§ 2-152. Levying a tax on gross receipts derived from retail short-term lease or rental of motor vehicles.

(a)

Tax on gross receipts derived from retail short-term motor vehicle leases or rentals. The town hereby imposes and levies a tax of 1½ percent of the gross receipts from the short-term lease or rental of vehicles at retail to the general public.

(b)

Administration. The town or its designee will administer and collect from operators of leasing and rental establishments the taxes levied hereby and the town or its designee may promulgate additional regulations necessary for implementation of the taxes.

(c)

Payment of taxes and filing of returns. The taxes levied hereby are due and payable to the town or its designee in monthly installments on or before the 15th day of each month in which the tax accrues. Every taxable establishment required to collect the tax shall, on or before the 15th day of each month, prepare and render a return to the town or its designee. The town or its designee shall design, print, and furnish to all taxable establishments the necessary forms for filing returns and instructions to ensure the full collection of the tax. A return filed for this purpose is not a public record as defined by G.S. 132-1 and may not be disclosed except as required by law.

(d)

Penalties. In case of failure or refusal to file a return or pay the tax for a period of 30 days after the time required for filing the return or paying the tax, there shall be an additional tax, as a penalty, of five percent of the tax due, with an additional tax of five percent for each additional month or fraction thereof until the tax is paid. The town's mayor and board of commissioners, for good cause shown, may compromise of forgive any penalty or additional tax imposed hereunder.

(e)

Misdemeanor for willful violation. Any person, firm, corporation or association who willfully attempts in any manner to evade a tax imposed herein or who willfully fails to pay the tax or make and file a return shall, in addition to the penalties provided by law and herein, be guilty of a misdemeanor punishable as provided by law.

(Code 1999, § 2-152; Ord. of 6-19-2000, §§ 1—5)