Sec. 8. (a) A carrier shall, at the request of the department and for cause, furnish a surety bond, letter of credit, or cash deposit to the department in order to ensure payment of the taxes imposed under this chapter and to permit the department to make a refund to the carrier under section 7 of this chapter. The bond, letter of credit, or cash deposit must be:

(1) in an amount of not less than two (2) times the amount of tax due or refund requested under this chapter for the reporting period applicable to the carrier, as determined by the department;

(2) payable to the state;

(3) conditioned that the carrier will pay all taxes for which the carrier is or becomes liable under this chapter from the date of the bond, letter of credit, or cash deposit to thirty (30) days after either the carrier, the surety, or the financial institution notifies the department that the bond, letter of credit, or cash deposit has been cancelled; and

(4) executed by a surety authorized under Indiana law in the case of a bond or by a financial institution approved by the commissioner in the case of a letter of credit.

(b) Sixty (60) days after making a written request for release to the commissioner, the surety of a bond furnished by a carrier is released from any liability to the state accruing on the bond after the sixty (60) day period. The release does not affect any liability accruing before the expiration of the sixty (60) day period.

(c) One hundred eighty (180) days after making a written request for release to the commissioner, the financial institution issuing the letter of credit for a carrier is released from any liability accruing on the letter of credit.

(d) The commissioner shall promptly notify the carrier furnishing the bond or letter of credit that a release has been requested. Unless the carrier furnishes a new bond within the sixty (60) day period or a new letter of credit within the one hundred eighty (180) day period, the commissioner shall cancel the carrier's annual permit.

(e) Sixty (60) days after making a written request for release to the commissioner, the cash deposit provided by a carrier is cancelled as security for any obligation accruing after the expiration of the sixty (60) day period. However, the administrator may retain all or part of the cash deposit for up to three (3) years and one (1) day as security for any obligation accruing before the effective date of the cancellation. Any part of the deposit that is not retained by the commissioner shall be released to the carrier. Before the expiration of the sixty (60) day period, the carrier must provide a bond or letter of credit or the commissioner shall cancel the carrier's annual permit.

(f) The department has cause for requiring security from a carrier under this section if:

(1) a carrier fails to file timely reports required by this chapter;

(2) a carrier fails to remit the tax imposed by this chapter; or

(3) an audit of a carrier's operations under this chapter causes the department to reasonably believe that tax collection or remittance required by this chapter is in jeopardy.

As added by Acts 1982, P.L.59, SEC.1. Amended by P.L.77-1985, SEC.30; P.L.97-1987, SEC.40; P.L.60-1990, SEC.6.