House Bill No. 404, introduced by Representative Willard, seeks to amend Louisiana's tax administration laws by repealing outdated requirements and streamlining processes within the Department of Revenue. Notable changes include the elimination of the requirement for out-of-state alcoholic beverage shippers to mail shipment notices, allowing the secretary to determine the reporting method. The bill also prohibits interest payments on sales tax refunds for taxpayers with direct payment numbers and introduces a definition for "drop shipment sale," along with specific sourcing rules for these transactions. Additionally, it aligns the interest rate for severance tax overpayments with the general refund interest rate.

The bill enhances the office of debt recovery's capabilities by establishing a centralized electronic debt registry and streamlining collection processes. It mandates a return on investment analysis for significant tax incentives and repeals several outdated reporting requirements related to tax exemptions. The proposed law includes provisions that will apply retroactively and will take effect upon the governor's signature or after the designated period for bills to become law without signature. Key provisions, such as the prohibition on certain sales tax refunds and the repeal of the special interest rate for severance tax overpayments, are set to take effect on July 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
HB404 Original: 26:364(C), 47:1601(A)(2), 47:4(B)(1), 47:1517(C), 47:1621(D)(1), 47:1676(C)(4), 26:346(B), 26:354(C)(2), 47:1517(B)(1), 47:1624(A)(2)
HB404 Engrossed: 26:364(C), 47:1601(A)(2), 47:4(B)(1), 47:1517(C), 47:1621(D)(1), 47:1676(C)(4), 26:346(B), 26:354(C)(2), 47:1517(B)(1), 47:1624(A)(2)
HB404 Reengrossed: 26:364(C), 47:4(B)(1), 47:1517(C), 47:1621(D)(1), 47:1676(C)(4), 26:346(B), 26:354(C)(2), 47:1517(B)(1), 47:1624(A)(2)