Current through Register 1531, September 27, 2024
(1)
Statement of Purpose, Effective Date.
(a) The purpose of 830 CMR 62C.31A.1 is to
describe the procedures prescribed by the Commissioner, pursuant to M.G.L. c.
62C, §§ 3 and 31A; M.G.L. c. 62B, § 5; M.G.L. c. 64G, § 7B;
M.G.L. c. 64H, § 16; and M.G.L. c. 64I, § 17, for the assessment of
taxes upon and the collection of taxes from responsible persons, persons under
a duty to pay over certain trustee taxes and certain use taxes owed by a
corporation, partnership or limited liability company.
(b) With regard to limited liability
companies 830 CMR 62C.31A.1 applies to taxes remaining unpaid on or after
December 8, 2005.
(2)
Definitions. For the purposes of 830 CMR 62C.31A.1 the
following terms shall have the following meanings:
Commissioner, the Commissioner of
Revenue or his representative duly authorized to perform the duties of the
Commissioner relating to the assessment upon and collection of taxes from
responsible persons.
Demand, notification to a taxpayer or
a responsible person that the amount of an original assessment or a responsible
person assessment is currently due and payable to the Commonwealth.
Determination of Responsible Person's Personal
Liability, the result of the process by which the Commissioner
ascertains a taxpayer's responsible person and records the identity of the
responsible person and the amount due from the responsible person.
Duty to Pay Over Taxes, an obligation
to remit taxes that arises from a person's position, function, or
responsibility undertaken on behalf of a corporation, partnership or limited
liability company. Such obligation need not be a legally enforceable agreement
between the corporation, partnership or limited liability company and the
person.
Original Assessment, the assessment
that results from the process by which the Department of Revenue verifies
and/or determines the amount of tax imposed on and due from a taxpayer under
M.G.L. chs. 62B, 64G, 64H, and 64I, determines the amount of applicable
interest and penalties imposed and due from the taxpayer under M.G.L. c. 62C on
an on-going basis, and records the amounts.
Person, an individual, partnership,
trust, or association, with or without transferable shares, joint-stock
company, corporation, limited liability company, society, club, organization,
institution, estate, receiver, trustee, assignee, or referee, and any other
person acting in a fiduciary or representative capacity, whether appointed by a
court or otherwise, and any combination of individuals acting as a unit.
Responsible Person, any person who is
or was under a duty to pay over taxes imposed on a corporation, partnership or
limited liability company by M.G.L. chs. 62B, 64G, 64H, and 64I.
Responsible Person Assessment, the
assessment, together with any additional accrued interest, that results from
the process by which the Department of Revenue determines a responsible
person's personal liability.
Responsible Person's or
Person's Last Known Address, the responsible person's
or the person's address as it appears in the records of the Commissioner or as
it is found through investigation.
Required Tax or Required
Taxes, any tax or taxes imposed, assessed, and owing under M.G.L.
chs. 62B, 62C, 64G, 64H, or 64I.
Tax or Taxes
, any withholding tax imposed under M.G.L. c. 62B, any room occupancy excise
imposed under M.G.L. c. 64G, any sales tax imposed under M.G.L. c. 64H, any use
tax imposed under M.G.L. c. 64I, and including any interest or penalties
imposed under M.G.L. c. 62B, § 7 and c. 62C, §§ 28, 30, 30A, 32,
33, 34, 35, and 35A for withholding tax, room occupancy excise, sales tax, or
use tax.
Taxpayer, any corporation, partnership
or limited liability company required to file returns or pay over taxes imposed
under M.G.L. chs. 62B, 62C, 64G, 64H, or 64I.
(3)
General Rules.
(a)
Substantive
Rule.
1.
General. If a corporation, partnership or limited
liability company fails to pay to the Commissioner any required tax or required
taxes of such taxpayer, the person or persons who have or had the duty to pay
over the tax or taxes on behalf of the corporation, partnership or limited
liability company shall be personally and individually liable for the amount of
the required tax or required taxes.
2. Clarification of general rule for certain
sales and use taxes beginning May 30, 2002 (December 8, 2005 for sales and use
taxes of a limited liability company). In the case of (i) sales taxes due under
M.G.L. c. 64H, § 8(d) or § 8(h) only, (ii) use taxes due under M.G.L.
c. 64I, § 8(e) or § 8(j), (iii) use taxes due on purchases of a
corporation, partnership or limited liability company on which no sales or use
taxes were paid, and (iv) use taxes due from a taxpayer's customers but not
collected by the taxpayer, the general rule in 830 CMR 62C.31A.1(3)(a)1. will
apply to responsible person determinations made on or after May 30, 2002
(December 8, 2005 for determinations involving taxes of limited liability
companies) and only for underlying liabilities for such taxes incurred by the
corporation, partnership, or limited liability company after that date.
