Archives > 1976 South Carolina Code of Laws - Previous Versions > 2002 Session > Title 12

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SECTION 12-60-10. Short title.

This chapter may be cited as the South Carolina Revenue Procedures Act.

SECTION 12-60-20. Legislative intent.

It is the intent of the General Assembly to provide the people of this State with a straightforward procedure to determine any dispute with the Department of Revenue. The South Carolina Revenue Procedures Act must be interpreted and construed in accordance with, and in furtherance of, that intent.

SECTION 12-60-30. Definitions.

As used in this chapter and in Chapter 54 of this title except when the context clearly indicates a different meaning:

(1) "Administrative Law Judge Division" means the Administrative Law Judge Division created by Section 1-23-500. The Administrative Law Judge Division holds all of the contested case hearings except for DMV matters.

(2) "Assessment" means the department's recording the liability of the taxpayer in the office of the department, subject to the restrictions in Section 12-60-440.

(3) "Classification" means the various categories of property subject to property tax to which specific property tax assessment ratios apply.

(4) "Contested case hearing" has the same meaning as it has in Section 1-23-310. It is a hearing conducted pursuant to Article 3, Chapter 23 of Title 1, the South Carolina Administrative Procedures Act, and includes the hearings conducted by:

(a) The Administrative Law Judge Division to review county boards of assessment appeals decisions, county auditor decisions, decisions on claims for refund made by a majority of county auditor, county treasurer, and county assessor, and department determinations other than DMV matters;

(b) The DMV hearing officers to review department determinations regarding DMV matters.

(5) "County assessor"' or "assessor" means any county officer or official who issues an official property tax assessment for real property.

(6) "County auditor" or "auditor" means any county officer or official who issues an official property tax assessment for personal property.

(7) "County board of assessment appeals" or "county board" means the board of assessment appeals which considers appeals pursuant to Section 12-43-300.

(8) "Deficiency" means the amount by which a tax exceeds the amount shown on any return or report filed by a taxpayer, if any, plus the amounts previously assessed (or collected without assessment) as a deficiency.

(9) "Department" means the South Carolina Department of Revenue.

(10) "Department determination" means the final determination within the department from which an individual can request a contested case hearing before the Administrative Law Judge Division, or the DMV hearing officers.

(11) "Department representative"' means the person appointed by the department to prepare the department's determination and represent the department at the contested case hearing.

(12) "Director" means the director of the department.

(13) "DMV hearing officers" means Department of Public Safety hearing officers.

(14) "DMV matters" means matters related to driver licenses, motor vehicle registrations, and motor vehicle titles.

(15) "Exhaustion of the taxpayer's administrative remedy" means that the taxpayer has:

(a) exhausted his prehearing remedy; and

(b) had a hearing held pursuant to the Administrative Procedures Act with the Administrative Law Judge Division, or the DMV hearing officers, as appropriate.

(16) "Exhaustion of the taxpayer's prehearing remedy" means that the taxpayer:

(a) filed a written protest as required by this chapter;

(b) attended the conference with the county board of assessment appeals for the purposes of Subarticle 9, Article 9 of this chapter, or met with the auditor for purposes of Subarticle 13, Article 9 of this chapter; and

(c) provided the facts, the law, and any other authority supporting the taxpayer's position to:

(i) the county board of assessment appeals at its conference for appeals made pursuant to Subarticle 9, Article 9 of this chapter;

(ii) the auditor in the taxpayer's protest or claim for refund for appeals made pursuant to Subarticle 13, Article 9 of this chapter; or

(iii) the department representative in the protest for regulatory violation matters, and within thirty days after filing the protest for other matters, or such later date agreed to by the department representative. For the purpose of this section regulatory violation matters are violations of a statute or regulation which controls the conduct of alcoholic beverage licensees, bingo licensees, or coin-operated device licensees. It includes violations which may result in the suspension or revocation of a license but it does not include taxes or interest on taxes or monetary penalties in Chapter 54 of this title.

(17) "Mathematical or clerical error" means:

(a) an error in addition, subtraction, multiplication, or division shown on a return;

(b) an incorrect use of any table provided by the department for use with any return, if the incorrect use is apparent from the existence of other information on the return;

(c) an omission of information which is required to be supplied on the return to substantiate an entry on the return; or

(d) an entry of a deduction or credit item in an amount which exceeds the statutory limit that is either:

(i) a specified monetary amount; or

(ii) a percentage, ratio, or fraction, if the items entering into the application of that limit appear on the return.

(18) "Property tax" means all ad valorem taxes on real and personal property.

