(a) Voluntary electronic filing of returns and reports. The comptroller may authorize a taxpayer to file any report or return required to be filed with the comptroller under Tax Code, Title 2 (State Taxation), by means of electronic transmission under the following circumstances:
  (1) the taxpayer or its authorized agent has registered with the comptroller to use an approved reporting method, such as WebFile, or the taxpayer is filing a return or report other than a return showing a tax liability; and
  (2) the method of electronic transmission of each return or report complies with any requirements established by the comptroller and is compatible with the comptroller's equipment and facilities.
(b) Required electronic transfer of certain payments by certain taxpayers pursuant to Tax Code, §111.0625 (Electronic Transfer of Certain Payments).
  (1) This paragraph is effective with the state fiscal year beginning September 1, 2018, for payments due on or after January 1, 2019. This paragraph applies to a taxpayer who pays the comptroller a total of $500,000 or more in any single category of payments or taxes during the preceding state fiscal year, and whom the comptroller reasonably anticipates will pay at least that amount during the current state fiscal year. The comptroller shall notify the taxpayer of this electronic funds transfer requirement as provided in subsection (f) of this section. The taxpayer shall transfer all payments in any category of payments or taxes that totaled $500,000 or more to the comptroller using the State of Texas Financial Network (TexNet), pursuant to Chapter 15 of this title (relating to Electronic Transfer of Certain Payments to State Agencies). This requirement applies to payments due beginning January 1 of each state fiscal year in which a taxpayer is notified and continues for one calendar year. For example, a taxpayer remits $500,000 in any single category of taxes to the comptroller during the state fiscal year ending August 31, 2019. The comptroller reasonably anticipates that the taxpayer will pay at least $500,000 in the same category of payments or taxes for fiscal year ending August 31, 2020. The comptroller notifies the taxpayer of the electronic payment requirement by October 31, 2019. The taxpayer must begin transferring payments to the comptroller using TexNet beginning on January 1, 2020. The taxpayer's electronic payment requirement continues until December 31, 2020.
  (2) Taxpayers who paid the comptroller a total of $100,000 or more in any single category of payments or taxes and were notified by the comptroller of a TexNet payment requirement must continue to make those payments using TexNet for original or amended reports filed for the calendar year for which the taxpayer was notified.
  (3) Beginning January 1, 2019, taxpayers who paid $100,000 or more, but less than $500,000, in any single category of payments or taxes during the preceding state fiscal year, and whom the comptroller reasonably anticipates will pay at least that amount during the current state fiscal year, shall transfer all payments in that category of payments or taxes during the calendar year beginning January 1 of the current state fiscal year to the comptroller by means of electronic funds transfer as set out in paragraph (4)(C) of this subsection. The comptroller shall notify the taxpayer of this electronic funds transfer requirement as provided in subsection (f) of this section. This requirement applies to payments due beginning January 1 of each state fiscal year for which a taxpayer is notified and continues for one calendar year. For example, a taxpayer remits $100,000 in any single category of taxes to the comptroller during the state fiscal year ending August 31, 2019. The comptroller reasonably anticipates that the taxpayer will pay at least $100,000 in the same category of payments or taxes for fiscal year ending August 31, 2020. The comptroller notifies the taxpayer of the electronic payment requirement by October 31, 2019. The taxpayer must begin transferring payments to the comptroller using one of the methods described in paragraph (4)(C) of this subsection beginning on January 1, 2020. The taxpayer's electronic payment requirement continues until December 31, 2020.
  (4) Taxpayers who paid at least $10,000, but less than $100,000, in a single category of payments or taxes as listed in subparagraph (A) of this paragraph during the preceding state fiscal year, and whom the comptroller reasonably anticipates will pay at least that amount during the current state fiscal year, shall transfer all payments in that category of payments or taxes during the calendar year beginning January 1 of the current state fiscal year to the comptroller by means of electronic funds transfer as set out in subparagraph (C) of this paragraph.
    (A) This paragraph applies only to:
      (i) state and local sales and use taxes;
      (ii) direct payment sales tax;
      (iii) gas severance tax;
      (iv) oil severance tax;
      (v) franchise tax;
      (vi) gasoline tax;
      (vii) diesel fuel tax;
      (viii) hotel occupancy tax;
      (ix) insurance premium taxes;
      (x) mixed beverage gross receipts tax;
      (xi) mixed beverage sales tax; and
      (xii) motor vehicle rental tax.
    (B) The comptroller may add or remove a category of payments or taxes to or from this paragraph if the comptroller determines that such action is necessary to protect the interests of the state or of taxpayers.
    (C) Payments under this paragraph shall be made by those electronic funds transfer methods approved by the comptroller, which include, but are not limited to, TexNet, electronic check (WebEFT), and the electronic transmission of credit card information. The comptroller may require payments in specific categories to be made by specific methods of electronic funds transfer.
    (D) A taxpayer required under this paragraph to use electronic funds transfer who cannot comply due to hardship, impracticality, or other valid reason may submit a written request to the comptroller for a waiver of the requirement.
(c) Payment date for electronic transfer of funds.
  (1) Pursuant to §15.33 of this title (relating to Determination of Settlement Date), a person who enters payment information into TexNet may choose either to accept the settlement date that TexNet offers or enter a settlement date up to 30 days from the business day after payment is submitted. TexNet will offer the business day following the day on which payment information is entered into TexNet, provided that the information is entered by 6:00 p.m. central time on any business day.
  (2) A taxpayer who files tax returns and makes payments through the electronic data interchange (EDI) system must submit the payment information to the comptroller by 2:30 p.m. central time.
  (3) A taxpayer who makes payment by an electronic funds transfer method approved by the comptroller other than TexNet or the EDI system must transmit payment information by 11:59 p.m. central time on the date payment is due.
(d) The administrative rules found in Chapter 15 of this title on electronic funds transfer under Government Code, §404.095 (Electronic Transfer of Certain Payments) using TexNet apply to all such payments to the comptroller.
(e) Required electronic filing of certain reports by certain taxpayers.
  (1) Reports required by Tax Code, §111.0626 (Electronic Filing of Certain Reports).
    (A) Pursuant to Tax Code, §111.0626(a)(1), taxpayers who are required to use electronic funds transfer for payments of certain taxes must also file report data electronically, including reports required by the International Fuel Tax Agreement. This requirement applies to:
      (i) state and local sales and use taxes;
      (ii) direct payment sales tax;
      (iii) gas severance tax;
      (iv) oil severance tax; and
      (v) motor fuel tax.
    (B) Pursuant to Tax Code, §111.0626(a)(2), taxpayers who owe no tax and are required to file an information report under Tax Code, §171.204 (Information Report) must file the information report electronically.
    (C) Pursuant to Tax Code, §111.0626(b-1), taxpayers who paid $50,000 or more during the preceding fiscal year must file report data electronically. A taxpayer filing a report electronically may use an application provided by the comptroller, software provided by the comptroller, or commercially available software that satisfies requirements prescribed by the comptroller. This subparagraph only applies after issuance to the taxpayer of the 60 days notice required by subsection (f) of this section.
  (2) Reports by brewers, manufacturers, brewpubs, wholesalers, and distributors of alcoholic beverages required by Tax Code, Chapter 151, Subchapter I-1 (Reports by Persons Involved in the Manufacture and Distribution of Alcoholic Beverages).
Cont'd...