Exception for certain responsible person determinations made on
or after December 8, 2005. No person shall be personally or individually liable
for a use tax liability due from a corporation, partnership or limited
liability company resulting from purchases by the corporation, partnership or
limited liability company of tangible personal property or services purchased
for use by the entity unless the person's failure to pay the tax was willful or
unless the person made personal use of the property or services subject to tax.
This exception applies to responsible person determinations made on or after
December 8, 2005.
(b)
Procedure. The
Commissioner will notify each person in writing of the proposed determination
of personal liability. The person may confer with the Commissioner as to the
original assessment or the proposed determination of personal liability. Upon
the Commissioner's determination that the person was or is under a duty to pay
over taxes, an assessment upon the responsible person occurs and the
responsible person is personally and individually liable for the assessed and
unpaid taxes of the corporation, partnership or limited liability
company.
(4)
Information Used in the Determination of Who May Have the Duty to
Pay Over Taxes. The determination of who is under a duty to pay
over taxes is made case by case, based on the facts and circumstances of the
individual case. The Commissioner may use any information to determine who may
be or may have been under a duty to pay over taxes, including but not limited
to the following.
(a)
Examination
of Records. The Commissioner may examine any records, including
but not limited to the following:
1.
Tax Returns. To determine who may be or may have been
under a duty to pay over taxes imposed under M.G.L. chs. 62B, 62C, 64G, 64H, or
64I, the Commissioner may examine the taxpayer's Massachusetts returns and the
taxpayer's Application for Registration, Form TA-1. The Commissioner may also
examine federal tax returns for the same purpose.
2.
Other Records. To
determine who may be or may have been under a duty to pay over taxes imposed
under M.G.L. chs. 62B, 62C, 64G, 64H, or 64I, the Commissioner may examine all
or any of the following records, as well as any other relevant records.
a. Articles of incorporation.
b. Minute books and bylaws.
c. Bank records.
i. Signature cards.
ii. Cancelled checks and bank
statements.
d.
Partnership agreements.
e.
Operating agreements of limited liability companies.
(b)
Investigation. To determine who may be or may have
been under a duty to pay over taxes, the Commissioner may conduct an
investigation or audit and may use any documents, testimony, or any other
information derived from the investigation or audit.
(5)
Factors in the Determination
of Who May Have the Duty to Pay Over Taxes. The factors that the
Commissioner may consider to determine who may be or may have been under a duty
to pay over taxes include, but are not limited to, the following:
(a)
Duty to Pay Over Taxes Shared
by More Than One Person.
1.
Multiple Determinations. The Commissioner may make
multiple proposed determinations of personal liability if the Commissioner
believes more than one person has or had the duty of collecting and paying over
taxes on behalf of the same taxpayer. If the Commissioner determines that more
than one person has or had the duty of collecting and paying over taxes on
behalf of the same taxpayer for the same tax periods, such persons shall be
jointly and severally liable for the amount of the assessment.
2.
Partners in a
Partnership.
a. Ordinarily, all
general partners of a partnership are under a duty to pay over taxes. The
Commissioner may thus make proposed determinations of personal liability
against any or all general partners.
b. The Commissioner may make a proposed
determination of personal liability against a limited partner if the limited
partner is shown to be or to have been under a duty to pay over
taxes.
3.
Members of an LLC.
a. Ordinarily, all managing members of an LLC
are under a duty to pay over taxes. The Commissioner may thus make proposed
determinations of personal liability against any or all managing
members.
b. The Commissioner may
make a proposed determination of personal liability against a non-managing
member if the non-managing member is shown to be or to have been under a duty
to pay over taxes.
(b)
Duty to Pay Over Taxes
Acquired After Original Assessment. The Commissioner will not
generally make a proposed determination of personal liability if the
Commissioner believes the person did not have the duty to pay over taxes during
the period of time in which the taxpayer's liability for the original
assessment arose. But if funds sufficient to pay the unpaid original assessment
are available to the taxpayer at the time a person acquires the duty to pay
over taxes and the person fails to pay the original assessment upon receipt of
a demand, the Commissioner may make a proposed determination of personal
liability against that person.