(19) "Property tax assessment" means any valuation or determination of property value for annual property tax purposes arrived at by multiplying the fair market value or special use value of the property by the appropriate assessment ratio for the taxable property's classification.

(20) "Property tax assessment ratio" means the percentages established for the property classification by Section 12-43-220.

(21) "Property tax assessor" means the county assessor, the county auditor, the department, or any government official who issues a property tax assessment.

(22) "Property taxpayer" means a person who is liable for, or whose property or interest in property, is subject to, or liable for, any property tax imposed by this title.

(23) "Proposed assessment" means the first written notice sent or given to the taxpayer stating that a division within the department has concluded that a tax is due. The term proposed assessment does not include the auditor's work papers, draft audit reports, or any document specifically stating that it is not a proposed assessment.

(24) "Protest" means a written appeal of a proposed assessment made in accordance with this chapter.

(25) "Special use value" means property valued pursuant to Section 12-43-220(d).

(26) "State tax" means all taxes, licenses, permits, fees, or other amounts, including interest and penalties, imposed by this title, or assessed or collected by the department, including property subject to collection pursuant to Chapter 18 of Title 27, except property taxes.

(27) "Tax" or "taxes" means all taxes, licenses, permits, fees, or other amounts, including interest, regulatory and other penalties, and civil fines, imposed by this title, or subject to assessment or collection by the department, including property subject to collection pursuant to Chapter 18 of Title 27.

(28) "Tax notice" or "tax bill" means the demand for payment of property taxes.

(29) "Taxpayer" means a person who is liable for a tax or who is responsible for collecting and remitting a tax. "Taxpayer" includes any licensee, and any applicant for a license, issued by or administered by the department.

SECTION 12-60-40. Taxpayers' rights; waiver; time limitations suspended during stay.

(A) A taxpayer may waive his rights under this chapter, providing the waiver is in writing and is signed by the taxpayer or his representative. The department may extend any time limitations provided by this title and for any other taxes. The department and a taxpayer may agree to extend any time limitations or waive any requirements provided in Article 5 or Article 9 of this chapter.

(B) Time limitations provided under this chapter and Chapter 54 are suspended during a stay ordered by the Taxpayers' Rights Advocate.

SECTION 12-60-50. End of period falls on Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday; legal holiday defined.

(A) For purposes of this title and for any other taxes, when the last day of any specified time period is a Saturday, Sunday, or a legal holiday, the end of the period is extended to the next business day. For this purpose, a legal holiday is any day the department or the offices of the United States Postal Service are closed and for subarticles 9 and 13 of Article 9 any day the county office is closed.

(B) Except where payment of taxes is required to be made in funds which are immediately available to the State by electronic funds transfer or otherwise, the provisions of Internal Revenue Code Section 7502 relating to timely mailing as timely filing and paying are applicable to returns, other documents, or payment of taxes imposed by this title, or subject to assessment and collection by the department.

SECTION 12-60-60. Court, Administrative Law Judge, or hearing officer cannot stay tax collections.

No action of a court, an Administrative Law Judge, or a hearing officer can stay or prevent the department or any officer of the State charged with a duty in the collection of taxes, from acting to collect a tax, whether or not the tax is legally due.

SECTION 12-60-70. Writ of mandamus.

No writ of mandamus may be granted or issued from a court, Administrative Law Judge, or hearing officer directing or compelling the reception of any funds not authorized to be received by law.

SECTION 12-60-80. Wrongful collection of taxes.

There is no remedy other than those provided in this chapter in any case involving the illegal or wrongful collection of taxes, or attempt to collect taxes.

SECTION 12-60-90. Administrative tax process.

(A) For the purposes of this section, the administrative tax process includes all matters connected with presentation to any state or local tax authority, or any of their officials or employees, relating to a client's rights, privileges, or liabilities under laws, regulations, or rules administered by state or local tax authorities. These presentations include the preparation and filing of necessary documents, correspondence with, and communications to, state and local tax authorities, and the representation of a client at conferences and meetings, including conferences with the county boards of assessment appeals. It does not include contested case hearings held by the Administrative Law Judge Division, DMV hearing officers, or the courts.

(B) State and local government tax officials, and state and local government employees, may represent their offices, agencies, or both, during the administrative tax process.

(C) Taxpayers may be represented during the administrative tax process by:

(1) the same individuals who may represent them in administrative tax proceedings with the Internal Revenue Service pursuant to Section 10.3(a), (b), and (c), Section 10.7(a), (c)(i) through (c)(vi), and (c)(viii), and Section 10.7(d) and (e) of United States Treasury Department Circular No. 230; and

(2) a real estate appraiser who is registered, licensed, or certified pursuant to Chapter 60 of Title 40 during the administrative tax process in a matter limited to questions concerning the valuation of real property.

