Montana Title 76. Land Resources and Use § 76-13-413. Failure to submit withholding--remedy

(1) If a purchaser does not submit withheld money and required reports on or before the 15th day of the following month as provided in 76-13-409, the purchaser must be notified by certified mail that the purchaser is in noncompliance and be given 15 days to submit all money and reports then due. If the purchaser fails to submit all money due within the required time, the department may initiate a lien upon the real property of the purchaser and may initiate proceedings to enjoin further processing of all wood products until all money due is paid in full and all required reports are submitted.

(2) If payment and reports are not received by the department within the 15-day period after notification as provided in subsection (1), a penalty of 5% of the payment amount due must be assessed. The department may abate the penalty if the purchaser establishes that the failure to submit the amount due or the reports as required was due to reasonable cause and was not due to neglect on the purchaser's part. The department, in addition to the penalty, may impose interest at the rate of 10% a year on any balance remaining unpaid.

(3) All money withheld by a purchaser for the contractor's bond and for department fees is considered to be excise taxes withheld for the benefit of the state within the meaning of 11 U.S.C. 507.