The Commissioner will not make a proposed determination of
personal liability against a person for an original assessment against a
limited liability company that arose prior to December 8, 2005 unless funds
sufficient to pay the unpaid original assessment became available to the
limited liability company on or after December 8, 2005 and the person fails to
pay the original assessment upon receipt of a demand.
(c)
Duty to Pay Over in Absence
of Other Factors. In the absence of any other relevant factors,
the Commissioner may consider that all or any one or more of the following
persons are or were under a duty to pay over the taxes:
1. The president, secretary, and treasurer of
a corporation;
2. Any other
principal officer or officers, whatever their titles, of a
corporation;
3. All or any one of
the active partners of a partnership;
4. All or any one of the managers of a
limited liability company; and
5.
All or any one of the members of a limited liability company involved in
managing the company.
(6)
Notification of Proposed
Determination of Personal Liability.
(a)
Requirement of
Notification. If the Commissioner determines from a consideration
of information under 830 CMR 62C.31A.1(4) or factors under 830 CMR
62C.31A.1(5), or otherwise, that a person or persons under a duty to pay taxes
of the corporation, partnership or limited liability company failed to do so
the Commissioner will notify each such person of the proposed determination of
personal liability for taxes assessed against the taxpayer under M.G.L. chs.
62B, 62C, 64G, 64H, or 64I. This notice shall serve as a the notice of
intention to make a responsible person assessment.
(b)
Time for
Notification. The Commissioner may send the notification referred
to in 830 CMR 62C.31A.1(6)(a) at any time during the limitation period for
collection of taxes from an original assessment.
(c)
Contents of
Notification. The notification of proposed determination of
personal liability will include the following:
1. The date of its issuance,
2. The name of the person to whom it is
issued,
3. The name of the
taxpayer,
4. The type of tax or
taxes assessed upon the taxpayer,
5. The date of the original
assessment,
6. The tax period or
periods,
7. The amount of the
original assessment,
8. A
description of the person's right to confer with the Commissioner or his duly
authorized representative as to the original assessment and the proposed
determination of personal liability,
9. An explanation that a lien will arise in
favor of the Commonwealth upon all property belonging to the person if a
determination of responsible person's personal liability is made,
10. The deadline that the person must meet to
confer with the Commissioner, and
11. Any additional information the
Commissioner considers appropriate.
(d)
Presumption of Receipt of
Notice. The transmittal of a notification of proposed
determination of personal liability through the United States mail to the
person at the person's last known address creates a presumption that the
notification was received by the person.
(e)
Failure to Receive
Notice. A person's failure to receive a notification of proposed
determination of personal liability does not delay a determination of
responsible person's personal liability and does not affect the validity of the
determination, the original assessment or the responsible person
assessment.
(7)
Conference with the Commissioner.
(a)
Request for a
Conference.
1. Any person
notified of the proposed determination of personal liability may confer with
the Commissioner within thirty days after the date of the issuance of the
notification of the proposed determination of personal liability.
2. A person or representative must send a
written request for a conference to the Chief of the Collections Bureau or
other authorized Massachusetts Department of Revenue personnel specified in the
notification of proposed determination of personal liability, at the address
shown on the notification.
3. To
expedite processing, a request for a conference should include telephone
numbers for the person and/or the person's representative. All requests must
include a current address for the person and/or the person's representative;
requests without a full return address will be considered incomplete and
without effect.
(b)
Conduct of the Conference. The conference with the
Commissioner is an informal proceeding.
(c)
Referral to Office of
Appeals. The person may request referral to the Office of Appeals.
The Chief of the Collections Bureau or other authorized Massachusetts
Department of Revenue personnel specified in the notification of proposed
determination of personal liability and the Director of the Office of Appeals,
as a matter of joint discretion, may agree to refer the conduct of the
conference to the Office of Appeals but such requests will generally only be
granted if they present novel issues of law or fact. Unless the person is
notified of a referral to the Office of Appeals, the conference will be held in
the Collections Bureau or other Bureau specified in the notification of
proposed determination of personal liability. Conferences held in the Office of
Appeals are conducted as described in 830 CMR 62C.31A.1(7)(b).
(d)
Timely Request for a
Conference. A timely request for a conference must be received by
the Collections Bureau or other Bureau specified in the notification of
proposed determination of personal liability by the
30th day following the issuance of the proposed
determination of personal liability. A request for a conference received after
the 30th day following the issuance of the
notification will be considered solely at the discretion of the Chief of the
Collections Bureau or other authorized Massachusetts Department of Revenue
personnel specified in the notification of proposed determination of personal
liability.