(D) The department may suspend or disbar from practice in the administrative tax process, any person authorized by these rules to represent taxpayers, if the person is shown to be incompetent, disreputable, or fails or refuses to comply with the rules in subsection (E), or in any manner, with intent to defraud, wilfully and knowingly deceives, misleads, or threatens any claimant or prospective claimant, by word, circular, letter, or by advertisement. For the purposes of this section, disreputable conduct is defined in Section 10.51 of United States Treasury Department Circular No. 230.

(E) Representatives of taxpayers must comply with the duties and restrictions contained in Sections 10.20 through 10.24 and 10.27 through 10.33 of United States Treasury Department Circular No. 230.

(F) For the purposes of this section:

(1) references to United States Treasury Department Circular No. 230 mean the United States Treasury Department Circular No. 230 as revised through the date provided for in the definition of the Internal Revenue Code in Section 12-6-40(A).

(2) references in United States Treasury Department Circular No. 230 to:

(a) the United States or federal are deemed to include references to this State, any of its political subdivisions, or any two or more of them;

(b) the Internal Revenue Service, the Department of Treasury, Examination Division, or District Director are deemed to include references to any state or local tax authority; and

(c) the Director of Practice is deemed to mean the director or his designee.





SECTION 12-60-410. Assessment of taxes; supplemental assessment; no assessment after final order; exception for fraud.

The department shall assess all state taxes, including interest, additions to taxes, and penalties. An assessment is made by an employee of the department recording the liability of the taxpayer in the office of the department in accordance with rules or procedures prescribed by the department. Upon request of the taxpayer, the department shall furnish a copy of the assessment. The department may, at any time within the time period for assessment, make a supplemental assessment when it is determined that an assessment is imperfect or incomplete. Except in the case of fraud, an order abating a jeopardy assessment, or additional assessments resulting from adjustments made by the Internal Revenue Service, the department may not assess taxes imposed by the same article, or chapter if the chapter has no article, for any tax period for which a final order has been issued by the Administrative Law Judge Division or a court determining the taxpayer's liability for that tax period.

SECTION 12-60-420. Deficiency in state tax; proposed assessment; protest.

If a division of the department determines there is a deficiency in any state tax, it may send by first class mail or deliver a proposed assessment to the taxpayer. The proposed assessment must explain the basis for the proposed assessment and state that an assessment will be made unless the taxpayer protests the proposed assessment as provided in Section 12-60-450. The department shall make available forms which taxpayers may use to protest proposed assessments. The proposed assessment is effective if mailed to the taxpayer's last known address even if the taxpayer refuses or fails to take delivery, is deceased, or is under a legal disability, or, if a corporation, has terminated its existence. For a joint tax return, one proposed assessment may be mailed to both taxpayers unless the department has notice that the taxpayers have separate addresses in which event a duplicate original of the joint proposed assessment must be sent to each taxpayer at his last known address.

SECTION 12-60-430. Failure to make report or file return; proposed assessment based on estimate.

If a taxpayer fails or refuses to make any report or to file a return required by the provisions of this title or required to be filed with the department, the department may make an estimate of the tax liability from the best information available, and issue a proposed assessment for the taxes, including any penalties and interest.

SECTION 12-60-440. Deficiency assessment restrictions.

The department may not assess a deficiency until thirty days after sending the proposed assessment as provided in Section 12-60-420, or, if the taxpayer files a timely written protest with the department, until the taxpayer's appeal is finally decided. For purposes of this section, the final decision of an appeal includes the decision of the Administrative Law Judge Division, DMV hearing officers, or court, if the matter was heard by the Administrative Law Judge Division or DMV hearing officers, or appealed to a court as provided in this article. This restriction on assessments does not apply to:

(1) mathematical or clerical errors;

(2) interest imposed by this title or subject to assessment or collection by the department;

(3) penalties for failure to file or failure to pay, or penalties that are determined as a percentage of interest;

(4) amounts reported on a return or other document, or paid as tax; or

(5) assessments as provided in Section 12-60-910.

If a proposed assessment was not issued, the taxpayer may request an abatement of any assessment due to a mathematical or clerical error, or for a penalty described in item (3), within thirty days of the date of the assessment. Upon receipt of the request for abatement the department shall abate the assessment. Any further assessment of the tax with respect to which an abatement is made under this paragraph is subject to the proposed assessment procedures described in this chapter. No levy or collection proceeding may begin for a mathematical or clerical error during the thirty-day period during which a taxpayer may request an abatement.

