Compilation of Rules and Regulations of the State of Georgia
Department 560 - RULES OF DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE
Chapter 560-1 - ADMINISTRATIVE UNIT
Subject 560-1-1 - ORGANIZATION
Rule 560-1-1-.19 - Electronic Record Keeping and Retention

Universal Citation: GA Rules and Regs r 560-1-1-.19

Current through Rules and Regulations filed through March 20, 2024

(1) Purpose. The purpose of this regulation is to define the requirements imposed on taxpayers for the maintenance and retention of books, records, and other sources of information under O.C.G.A. §§ 3-3-6, 48-7-2, 48-7-111, 48-8-52, 48-9-8, 48-9-9, 48-9-40, 48-11-5 and 48-11-11. It is also the purpose of the regulation to address these requirements where all or a part of the taxpayer's records are received, created, maintained or generated through various computer, electronic and imaging processes and systems.

(2) Definitions. For the purposes of this regulation, these terms shall be defined as follows:

(a) "Database Management System" means a software system that controls, relates, retrieves and provides accessibility to data stored in a database.

(b) "Electronic data interchange" or "EDI technology" means the computer-to-computer exchange of business transactions in a standardized structured electronic format.

(c) "Hard copy" means any documents, records, reports or other data printed on paper.

(d) "Machine-sensible record" means a collection of related information in an electronic format. Machine-sensible records do not include hard-copy records that are created or recorded on paper or stored in or by an imaging system such as microfilm, microfiche or storage-only imaging systems.

(e) "Storage-only imaging system" means a system of computer hardware and software that provides for the storage, retention and retrieval of documents originally created on paper. It does not include any systems, or part of a system, that manipulates or processes any information or data contained on the document in any manner other than to re-produce the document in hard copy or as an optical image.

(f) "Taxpayer" as used in this regulation means every person as defined under O.C.G.A. §§ 48-1-2(18) and 48-1-2(25).

(3) Record Keeping Requirements: General.

(a) A taxpayer shall maintain all records that are necessary to a determination of the correct tax liability under O.C.G.A. Chapters 3- 3, 48-7, 48-8, and 48-9. All required records must be made available on request by the Department of Revenue or its authorized representatives as provided for in O.C.G.A. §§ 48-7-2, 48-8-52, 48-9-8, 48-9-9, and 48-9-40. Such records shall include but not necessarily be limited to: suitable records of the sales and purchases taxable under O.C.G.A. Chapter 48-8 and other books of account which are necessary to determine the amount of tax due, merchandise purchased (including all bills of lading, invoices and purchase orders), a record of all deductions and exemptions claimed in filing sales or use tax returns including exemption and resale certificates, and a record of all tangible personal property used or consumed in the conduct of the business; suitable records under O.C.G.A. Chapter 48-7 for the purpose of computation of the income tax including accurate records of all income records including but not limited to invoices, bills of sale, bills of lading, exemptions, and other papers related to all motor fuel received, sold, delivered, or used within this state and all motor fuel exported from this state.

(b) If a taxpayer retains records required to be retained under this regulation in both machine-sensible and hard-copy formats, the taxpayer shall make the records available to the Department of Revenue in machine-sensible format upon the request of the Department of Revenue.

(c) Nothing in this regulation shall be construed to prohibit a taxpayer from demonstrating tax compliance with traditional hard-copy documents or reproductions thereof, in whole or in part, whether or not such a taxpayer also has retained or has the capability to retain records on electronic or other storage media in accordance with this regulation. However, this subsection shall not relieve the taxpayer of the obligation to comply with paragraph (3)(b) of this regulation.

(4) Record Keeping Requirements Machine-Sensible Records.

(a) General Requirements.
1. Machine-sensible records used to establish tax compliance shall contain sufficient detail information so that the details underlying the machine-sensible records can be identified and made available to the Department of Revenue upon request. A taxpayer has discretion to discard duplicated records and redundant information provided its responsibilities under this regulation are met.

2. At the time of an examination, the retained records must be capable of being retrieved and converted to a standard record format.

