- resident tax bond program serves only to discourage business in Alaska. Its time to take it off the books. Sincerely, /s/ Tony Knowles Governor