SECTION 12-60-450. Appeal of proposed assessment; contents of written protest.

(A) A taxpayer can appeal a proposed assessment by filing a written protest with the department within thirty days of the date of the proposed assessment. The department may extend the time for filing a protest at any time before the period has expired.

(B) The written protest must contain:

(1) the name, address, and telephone number of the taxpayer;

(2) the appropriate taxpayer identification number or numbers;

(3) the tax period or date for which the tax was proposed;

(4) the nature and kind of tax in dispute;

(5) a statement of facts supporting the taxpayer's position;

(6) a statement outlining the reasons for the appeal, including any law or other authority upon which the taxpayer relies; and

(7) any other relevant information the department may reasonably prescribe. The taxpayer does not need to provide legal or other authority, as provided in item (6), if the total amount of the proposed assessment is less than two thousand five hundred dollars, unless the taxpayer is a partnership, an 'S' corporation, an exempt organization, or an employee plan and the proposed tax is imposed by Chapter 7, 11, or 13 of this title.

(C) The filing of an appeal of the proposed assessment as provided in subsection (A) extends the time for assessment as provided in Section 12-54-85(G).

(D) After the protest is filed and the taxpayer has completed or refused any other internal administrative appeals procedures provided by the department, the taxpayer and department representative shall stipulate the facts and issues upon which they can agree, and may attempt to settle the case.

If the taxpayer fails to respond or participate in the process with the department representative, the department may view the appeal as abandoned and make a department determination using any information provided in accordance with Section 12-60-30(16)(c)(iii).

(E)(1) The department will make a department determination using the information provided by the taxpayer in accordance with Section 12-60-30(16)(c)(iii).

(2) A department determination adverse to the taxpayer must be in writing and must:

(a) be sent by first class mail or delivered to the taxpayer;

(b) explain the basis for the department's determination;

(c) inform the taxpayer of his right to request a contested case hearing; and

(d) explain that the taxes will be assessed in thirty days and payment demanded unless the taxpayer requests a contested case hearing.

SECTION 12-60-460. Taxpayers' hearing; time limitation for requesting hearing.

Upon exhaustion of his prehearing remedy, a taxpayer may seek relief from the department's determination by requesting a contested case hearing before the Administrative Law Judge Division or the DMV hearing officers, as appropriate. This request must be made within thirty days after the date the department's determination was sent by first class mail or delivered to the taxpayer. Requests for a hearing before the Administrative Law Judge Division must be made in accordance with its rules. Requests for a hearing before the DMV hearing officers must be made to the department representative.

SECTION 12-60-470. Taxpayers' refund claim; time for filing; contents.

(A) A taxpayer may seek a refund of any state tax by filing a written claim for refund with the department. A claim for refund is timely filed if filed within the period specified in Section 12-54-85 even though the time for filing a protest under Section 12-60-450 has expired and no protest was filed.

(B) The refund claim must specify:

(1) the name, address, and telephone number of the taxpayer;

(2) the appropriate taxpayer identification number or numbers;

(3) the tax period or date for which the tax was paid;

(4) the nature and kind of tax paid;

(5) the amount which the taxpayer claims was erroneously paid;

(6) a statement of facts supporting the taxpayer's position;

(7) a statement outlining the reasons for the claim, including any law or other authority upon which the taxpayer relies; and

(8) any other relevant information that the department may reasonably require.

The department will make forms available which taxpayers may use to file a claim for refund.

(C) Only the taxpayer legally liable for the tax may file a claim for refund or receive a refund, except that after the application of Section 12-60-490:

(1) the assignment of a refund may be made, but only after the department has authorized the refund and issued an order for the refund to the State Treasurer's office; or

(2) a person who acts as a collector and remitter of state taxes may claim a credit or refund of the tax collected, but only if the person establishes that he has paid the tax in question to the State, and

(a) repaid the tax to the person from whom he collected it; or

(b) obtained the written consent of the person from whom he collected the tax to the allowance of the credit or refund.

(D) The appropriate division of the department shall decide what refund is due, if any, and give the taxpayer written notice of its decision as soon as practicable after a claim has been filed.

(E) A taxpayer may appeal the division's decision by filing a written protest with the department following the procedures provided in Section 12-60-450. For purposes of complying with the provisions of Section 12-60-450, the written denial of any part of a claim for refund is the equivalent of a proposed assessment.

