§40-29-24. Surrender of property subject to levy; "person" defined.

(a) Requirement. Except as otherwise provided in subsection (b), any person in possession of (or obligated with respect to) property or rights to property subject to levy upon which a levy has been made shall, upon demand of the Commissioner of Revenue or his delegate, surrender such property or rights (or discharge such obligation) to the Commissioner of Revenue or his delegate, except such part of the property or rights as is, at the time of such demand, subject to an attachment or execution under any judicial process.

(b) Enforcement of levy.

(1) EXTENT OF PERSONAL LIABILITY. Any person who fails or refuses to surrender any property or rights to property, subject to levy, upon demand by the Commissioner of Revenue, shall be liable in his own person and estate to the State of Alabama in a sum equal to the value of the property or rights not so surrendered, but not exceeding the amount of taxes for the collection of which such levy has been made, together with costs and interest on such sum at an annual rate established by law from the date of such levy (or, in the case of a levy described in subdivision (3) of subsection (d) of Section 40-29-23, from the date such person would otherwise have been obligated to pay over such amounts to the taxpayer). Any amount (other than costs and the 10 percent penalty provided in subdivision (2) below) recovered under this subdivision shall be credited against the tax liability for the collection of which such levy was made.

(2) PENALTY FOR VIOLATION. In addition to the personal liability imposed by subdivision (1), if any person required to surrender property or rights to property fails or refuses to surrender such property or rights to property without reasonable cause, such person shall be liable for a penalty equal to 10 percent of the amount recoverable from the property under his control. No part of such penalty shall be credited against the tax liability for the collection of which such levy was made.

(c) Effect of honoring levy. Any person in possession of (or obligated with respect to) property or rights to property subject to levy upon which a levy has been made who, upon demand by the Commissioner of Revenue or his delegate, surrenders such property or rights to property (or discharges such obligation) to the Commissioner of Revenue or his delegate, or who pays a liability under subdivision (b)(1), shall be discharged from any obligation or liability to the delinquent taxpayer with respect to such property or rights to property arising from such surrender or payment.

(d) "Person" defined. The term "person" as used in subsection (a) includes an officer of a corporation or a member of a partnership, who as such officer or member is under a duty to surrender the property or rights to property, or to discharge the obligation.

(Acts 1983, 4th Ex. Sess., No. 83-891, p. 128, §7.)