(a) A person or officer of a corporation commits an offense if the person or corporation engages in business as a retailer in this state without a permit required by this chapter or after the permit is suspended.
(b) A first offense under this section is a Class C misdemeanor.

Attorney's Note

Under the Texas Codes, punishments for crimes depend on the classification. In the case of this section:
ClassPrisonFine
Class A misdemeanorup to 1 yearup to $4,000
Class B misdemeanorup to 180 daysup to $2,000
Class C misdemeanorup to $500
For details, see Texas Penal Code § 12.21, Texas Penal Code § 12.22 and

Terms Used In Texas Tax Code 151.708

  • Conviction: A judgement of guilt against a criminal defendant.
  • Corporation: A legal entity owned by the holders of shares of stock that have been issued, and that can own, receive, and transfer property, and carry on business in its own name.
  • Person: includes corporation, organization, government or governmental subdivision or agency, business trust, estate, trust, partnership, association, and any other legal entity. See Texas Government Code 311.005
  • Trial: A hearing that takes place when the defendant pleads "not guilty" and witnesses are required to come to court to give evidence.
  • Year: means 12 consecutive months. See Texas Government Code 311.005

(c) If it is shown on the trial of an offense under this section that the person or officer has previously been finally convicted of one offense under this section, on conviction the person or officer shall be punished for a Class B misdemeanor punishable by a fine only, not to exceed $2,000.
(d) If it is shown on the trial of an offense under this section that the person or officer has previously been finally convicted of two offenses under this section, on conviction the person or officer shall be punished for a Class A misdemeanor punishable by a fine only, not to exceed $4,000.
(e) If it is shown on the trial of an offense under this section that the person or officer has previously been finally convicted of three or more offenses under this section, on conviction the person or officer shall be punished for a Class A misdemeanor punishable by a fine not to exceed $4,000, confinement in jail for a term not to exceed one year, or both the fine and confinement.
(f) Each day a person or an officer of a corporation operates a business without a permit or with a suspended permit is a separate offense under this section.