(F) Upon exhaustion of his prehearing remedy, a taxpayer may seek relief from the department's determination by requesting a contested case hearing before the Administrative Law Judge Division or the DMV hearing officers, as appropriate. This request must be made within thirty days after the date the department's determination was sent by first class mail or delivered to the taxpayer. Requests for a hearing before the Administrative Law Judge Division must be made in accordance with its rules. Requests for a hearing before the DMV hearing officers must be made to the department representative.

(G) Even if a taxpayer has not filed a claim for refund, if the department determines that money has been erroneously or illegally collected from a taxpayer or other person, the department, in its discretion, may, upon making a record in writing of its reasons, grant a refund to the taxpayer or other person.

(H) A claim for refund can be amended prior to, but not after, the expiration of the time for filing the claim for refund under Section 12-54-85(F). The claim as amended must be treated as if it were first filed when the amendment was filed, and the procedures and time periods provided by this section must begin again.

(I) A taxpayer who requests a contested case hearing as provided in Section 12-60-460 is considered to have elected his remedy and is denied the benefits of this section.

SECTION 12-60-480. Refund after prevailing on merits of lawsuit; refund to similarly situated taxpayers.

When a taxpayer prevails on the merits in a lawsuit seeking a refund or abatement of a license fee or any tax based upon an allegation that the tax or fee has been imposed wrongfully as a matter of law, the department shall issue a refund to all similarly situated taxpayers who properly applied for a refund pursuant to the requirements of this chapter. A taxpayer is considered to have prevailed on the merits in a lawsuit only when a tax or license fee is refunded or abated as a result of a finding of law by a court of competent jurisdiction, and after the exhaustion of, or expiration of, the time for making all relevant appeals. A taxpayer must not be considered similarly situated if the taxpayer did not file a claim for refund within the period provided in Section 12-54-85.

SECTION 12-60-490. Application of refund to other taxes due.

If a taxpayer is due a refund, the refund must be applied first against any amount of that same tax that is assessed and is currently due from the taxpayer. The remaining refund, if any, must then be applied against any other state taxes that have been assessed against the taxpayer and that are currently due, or offset as provided in Article 3, Chapter 54 of this title. If any excess remains, the taxpayer must be refunded the amount plus interest as determined in Section 12-54-25, or, at the taxpayer's request, it may be credited to future tax liabilities.

SECTION 12-60-500. Tax refund; preference to other claims against state treasury.

If it is determined that a refund is due of any tax paid to, or collected by the State, the department shall issue its order to the State Treasurer to refund the taxes. Refunds must be paid in preference to other claims against the State Treasury. If the State Treasurer does not have in his custody or possession enough funds to pay a refund of taxes, he shall request that the General Assembly appropriate the refund.

SECTION 12-60-510. Exhaustion of prehearing remedy before determination by Administrative Law Judge or DMV hearing officer.

Before a taxpayer may seek a determination of a tax liability by an Administrative Law Judge or DMV hearing officer under Section 12-60-460 or 12-60-470, he shall exhaust the prehearing remedy. If a taxpayer requests a contested case hearing before the Administrative Law Judge Division or DMV hearing officers without exhausting his prehearing remedy because he failed to file a protest, the Administrative Law Judge or DMV hearing officer shall dismiss the action without prejudice. If the taxpayer failed to provide the department with the facts, law, and other authority supporting his position, he shall provide the department with the facts, law, and other authority he failed to present to the department earlier. The Administrative Law Judge or DMV hearing officer shall then remand the case to the department for reconsideration in light of the new facts or issues unless the department elects to forego the remand.

Upon remand the department has thirty days, or a longer period ordered by the Administrative Law Judge or DMV hearing officer, to consider the new facts and issues and amend its department determination. The department shall issue its amended department determination in the same manner as the original. The taxpayer has thirty days after the date the department's amended determination was sent by first class mail or delivered to the taxpayer to again request a contested case hearing. Requests for a hearing before the Administrative Law Judge Division must be made in accordance with its rules. Requests for a hearing before the DMV hearing officers must be made to the department representative. If the department fails to issue its amended department determination within thirty days of the date of the remand, or a longer period ordered by the Administrative Law Judge or DMV hearing officer, the taxpayer can again request a contested case hearing. At the new hearing the facts, law, and other authority presented at the original hearing must be deemed to have been presented in a timely manner for purposes of exhausting the taxpayer's prehearing remedy. The statute of limitations remains suspended by Section 12-54-85(G) during this process.

SECTION 12-60-520. Designation as small claims case; no precedential value.

