A. A seller shall prepare a sales tax return for each calendar month on forms provided by the city. The sales tax return shall state the total amount of seller’s sales, rentals and services; the amounts of the seller’s exempt and taxable sales, rentals and services; and the amount of sales tax that is due from the seller. The seller shall submit on or with the return such additional information as the city may require to determine the amount of the sales tax due for the month. The seller shall prepare the return and remit sales tax to the city on the same basis, cash or accrual, that the seller uses in preparing its federal income tax return. The seller shall sign the return and transmit the return, with the amount of sales tax that it shows to be due, to the city.

B. If a seller has sales from prior year’s taxable revenue within the city under $150,000 and the seller has remitted timely filings for one calendar year, the seller may request a change in filing period frequency to quarterly. If the seller has zero taxable sales in prior year’s taxable revenue the seller may request a change in filing period frequency to annual with documentation of revenue or explanation with the request that future revenues will meet the requirements in this subsection for evaluation. Annual filing frequency is only available for zero filers. Requests to change filing period frequency may be submitted on forms provided by the city and must be approved by the finance director before the status can be changed.

C. The completed sales tax return, and the related remittance of sales tax, is due and must be received on or before the last day of the month immediately following the month for which the return was prepared.

The failure of the U.S. Postal Service or any private delivery service to make timely delivery of a sales tax return or the related remittance of sales tax shall not excuse an untimely filing or remittance. Payments made by mail, drop box, or in person must be received by the close of business on the last business day prior to the due date when the due date falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or city or federal holiday. Monthly returns are due the last day of the month immediately following the month for which the return was prepared.

Quarterly returns are due as follows:

Annual returns:

D. Any seller holding a city of Palmer business license shall file a sales tax return even though no tax may be due. The return shall show why no tax is due.

E. The finance director may require a seller that fails to submit a sales tax return or remit taxes when due to submit tax returns and remit taxes more frequently than monthly or may change the seller’s period filing frequency upon notice to the seller if the seller does not meet the filing requirements in subsection (B) of this section.

F. The preparer of the sales tax return shall keep and maintain all documentation supporting any and all claims of exempted sales and purchases. Documentation for exempted sales should include the number of the exemption authorization card presented by the buyer at the time of the purchase; the date of the purchase; the name of the person making the purchase; the organization making the purchase; the total amount of the purchase; and the amount of sales tax exempted. Failure to provide such documentation may invalidate that portion of the claim of exemption for which no documentation is provided. (Ord. 21-020 § 6, 2021; Ord. 20-002 § 3, 2020; Ord. 12-012 § 7, 2012; Ord. 10-019 § 7, 2010; Ord. 07-029 § 12, 2007; Ord. 634 § 3, 2004; Ord. 445 § 5, 1992; Ord. 199 § 1, 1977; 1978 code § 13.8)