(e)
Issues
That May be Raised at the Conference.
1. At the conference the person may raise any
issue concerning the validity of the original assessment that the taxpayer may
have or could have raised. If the taxpayer or the person or anyone else has
paid the amount of the original assessment, proof of the payment should be
presented at the conference.
2. The
person may raise issues concerning the person's duty to pay over the
taxes.
(8)
Determination of Responsible Person's Personal Liability and the
Responsible Person Assessment.
(a)
The Commissioner's
Determination of Responsible Person's Personal Liability. If the
Commissioner determines that a person did have the duty to pay over taxes, the
person will be personally and individually liable for the unpaid amount of the
original assessment.
(b)
Timing of the Determination of Responsible Person's Personal
Liability.
1. If the person does
not request a conference within 30 days of the date of the issuance of the
notification of proposed determination of personal liability, the determination
of responsible person's personal liability shall take effect 30 days after the
issuance of the notification of the proposed determination of personal
liability. In any case, the Commissioner may, in his or her sole discretion,
make the determination of responsible person's personal liability at a date
later than 30 days after the notification of proposed determination of personal
liability.
2. If the person makes a
timely request for a conference, the Commissioner will make the determination
of responsible person's personal liability after the conference. In any case,
the Commissioner may, in his or her sole discretion, make a determination of
responsible person's personal liability at a date later than 30 days after the
issuance of the notification of the proposed determination of personal
liability.
(c)
The Responsible Person Assessment. The responsible
person assessment shall take effect on the date the determination of
responsible person's personal liability is made.
(d)
Written Notice of Responsible
Person Assessment. The Commissioner will send a written notice of
the responsible person assessment to the responsible person, at the responsible
person's last known address or at the address given on the request for a
conference, on or as soon as practicable possible after the date of the
Commissioner's determination of responsible person's personal liability. The
written notice shall serve as a the notice of assessment and constitutes a
demand upon the responsible person.
(e)
Contents of Written Notice of
Responsible Person Assessment. The written notice of the
responsible person assessment will include the following:
1. The date of the Commissioner's
determination of responsible person's personal liability,
2. The date of the responsible person
assessment,
3. The amount of the
responsible person assessment,
4.
The name of the responsible person,
5. The name of the corporation, partnership
or limited liability company,
6.
The type of tax,
7. The amount of
the original assessment,
8. The
date of the original assessment,
9.
The tax period or periods,
10. A
description of the responsible person's right to apply for abatement,
11. The deadlines that the responsible person
must meet to apply for abatement, and 12. Any additional information the
Commissioner considers appropriate.
(f)
Presumption of Receipt of
Written Notice of Responsible Person Assessment. The transmittal
of a written notice of determination of the responsible person assessment
through the United States mail to the responsible person at the responsible
person's last known address or at the address given on the request for a
responsible person's conference creates a presumption that the written notice
of the responsible person assessment was received by the responsible
person.
(g)
Failure to
Receive Notice. A responsible person's failure to receive a
written notice of the responsible person assessment does not affect the
validity of the responsible person assessment.
(9)
Responsible Person's
Application for Abatement.
(a)
Application for Abatement to the Commissioner. Any
responsible person aggrieved by the original assessment or the responsible
person assessment may apply in writing to the Commissioner for an abatement of
the original assessment or of the responsible person assessment.
(b)
Deadlines for Application for
Abatement. Any responsible person's application for abatement must
be received by the Commissioner by the following dates, whichever is later:
1. Within three years from the last day for
filing the return for the tax upon which the original assessment was based,
determined without regard to any extension of time, 2. Within two years from
the date of the responsible person assessment, or
3. Within one year from the date that the
amount of responsible person assessment was paid.
(c)
Requirements of Application
for Abatement.
1.
Abatement of the Responsible Person Assessment. If a
responsible person is aggrieved by the responsible person assessment, the
responsible person may apply in writing for an abatement on Form CA-6,
Application for Abatement. If the responsible person wishes to apply for an
abatement of the responsible person assessment only, the responsible person is
not required to file any tax returns under M.G.L. c. 62C, § 38 and
830 CMR
62C.37.1(4)(a)1.
2.
