Section 33-12C-7 - Surplus lines tax(a) In addition to the full amount of gross premiums charged by the insurer for the insurance, every person licensed pursuant to section eight of this article shall collect and pay to the commissioner a sum equal to four and fifty-five one-hundredths percent of the gross premiums and gross fees charged, less any return premiums, for surplus lines insurance provided by the licensee pursuant to the license. Where the insurance covers properties, risks or exposures located or to be performed both in and out of this state and this state is the insured's home state, the sum payable shall be computed on that portion of the gross premiums allocated to this state, plus an amount equal to the portion of the gross premiums allocated to other states or territories on the basis of the tax rates and fees applicable to properties, risks or exposures located or to be performed outside of this state, and less the amount of gross premiums allocated to this state and returned to the insured due to cancellation of policy: Provided, That the surcharge imposed by section thirty- three, article three of this chapter on surplus lines policies shall no longer be effective with respect to premium attributable to coverage under such policies for periods after June 30, 2011: Provided, however, That twelve per cent of taxes collected under this subsection with respect to premium attributable to coverage under such policies after June 30, 2011, shall be disbursed and distributed in accordance with subsection (d), section thirty- three, article three of this chapter and eighty-eight per cent in accordance with subdivision two, subsection (f) of this section. The tax on any portion of the premium unearned at termination of insurance having been credited by the state to the licensee shall be returned to the policyholder directly by the surplus lines licensee or through the producing broker, if any.(b) The individual insurance producer may not: (1) Pay directly or indirectly the tax or any portion thereof, either as an inducement to the policyholder to purchase the insurance or for any other reason; or(2) Rebate all or part of the tax or the surplus lines licensee's commission, either as an inducement to the policyholder to purchase the insurance or for any reason.(c) The surplus lines licensee may charge the prospective policyholder a fee for the cost of underwriting, issuing, processing, inspecting, service or auditing the policy for placement with the surplus lines insurer if: (1) The service is required by the surplus lines insurer;(2) The service is actually provided by the individual insurance producer or the cost of the service is actually incurred by the surplus lines licensee; and(3) The provision or cost of the service is reasonable, documented and verifiable.(d) The surplus lines licensee shall make a clear and conspicuous written disclosure to the policyholder of:(1) The total amount of premium for the policy;(3) The total amount of any fee charged; and(4) The total amount of tax on the premium and fee.(e) The clear and conspicuous written disclosure required by subdivision (4) of this subsection is subject to the record maintenance requirements of section eight of this article.(f)(1) This tax is imposed for the purpose of providing additional revenue for municipal policemen's and firemen's pension and relief funds and additional revenue for volunteer and part- volunteer fire companies and departments. This tax is required to be paid and remitted, on a calendar year basis and in quarterly estimated installments due and payable on or before the twenty- fifth day of the month succeeding the close of the quarter in which they accrued, except for the fourth quarter, in respect of which taxes shall be due and payable and final computation of actual total liability for the prior calendar year shall be made, less credit for the three quarterly estimated payments prior made, and filed with the annual return to be made on or before March 1 of the succeeding year. Provisions of this chapter relating to the levy, imposition and collection of the regular premium tax are applicable to the levy, imposition and collection of this tax to the extent that the provisions are not in conflict with this section.(2) Except as provided in subsection (a) of this section, all taxes remitted to the commissioner pursuant to subdivision one of this subsection shall be paid by him or her into a special account in the State Treasury, designated Municipal Pensions and Protection Fund, or pursuant to section eighteen-b, article twenty-two, chapter eight of this code, the Municipal Pensions Security Fund, and after appropriation by the Legislature, shall be distributed in accordance with the provisions of subsection (c), section fourteen- d, article three of this chapter. The surplus lines licensee shall return to the policyholder the tax on any unearned portion of the premium returned to the policyholder because of cancellation of policy.(g) In determining the amount of gross premiums taxable in this state for a placement of surplus lines insurance covering properties, risks or exposures only partially located or to be performed in this state, the tax due shall be computed on the portions of the premiums which are attributable to properties, risks or exposures located or to be performed in this state and which relates to the kinds of insurance being placed as determined by reference to an appropriate allocation table. (1) If a policy covers more than one classification: (A) For any portion of the coverage identified by a classification on the allocation schedule, the tax shall be computed by using the allocation schedule for the corresponding portion of the premium;(B) For any portion of the coverage not identified by a classification on the allocation schedule, the tax shall be computed by using an alternative equitable method of allocation for the property or risk;(C) For any portion of the coverage where the premium is indivisible, the tax shall be computed by using the method of allocation which pertains to the classification describing the predominant coverage.(2) If the information provided by the surplus lines licensee is insufficient to substantiate the method of allocation used by the surplus lines licensee, or if the commissioner determines that the licensee's method is incorrect, the commissioner shall determine the equitable and appropriate amount of tax due to this state as follows:(A) By use of the allocation schedule where the risk is appropriately identified in the schedule;(B) Where the allocation schedule does not identify a classification appropriate to the coverage, the commissioner may give significant weight to documented evidence of the underwriting bases and other criteria used by the insurer. The commissioner may also consider other available information to the extent sufficient and relevant, including the percentage of the insured's physical assets in this state, the percentage of the insured's sales in this state, the percentage of income or resources derived from this state, and the amount of premium tax paid to another jurisdiction for the policy.(h) The commissioner is authorized to participate in a clearinghouse established through NIMA or in a similar allocation procedure for the purpose of collecting and disbursing to signatory states any funds collected pursuant to this section that are allocable to properties, risks or exposures located or to be performed outside of this state: Provided, That twelve per cent of any moneys received from a clearinghouse or through a similar allocation procedure is subject to the provisions of subsection (d), section thirty-three, article three of this chapter and eighty-eight per cent of such moneys is subject to the provisions of subdivision (2), subsection (f) of this section: Provided, however, That to the extent other states where portions of the properties, risks or exposures reside have failed to enter into NIMA or a similar allocation procedure with this state, the net premium tax collected shall be retained by this state and shall be disbursed and distributed in the same manner as moneys received through a clearinghouse or similar allocation procedure.(i) Collection of tax. If the tax owed by a surplus lines licensee under this section has been collected and is not paid within the time prescribed, the same shall be recoverable in a suit brought by the commissioner against the surplus lines licensee. The commissioner may charge interest for any unpaid tax, fee, financial assessment or penalty, or portion thereof: Provided, That interest may not be charged on interest. Interest shall be calculated using the annual rates which are established by the Tax Commissioner pursuant to section seventeen-a of article ten, chapter eleven of this code and shall accrue daily.
Amended by 2011 Acts, ch. 99 (SB 435), eff. 7/1/2011.