A taxpayer who requests a contested case hearing may elect to designate the action as a small claims case if no more than ten thousand dollars of taxes, including penalties, but not including interest, are in controversy at the time of filing the request for a contested case hearing. The designation must be made at the time the request for a contested case hearing is made and be included in the request. The decision of the Administrative Law Judge or DMV hearing officer in an action designated as a small claims case is final and conclusive and may not be reviewed by any court. A case decided under this section may not be cited by either the department or any taxpayer in any future action and establishes no precedent except for the taxpayer involved and the tax period or periods in controversy. This section does not apply to actions that raise constitutional issues.



SECTION 12-60-910. Jeopardy assessment; notice.

(A) If the department finds that the assessment or the collection of a tax or a deficiency for any tax period is jeopardized in whole or in part by delay, the department may terminate the taxpayer's current tax period and immediately assess the tax for the current period and prior periods not barred by the statute of limitations including all interest, penalties, and other amounts provided by law. Any action by the department made under this subsection is a "jeopardy assessment".

(B) If a jeopardy assessment is made under subsection (A), notice of the jeopardy assessment must be provided to the taxpayer by any of the following means:

(1) personal delivery of the assessment to the taxpayer;

(2) mailing a copy of the assessment to the last known address of the taxpayer by first class mail; or

(3) any other means reasonably designed to provide notice to the taxpayer.

(C) A jeopardy assessment is immediately due and payable, and proceedings for collection may begin as soon as the jeopardy assessment is made.

(D) A taxpayer may obtain a stay of the collection for all or part of the jeopardy assessment by:

(1) posting a bond with the department equal to the amount of the assessment that will be stayed, including interest to the date of payment; or

(2) providing security in any amount the department considers necessary to secure all or part of the amount of the jeopardy assessment. The security required by the department cannot exceed twice the assessed amount for which the taxpayer seeks a stay.

(E) The department may stay collection at any time it finds that an assessment or the collection of a tax in whole or in part is no longer in jeopardy.

(F) The taxpayer may at any time waive any part or all of the stay of collection.

(G) Where collection of any part or all of the jeopardy assessment is stayed under this section, the period of limitation on any action to collect the assessment is tolled during the time of the stay.

(H) The bond or security must be reduced if:

(1) the taxpayer pays any part of the tax covered by the bond or security and the taxpayer requests the reduction. The reduction must be proportionate to the amount paid.

(2) the department abates any portion of the jeopardy assessment. The reduction in the bond or security must be proportionate to the amount abated.

SECTION 12-60-920. Written statement of information relied on in making jeopardy assessment.

(A) Within five days after the day on which a jeopardy assessment is made, the department shall provide the taxpayer with a written statement of the information the department relied on in making the assessment.

(B) Within thirty days after the day on which the taxpayer is furnished the written statement described in subsection (A), or within thirty days after the last day of the period within which the statement is required to be furnished, the taxpayer may request a contested case hearing before the Administrative Law Judge Division. Requests for a hearing before the Administrative Law Judge Division must be made in accordance with its rules. The only issue for determination under this subsection is whether the jeopardy assessment is reasonable and appropriate.

(C) Within ten days after an action is commenced under subsection (B), the department shall file its response with the Administrative Law Judge Division. Within twenty days after the department's response or as soon thereafter as practicable, an Administrative Law Judge shall determine whether or not the making of the jeopardy assessment is reasonable under the circumstances, and whether the amount so assessed or demanded as a result of the action taken under Section 12-60-910 is appropriate under the circumstances. The running of the ten-day and twenty-day periods begins on the day on which service is made on the department.

(D) If the Administrative Law Judge determines that the making of the jeopardy assessment is unreasonable or that the amount assessed or demanded is inappropriate, he may order the department to abate the assessment, to redetermine, in whole or in part, the amount assessed or demanded, or to take other action as the judge finds appropriate.

(E) The decision made by the Administrative Law Judge under this section is final and conclusive and may not be reviewed by any court.

(F)(1) In an action under subsection (B) involving the issue of whether the making of an assessment under Section 12-60-910 is reasonable under the circumstances, the burden of proof in respect to the issue is on the department.

(2) In an action under subsection (B) involving the issue of whether an amount assessed or demanded as a result of action taken under Section 12-60-910 is appropriate under the circumstances, the department shall provide a written statement containing any information on which its determination of the amount assessed was based, but the burden of proof in respect to the issue is on the taxpayer.



SECTION 12-60-1310. Denial, proposed suspension, cancellation, or revocation of License; written protest; contents.

(A) If a division of the department denies a person any license that the department administers, or sends by first class mail or delivers a notice to the license holder that the division of the department shall suspend, cancel, or revoke a license administered by the department, then the person can appeal the division decision by filing a written protest with the department within thirty days of the denial, or proposed suspension, cancellation, or revocation. The department may extend the time for filing a protest at any time before the period has expired.

