Sec. 14.5. (a) In determining the amount of taxes imposed by this chapter that a distributor must remit under section 12 of this chapter, the distributor shall, subject to subsections (c) and (d), deduct from the distributor’s wholesale income subject to the tax imposed by this chapter that is derived from wholesale transactions made during a particular reporting period an amount equal to the distributor’s receivables that:

(1) resulted from wholesale transactions on which the distributor has previously paid the taxes imposed by this chapter to the department; and

(2) were written off as an uncollectible debt for federal tax purposes under Section 166 of the Internal Revenue Code during the particular reporting period.

     (b) If a distributor deducts a receivable under subsection (a) and subsequently collects all or part of that receivable, the distributor shall, subject to subsection (d)(5), include the amount collected as part of the distributor’s wholesale income subject to the tax imposed by this chapter for the particular reporting period in which the distributor makes the collection.

     (c) As used in this subsection, “affiliated group” means any combination of the following:

(1) An affiliated group within the meaning provided in Section 1504 of the Internal Revenue Code (except that the ownership percentage in Section 1504(a)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code shall be determined using fifty percent (50%) instead of eighty percent (80%)) or a relationship described in Section 267(b)(11) of the Internal Revenue Code.

(2) Two (2) or more partnerships (as defined in IC 6-3-1-19), including limited liability companies and limited liability partnerships, that have the same degree of mutual ownership as an affiliated group described in subdivision (1), as determined under the rules adopted by the department.

The right to a deduction under this section is not assignable to an individual or entity that is not part of the same affiliated group as the assignor.

     (d) The following provisions apply to a deduction for a receivable treated as uncollectible debt under subsection (a):

(1) The deduction does not include interest.

(2) The amount of the deduction shall be determined in the manner provided by Section 166 of the Internal Revenue Code for bad debts but shall be adjusted to exclude:

(A) financing charges or interest;

(B) uncollectible amounts on property that remain in the possession of the distributor until the full purchase price is paid;

(C) expenses incurred in attempting to collect any debt; and

(D) repossessed property.

(3) The deduction shall be claimed on the return for the period during which the receivable is written off as uncollectible in the claimant’s books and records and is eligible to be deducted for federal income tax purposes. For purposes of this subdivision, a claimant who is not required to file federal income tax returns may deduct an uncollectible receivable on a return filed for the period in which the receivable is written off as uncollectible in the claimant’s books and records and would be eligible for a bad debt deduction for federal income tax purposes if the claimant were required to file a federal income tax return.

(4) If the amount of uncollectible receivables claimed as a deduction by a distributor for a particular reporting period exceeds the amount of the distributor’s taxable wholesale sales for that reporting period, the distributor may file a refund claim under IC 6-8.1-9. However, the deadline for the refund claim shall be measured from the due date of the return for the reporting period on which the deduction for the uncollectible receivables could first be claimed.

(5) For purposes of reporting a payment received on a previously claimed uncollectible receivable, any payments made on a debt or account shall be applied first proportionally to the taxable wholesale price of the property and the part of the receivable attributable to the tax imposed by this chapter, and secondly to interest, service charges, and any other charges.

As added by P.L.211-2007, SEC.38. Amended by P.L.165-2021, SEC.113.