Notwithstanding the rates of the soft drinks license tax imposed pursuant to Article 13, Chapter 21, Title 12 of the 1976 Code, the license tax due from a taxpayer pursuant to that article is reduced as follows for returns due during the applicable fiscal year:

Fiscal Year Liability Reduction

1996-97 one-sixth

1997-98 one-third

1998-99 one-half

1999-2000 two-thirds

2000-2001 five-sixths