Bill > H2765

This bill aims to eliminate the use of contingency fee auditors by the Department of Revenue, the State Treasurer, and other state agencies and constitutional officers. The key provisions of the bill are: 1. It prohibits the state from contracting with or employing any person, agent, or firm who is compensated in whole or in part on a contingent basis or any other basis related to the amount of tax, interest, or penalty assessed against or collected from a taxpayer. 2. It also prohibits the state from compensating, on a contingent fee basis or any other similar method, any person or firm assisting a local municipal assessor in the performance of their duties, in order to maintain the assessor's independence. 3. The bill amends the state's General Laws to expressly prohibit the state from contracting with or employing any person, agent, or firm on a contingent fee basis or any other similar method that may impair an auditor's independence. 4. The bill applies to audits, determinations of liability, assessments, and services of a tax expert contracted for on or after July 1, 2018, and requires state agencies and constitutional officers to not renew contingency fee-based contracts for these services after that date.