A. The department is authorized to require where practical, in lieu of:

(1)     the filing of paper documents, the filing by electronic or optical means of any return, application, report or other document required under any law or program administered by the department; and

(2)     a paper check or cash payment, the remittance by electronic means of any payment required under any law or program administered by the department.

B. The department, using reasonable criteria, may require some classes of persons to file returns and remit payments electronically or optically while not so requiring others to file returns and remit payments in that manner. The date of filing or payment shall be the date the return, application, report, payment or other document is transmitted to the department in a form able to be processed.