(B) The written protest must contain:

(1) the name, address, and telephone number of the person;

(2) the appropriate taxpayer, driver, or vehicle identification number or numbers, if any;

(3) the kind of license in dispute;

(4) a statement of facts supporting the person's position;

(5) a statement outlining the reasons for the appeal, including any law or other authority upon which the person relies; and

(6) any other relevant information the department may reasonably prescribe.

(C) After the protest is filed and the person has completed or refused any other internal administrative appeals procedures provided by the department, the person and department representative shall stipulate the facts and issues upon which they can agree, and may attempt to settle the case. If the person fails to respond or participate in the process with the department representative, the department may view the appeal as abandoned and make a department determination using any information provided in accordance with Section 12-60-30(16)(c)(iii).

(D)(1) The department shall make a department determination using the information provided by the person in accordance with Section 12-60-30(16)(c)(iii).

(2) A determination of the department adverse to the person must be in writing and must:

(a) be sent by first class mail or delivered to the person;

(b) explain the basis for the department's determination;

(c) inform the person of his right to request a contested case hearing; and

(d) explain that the license must not be issued, or the license must be suspended or revoked in thirty days unless the person requests a contested case hearing.

SECTION 12-60-1320. Exhaustion of prehearing remedies; request for hearing; time limitation.

Upon exhaustion of his prehearing remedy, a person may seek relief from the department's determination by requesting a contested case hearing before the Administrative Law Judge Division or the DMV hearing officers, as appropriate. This request must be made within thirty days after the date the department's determination was sent by first class mail or delivered to the person. Requests for a hearing before the Administrative Law Judge Division must be made in accordance with its rules. Requests for a hearing before the DMV hearing officers must be made to the department representative.

SECTION 12-60-1330. Hearing after exhaustion of prehearing remedy; request for contested case hearing after determination by department.

Before a person may seek a determination by an Administrative Law Judge or DMV hearing officer under Section 12-60-1320, he shall exhaust his prehearing remedy. If a person requests a contested case hearing before the Administrative Law Judge Division or DMV hearing officers without exhausting his prehearing remedy because he failed to file a protest, the Administrative Law Judge or DMV hearing officer shall dismiss the action without prejudice. If the person failed to provide the department with the facts, law, and other authority supporting his position, he shall provide the department with the facts, law, and other authority he failed to present to the department earlier. The Administrative Law Judge or DMV hearing officer shall then remand the case to the department for reconsideration in light of the new facts or issues unless the department elects to forego the remand. Upon remand the department has thirty days, or a longer period ordered by the Administrative Law Judge or DMV hearing officer, to consider the new facts and issues and amend its department determination. The department shall issue its amended department determination in the same manner as the original. The person has thirty days after the date the department's amended determination was sent by first class mail or delivered to the person to again request a contested case hearing. Requests for a hearing before the Administrative Law Judge Division must be made in accordance with its rules. Requests for a hearing before the DMV hearing officers must be made to the department representative. If the department fails to issue its amended department determination within thirty days of the date of the remand, or a longer period ordered by the Administrative Law Judge or DMV hearing officer, the person can again request a contested case hearing. At the new hearing the facts, law, and other authority presented at the original hearing must be deemed to have been presented in a timely manner for purposes of exhausting the person's prehearing remedy. The statute of limitations remains suspended by Section 12-54-85(G) during this process.

SECTION 12-60-1340. Emergency revocation order.

Anything else in this chapter notwithstanding, if the department determines that public health, safety, or welfare requires emergency action, it shall seek an emergency revocation order from the Administrative Law Judge Division, or the DMV hearing officers, as appropriate, pursuant to Section 1-23-370(c).

SECTION 12-60-1350. Applicability of chapter.

No provision in this chapter applies to, or has any effect on, any license suspended or revoked (1) by the Department of Public Safety, (2) by judicial decision or order, (3) where a statute requires the department or the Department of Public Safety to suspend or revoke a license, or (4) by other operation of law.





SECTION 12-60-1710. Appeal procedures for real or personal property tax assessments.

The procedures provided in this article for appealing property tax assessments apply to all property tax assessments made for real or personal property tax purposes.

SECTION 12-60-1720. Department to prescribe regulations, rules, procedures, forms and instructions.

The department shall prescribe rules, procedures, forms, and instructions it considers appropriate and that are consistent with this article. Property tax assessors, auditors, and taxpayers shall comply with the department's regulations, rules, and procedures, and shall use the forms the department prescribes.

SECTION 12-60-1730. Written protest required to appeal property tax assessment or denial of exemption; assessors must notify taxpayer of right to appeal and time limitation.

