Tenn. Code Ann. § 7-4-106: Violations and penalties - Delinquent taxes

(a) Taxes collected by an operator that are not remitted to the tax collection official on or before the due dates are delinquent.

(b) An operator shall be liable for interest on such delinquent taxes from the due date at the rate of eight percent (8%) per annum, and in addition for penalty of one percent (1%) for each month or fraction of a month that such taxes are delinquent. Such interest and penalty shall become a part of the tax required in this chapter to be remitted.

(c) Willful refusal of an operator to collect or remit the tax or willful refusal of a transient to pay the tax imposed is a Class C misdemeanor.

(d) Any fine levied in this chapter shall be applicable to each individual transaction involving lodging services paid by a customer to the operator in those cases when the operator fails or refuses to pay the tax payable.