A. A seller shall maintain records of transactions supporting the information that the seller submits on sales tax returns, including without limitation records of daily gross receipts from sales, rentals and services, invoices of purchases and sales, bills of lading and bills of sale. A seller shall maintain records of transactions that are exempt from sales tax, including information that will substantiate the claim of exemption. The seller shall maintain all such records for a period not less than three full calendar years, except to the extent that the city has authorized in writing their destruction or disposal at an earlier date.

B. If insufficient detail exists within a seller’s business records to substantiate retail sales exemptions, such sales will be reclassified as taxable sales and subject to sales tax collection and remittance.

C. The seller shall immediately notify the city of any fire, theft or other casualty which prevents the seller’s compliance with this chapter. The casualty constitutes a defense to any penalty and/or fee provided in this chapter if determined to be the proximate cause of the failure to comply for a given reporting period but does not excuse the seller from liability for taxes due. Accidental loss of funds or records is not a defense against the penalties and/or fees of this chapter. (Ord. 20-002 § 3, 2020; Ord. 445 § 10, 1992; Ord. 199 § 1, 1977; 1978 code § 13.19)