3. Taxpayers are not required to construct machine-sensible records other than those created in the ordinary course of business. A taxpayer who does not create the electronic equivalent of a traditional paper document in the ordinary course of business is not required to construct such a record for tax purposes.

(b) Electronic Data Interchange Requirements.
1. Where a taxpayer uses electronic data interchange processes and technology, the level of record detail, in combination with other records related to the transactions, must be equivalent to that contained in an acceptable paper record. For example, the retained records should contain such information as vendor name, invoice date, product description, quantity purchased, price, amount of tax, indication of tax status, shipping detail, etc. Codes may be used to identify some or all of the data elements, provided that the taxpayer provides a method which allows the Department of Revenue to interpret the coded information.

2. The taxpayer may capture the information necessary to satisfy paragraph (4)(b)1. of this regulation at any level within the accounting system and need not retain the original EDI transaction records provided the audit trail, authenticity and integrity of the retained records can be established. For example, a taxpayer using electronic data interchange technology receives electronic invoices from its supplier. The taxpayer decides to retain the invoice data form completed and verified EDI transactions in its accounts payable system rather than to retain the EDI transactions themselves. Since neither the EDI transaction nor the accounts payable system captures information from the invoice pertaining to product description and vendor name (i.e., they contain only codes for that information), the taxpayer also retains other records, such as its vendor master file and product code description lists and makes them available to the Department of Revenue. In this example, the taxpayer need not retain its EDI transaction for tax purposes.

(c) Electronic Data Processing Systems Requirements. The requirements for an electronic data processing accounting system should be similar to that of a manual accounting system, in that an adequately designed accounting system should incorporate methods and records that will satisfy the requirements of this regulation.

(d) Business Process Information.
1. Upon the request of the Department of Revenue, the taxpayer shall provide a description of the business process that created the retained records. Such description shall include the relationship between the records and the tax documents prepared by the taxpayer and the measures employed to ensure the integrity of the records.

2. The taxpayer shall be capable of demonstrating:
(i) the functions being performed as they relate to the flow of data through the system;

(ii) the internal controls used to ensure accurate and reliable processing; and

(iii) the internal controls used to prevent unauthorized addition, alteration, or deletion of retained records.

3. The following specific documentation is required for machine sensible records retained pursuant to this regulation:
(i) record formats or layouts;

(ii) field definitions (including the meaning of all codes used to represent information);

(iii) file descriptions (e.g., data set name); and

(iv) detailed charts of accounts and account descriptions.

(5) Records Maintenance Requirements.

(a) The Department of Revenue recommends but does not require that taxpayers refer to the National Archives and Record Administration's (NARA) standards for guidance on the maintenance and storage of electronic records, such as labeling or records, the location and security of the storage environment, the creation of back up copies, and the use of periodic testing to confirm the continued integrity of the records [the NARA standards may be found at 36 Code of Federal Regulations, Part 1234, July 1, 1995, edition.]

(b) The taxpayer's computer hardware or software shall accommodate the extraction and conversion of retained machine-sensible records.

(6) Access to Machine-Sensible Records.

(a) The manner in which the Department of Revenue is provided access to machine-sensible records as required in paragraph (3)(b) of this regulation may be satisfied through a variety of means that shall take into account a taxpayer's facts and circumstances through consultation with the taxpayer.

(b) Such access will be provided in one or more of the following manners:
1. The taxpayer may arrange to provide the Department of Revenue with the hardware, software and personnel resources to access the machine-sensible records.

2. The taxpayer may arrange for a third party to provide the hardware, software and personnel necessary to access the machine sensible records.

3. The taxpayer may convert the machine-sensible records to a standard record format specified by the Department of Revenue, including copies of files, on a magnetic medium that is agreed to by the Department of Revenue.

4. The taxpayer and the Department of Revenue may agree on other means of providing access to the machine-sensible records.

(7) Taxpayer Responsibility and Discretionary Authority.