Abatement of Original
Assessment.
a. If a responsible
person is aggrieved by the original assessment, the responsible person may
apply in writing on Form CA-6, Application for Abatement, attaching a copy of
the tax return for the tax on which the original assessment was
issued.
b. If a responsible person
is aggrieved by the original assessment and the return for the tax on which the
original assessment was based has not been filed by the taxpayer or the
responsible person cannot locate it, the responsible person may complete and
file a tax return on behalf of the taxpayer, according to the responsible
person's best information and belief, in order to satisfy the jurisdictional
requirement of M.G.L. c. 62C, § 38 and
830 CMR
62C.37.1(4)(a)1. The
completion and filing of a tax return for jurisdictional purposes is not
evidence of a responsible person's duty to pay over
taxes.
(d)
Right to a Hearing on an Application for Abatement. A
responsible person seeking abatement may request a hearing pursuant to M.G.L.
c. 62C, § 37 and
830 CMR
62C.37.1(6).
(e)
Extension of Limitation
Period for Collection of Taxes Upon Application for Abatement. A
timely application for abatement is a pending question that will extend the
limitation period for collection of taxes under 830 CMR
62C.31A.1(14).
(f)
Other
Provisions. Except as noted in 830 CMR 62C.31A.1(9)(a) through
(d), the responsible person's application for abatement must be made in
accordance with M.G.L. c. 62C, §§ 37 through 39 and
830 CMR
62C.37.1.
(10)
Lien on a Responsible
Person's Property.
(a)
Creation of Lien Upon Responsible Person's Property.
Upon the Commissioner's determination of responsible person's personal
liability, the responsible person assessment becomes a lien in favor of the
Commonwealth upon all real and personal property and rights to property
belonging to the responsible person.
(b)
Duration of Lien Upon
Responsible Person's Property.
1. The lien arises at the time of the
responsible person assessment.
2.
The lien against a responsible person continues until that responsible person's
liability for the responsible person assessment is satisfied by payment, as
provided under 830 CMR 62C.31A.1(12), or until that responsible person's
liability for the responsible person assessment is satisfied by settlement, as
provided under 830 CMR 62C.31A.1(13) or until the Commissioner otherwise
exercises the authority to release a lien pursuant to M.G.L. c. 62C, §
50(f).
3. The lien against the
responsible person's property will terminate ten years after the date of the
responsible person assessment unless the Commissioner exercises the authority
to extend or refile the lien pursuant to M.G.L. c. 62C, § 50(a).
(c)
Limitations Upon a
Lien Upon Responsible Person's Property. Any lien upon a
responsible person's property is subject to all limitations prescribed in
M.G.L. c. 62C, § 50(b) and (c) and
830 CMR
62C.50.1(3).
(d)
Enforcement of a Lien Upon
Responsible Person's Property Through the Courts. If a responsible
person refuses or neglects upon demand to pay the amount of the responsible
person assessment, whether or not any levy has been made upon the responsible
person's property, the Commissioner may direct a civil action to be filed in a
district court or superior court of the Commonwealth under M.G.L. c. 62C,
§ 50(e) to enforce the lien upon the responsible person's property or to
subject any property of the responsible person of whatever nature or property
in which the responsible person has any right, title, or interest to the
payment of such liability.
(e)
Release of a Lien Upon Responsible Person's Property.
The Commissioner may issue a release of lien upon a responsible person's
property pursuant to M.G.L. c. 62C, § 50(f) and
830 CMR 62C.50.1(4) and
(6).
(11)
Other Collection
Remedies. The Commissioner may use any other remedies available by
law to collect the amount of a responsible person assessment.
(12)
Satisfaction of Responsible
Person's Personal Liability by Payment. Payment in full of the
amount of the original assessment or the responsible person assessment will
satisfy the liability of the taxpayer and responsible person or persons as
described below unless such payment is later determined to be a preference item
in bankruptcy proceedings.
(a)
Payment by Taxpayer. Payment in full of the original
assessment, together with any additional accrued interest and penalties, by the
taxpayer will satisfy the liability of the taxpayer for the original assessment
and the liability of any responsible person for the responsible person
assessment.
