(a) On or before the twentieth of each month, beginning with November 1991, every pharmaceutical provider subject to this article shall file with the department a statement under penalty of perjury on forms prescribed by the department, showing the total number of prescriptions filled or refilled by said provider for the previous month, the taxes due under this article and such other reasonable and necessary information as the department, after consultation with the Alabama Medicaid Agency and adoption of appropriate rules or regulations, may require for the proper enforcement of the provisions of this article. At the time of filing such monthly statement such provider shall pay to the department the amount of taxes shown to be due.

When the total tax for which any pharmaceutical provider liable under this article does not exceed $10 for any month, a quarterly return and remittance in lieu of the monthly returns may be made on or before the twentieth day of the month next succeeding the end of the quarter for which the tax is due when specially authorized by the department and under such rules and regulations as may be prescribed.

(b) Any pharmaceutical provider that fails to pay the taxes levied by this article within the time required by this article shall pay, in addition to the tax, a penalty of 10 percent of the amount of tax due, together with interest thereon at the rate prescribed by Section 40-1-44, such penalty and interest to be assessed and collected as part of the taxes. Provided, however, the department, if a good and sufficient reason is shown, may waive or remit the penalty of 10 percent or a portion thereof. If payment is not received by the last day of the month, the department shall notify the Alabama Medicaid Agency which shall determine whether the pharmaceutical provider is a Medicaid provider, and if so, shall withhold the payment, interest and penalty due from any reimbursement due said provider under the Medicaid Program. The taxes levied by this article shall constitute a debt due the State of Alabama and may be collected by civil action in addition to the methods provided in this article. The department is empowered to assess, file tax liens and collect the taxes levied by this article, as prescribed in this title.