(a) In conjunction with meeting the requirements of paragraph (4) of this regulation, a taxpayer may create files solely for the use of the Department of Revenue. For example, if a data base management system is used, it is consistent with this regulation for the taxpayer to create and retain a file that contains the transaction level detail from the data base management system and that meets the requirements of paragraph (4) of this regulation. The taxpayer should document the process that created the separate file to show the relationship between the file and the original records.

(b) A taxpayer may contract with a third party to provide custodial or management services of the records. Such a contract shall not relieve the taxpayer of its responsibilities under this regulation.

(8) Alternative Storage Media.

(a) For purposes of storage and retention, taxpayers may convert hard-copy documents received or produced in the normal course of business and required to be retained under this regulation to microfilm, microfiche or other storage-only imaging systems and may discard the original hard-copy documents, provided the conditions of this section are met. Documents which may be stored on these media include, but are not limited to general books of account, journals, voucher registers, general and subsidiary ledgers, and supporting records of details, such as sales invoices, purchase invoices, exemption certificates, and credit memoranda.

(b) Microfilm, microfiche and other storage-only imaging systems shall meet the following requirements:
1. Documentation establishing the procedures for converting the hard-copy documents to microfilm, microfiche or other storage-only imaging systems must be maintained and made available on request. Such documentation shall, at a minimum, contain a sufficient description to allow an original document to be followed through the conversion system as well as internal procedures established for inspection and quality assurance.

2. Procedures must be established for the effective identification, processing, storage, and preservation of the stored documents and for making them available for the period they are required to be retained under paragraph (10) of this regulation.

3. Upon request by the Department of Revenue, a taxpayer must provide facilities and equipment for reading, locating, and reproducing any documents maintained on microfilm, microfiche or other storage-only imaging systems.

4. When displayed on such equipment or reproduced on paper, the documents must exhibit a high degree of legibility and readability. For this purpose, legibility is defined as the quality of a letter or numeral that enables the observer to identify it positively and quickly to the exclusion of all other letters or numerals. Readability is defined as the quality of a group of letters of numerals being recognizable as words or complete numbers.

5. All data stored on microfilm, microfiche or other storage-only imaging systems must be maintained and arranged in a manner that permits the location of any particular record.

6. There is no substantial evidence that the microfilm, microfiche or other storage-only imaging system lacks authenticity or integrity.

(9) Effect on Hard-copy Record Keeping Requirements.

(a) Except as otherwise provided in this section, the provisions of this regulation do not relieve taxpayers of the responsibilities to retain hard-copy records that are created or received in the ordinary course of business as required by existing law and regulations. Hard-copy records may be retained on a record keeping medium as provided in paragraph (8) of this regulation.

(b) If hard-copy records are not produced or received in the ordinary course of transacting business (e.g., when the taxpayer used electronic data interchange technology), such hard-copy records need not be created.

(c) Hard-copy records generated at the time of a transaction using a credit or debit card must be retained unless all details necessary to determine correct tax liability relating to the transaction are subsequently received and retained by the taxpayer in accordance with this regulation. Such details include those listed in paragraph (4)(b)1. of this regulation.

(d) Computer printouts that are created for validation, control, or other temporary purposes need not be retained.

(e) Nothing in this section shall prevent the Department of Revenue from requesting hard-copy printouts in lieu of retained machine- sensible records at the time of examination. In the event that extraordinary circumstances exist which prevent the Department of Revenue from utilizing machine sensible records at the time of examination, nothing in this section shall prevent the Department of Revenue from requiring hard copy printouts in lieu of machine sensible records.

(10) Records Retention: Time Period. All records required to be retained under this regulation shall be preserved pursuant to O.C.G.A. §§ 3-3-6, 48-7-2, 48-7-111, 48-8-52, 48-9-8, 48-9-9, 48-9-40, 48-11-5 and 48-11-11unless the Department of Revenue has provided in writing that the records are no longer required.

O.C.G.A. Secs. 3-3-6, 48-2-12, 48-7-2, 48-7-111, 48-8-52, 48-9-8, 48-9-9, 48-9-19, 48-9-40, 48-11-5 and 48-11-11.

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