(a) The board may accept from the person who receives motor vehicle fuel removed at a refinery or terminal rack an amount equal to the tax due and required to be paid by the refiner or positionholder upon the removal of the motor vehicle fuel from a refinery or terminal rack, as if the amount were payment of the tax by the refiner or positionholder under Section 7362 or 7363, as the case may be, if the Internal Revenue Service authorizes payment of federal fuel taxes by the receiving party under a two-party exchange agreement or similar arrangement.

(b) The refiner or positionholder shall remain primarily liable for payment of the tax imposed by Section 7362 or 7363 for motor vehicle fuel removed at the refinery or terminal rack, as the case may be, plus any penalty or interest, until the amount is finally paid and credited to the account of the responsible refiner or positionholder; provided, however, that the board, at its discretion, may relieve the refiner or positionholder from primary liability for payment of tax imposed by Section 7362 or 7363 and hold another person primarily liable for the tax if (1) the Internal Revenue Service authorizes payment of fuel taxes by the receiving party under a two-party exchange agreement, and (2) under the Internal Revenue Service approach to two-party exchange agreements, another person is primarily liable for payment of the tax, and (3) the board elects to follow the Internal Revenue Service approach.

(c) The board may adopt those regulations as it deems appropriate to carry out this section.

(Added by Stats. 2001, Ch. 429, Sec. 20. Effective October 2, 2001. Operative January 1, 2002, by Sec. 78 of Ch. 429.)