(b)
Payment
by Other Person. Payment in full of the original assessment or the
responsible person assessment by a person (hereinafter "payor") other than the
taxpayer will satisfy the payor's liability for the original assessment or the
responsible person assessment. Such payment will not satisfy the liability of
the taxpayer or the liability of any responsible person (other than the payor)
until one of the following conditions is satisfied:
1. the payor waives his or her rights to
appeal the original and/or the responsible person assessment or otherwise to
claim relief from either assessment; or
2. the period available for the payor to
appeal the original assessment and/or the responsible person assessment or
otherwise to claim relief from the original assessment and/or responsible
person assessment, through abatement or otherwise, has expired without the
payor filing such an appeal or seeking such relief; or
3. the payor's appeal or other claim for
relief from the original assessment results in part or all of the original
assessment being abated and the Commissioner does not take an appeal from that
decision. In the case of partial abatement of the original assessment, the
responsible person assessment shall be partially abated to the same extent. The
liability of the taxpayer or the liability of any responsible person is
satisfied only to the extent of such partial abatement and only if the
Commissioner does not appeal the decision.
(13)
Settlement of Responsible
Person's Tax Liabilities.
(a) A
responsible person may make an offer to the Commissioner which is less than the
amount of the responsible person assessment. Settlement of the responsible
person assessment pursuant to M.G.L. c. 62C, § 37A and
830 CMR
62C.37A.1 satisfies the liability of the
taxpayer and the liability of any other responsible person or persons only up
to the amount of the settlement.
(b) Settlement of the taxpayer's liability
for the original assessment pursuant to M.G.L. c. 62C, § 37A and
830 CMR
62C.37A.1 satisfies the liability of the
taxpayer and the liability of any responsible person or persons for the
original assessment and for the responsible person assessment resulting there
from.
(c) Notwithstanding the rules
concerning satisfaction of liability as set out in 830 CMR 62C.31A.1, any
satisfaction resulting from a settlement agreement is void if the settlement
agreement is reopened based upon factors described in the Settlement of Tax
Liabilities Regulation
830 CMR
62C.37A.1(5).
(14)
Limitation Period for
Collection of Taxes from a Responsible Person.
(a)
Limitation Period for
Collection of Taxes from an Original Assessment.
1.
Effective January 1,
1988: taxes relating to an original assessment may be collected
from a responsible person within ten years after an original assessment, before
the expiration of any period of collection agreed upon in writing by the
Commissioner and the taxpayer before the expiration of such ten-year period,
or, if there is a release of levy under M.G.L. c. 62C, § 64 after such
ten-year period, then before such release. If any question relative to the
original assessment or the responsible person determination is pending before
the Department of Revenue, the Appellate Tax Board, or any court at the end of
the original ten-year period, the period will extend until one year after the
final determination of the question. See M.G.L. c. 62C, §
65.
2.
Effective
January 1, 1999 and thereafter, for bankruptcy cases in which the
taxpayer is the debtor under relevant chapters of Title 1 of the United States
Code, the running of the period of limitations for the original assessment
shall be suspended for the period during which the Commissioner is prohibited
by reason of such case from collecting the tax, and for the period during which
a plan for payment of the tax is in effect, and for six months
thereafter.
3.
Effective January 1, 2005 and thereafter, within an
additional period if the original assessment remains unpaid, but only as to
real or personal property of the taxpayer to which a tax lien has attached and
for which notice of the lien has been filed or recorded under M.G.L. c. 62C,
§ 50.
(b)
Limitation Period for Collection of Taxes from a Responsible Person
Assessment. Effective December 8, 2005 and thereafter for
responsible person assessments made on or after that date, in addition to the
period for collection of taxes from the original assessment,
supra, taxes from a responsible person assessment may be
collected from a responsible person:
1. within
ten years after a responsible person assessment modified as follows;
2. within any further period after such
ten-year period during which the responsible person assessment remains unpaid
but only against any real or personal property of the responsible person to
which a tax lien has attached and for which notice of the lien has been filed
or recorded under M.G.L. c. 62C, § 50 in favor of the commonwealth in
accordance with applicable state and federal law within ten years after the
responsible person assessment of the tax;
3. before the expiration of any period of
collection agreed upon in writing by the Commissioner and the responsible
person before the expiration of such ten-year period; 4. if there is a release
of levy against the responsible person under M.G.L. c. 62C, § 64 after
such ten-year period, then before such release; or
5. if any question relative to the
responsible person assessment is pending before the Department of Revenue, the
Appellate Tax Board, or any court at the end of the ten-year period, within one
year after the final determination of the question. For bankruptcy cases in
which the responsible person is a debtor under relevant chapters of Title 1 of
the United States Code, the running of the period of limitations shall be
suspended for the period during which the commissioner is prohibited by reason
of such case from collecting the tax, and for the period during which a plan
for payment of the tax is in effect, and for six months thereafter.