A property taxpayer may appeal any property tax assessment or denial of exemption if a written protest is filed in accordance with this article. All property tax assessors shall notify taxpayers of their right to appeal and of the applicable time limitations. The department shall provide protest forms, and the property tax assessor shall make the forms available to property taxpayers. A property taxpayer's use of the department's protest forms is not mandatory.

SECTION 12-60-1740. Tax refunds; preference over other claims.

If it is determined that any tax in excess of the amount due was paid to or collected by a county, municipality, or other political subdivision, the treasurer within thirty days of the final determination shall refund the taxes and penalties, if any, so paid. The refund must be paid in preference to other claims against the county, municipality, or other political subdivision together with interest determined in accordance with Section 12-54-25. The full faith and credit of the county, municipality, or other political subdivision, as the case may be, is pledged as security for the funds. A county treasurer may refund the tax from current tax collections of the county, municipality, or other political subdivision if the treasurer collected and distributed the incorrectly collected tax for the county, municipality, or other political subdivision. When the treasurer has no current taxes of the county, municipality, or other political subdivision or when the treasurer did not collect the tax, notice of the approved refund must be transmitted to the entity or entities that received or collected the tax, and that entity or entities shall provide for the refund from other sources. If a treasurer does not have available the necessary funds, he shall report the refund due to the governing body of the appropriate political subdivision, and the governing body shall provide for the payment.

SECTION 12-60-1750. Refund of property taxes; exceptions.

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no refund of property taxes must be given:

(1) for a property tax exemption requiring an application, unless the application was timely filed; or

(2) for errors in valuation, unless the assessment was appealed in accordance with Section 12-60-2110, 12-60-2510, or 12-60-2910, as appropriate. For the purposes of this item, the taxation of exempt property is not an error in valuation.

SECTION 12-60-1755. Crediting of erroneous property tax payments.

If a taxpayer or his agent pays property taxes in error, or the payment is erroneously credited, the treasurer shall credit the amount paid against the actual liability of the taxpayer for the tax year in question. This section applies for any tax year for which proof is provided.

SECTION 12-60-1760. Action pending against county officer.

(A) The county shall pay the reasonable attorney's fees, expenses, damages, and costs resulting from defending an action brought against a county officer for performing or attempting to perform a duty imposed on him by this title if the plaintiff prevails in the action and it affects the interest of the county. The county auditor shall ratably apportion the fees, expenses, damages, and costs among all parties, except the State, interested in the revenue involved in the action.

(B) If an action involves only a municipal levy, the municipality shall pay the attorney's fees, expenses, damages, and costs which may be awarded in the action. In such an action, a county auditor or treasurer may cause a municipality interested in the revenue involved in an action to be made a party to the action. The Administrative Law Judge or the court in which the action is pending shall join the municipality as a party.

SECTION 12-60-1770. Small claims case.

A taxpayer who requests a contested case hearing before the Administrative Law Judge Division pursuant to this article may avail himself of the small claims case provisions of Section 12-60-520 if the case otherwise meets the requirements of that section. In an action commenced by a county assessor or auditor, the taxpayer in his response to the county assessor's or auditor's request, may designate the case a small claims case if no more than ten thousand dollars of taxes and penalties, not including interest, are in controversy at the time the taxpayer's response is made.



SECTION 12-60-2110. Property tax assessment protest; time for filing.

In the case of property tax assessments made by a division of the department, protests must be filed within thirty days after the date of the property tax assessment notice. If the division does not send a taxpayer a property tax assessment notice, a protest must be filed within thirty days after the tax notice is mailed to the taxpayer. If a division of the department denies a property tax exemption, a protest must be filed within thirty days after the date the notice of denial is mailed to the taxpayer.

SECTION 12-60-2120. Property taxpayer appeal by written protest; contents.

(A) A property taxpayer may appeal a property tax assessment proposed by a division of the department by filing a written protest with the department.

(B) A property taxpayer may protest any denial of a tax exemption by the department for property he believes is exempt from property tax by filing a written protest with the department.

(C) The protest of property taxes under this section must be mailed or delivered to either the director, or his designee, within the time limits provided in Section 12-60-2110, and the protest must include the information required in Section 12-60-450(B) and also the fair market value, special use value, if applicable, and property classification of the property the taxpayer believes is correct. If the protest claims the property is exempt, the protest must state the basis on which exemption is claimed.

(D) All appeals must be conducted as provided in Section 12-60-450(C) through (E).

SECTION 12-60-2130. Taxpayer or local governing body may request contested case hearing.

A property taxpayer or the local governing body who disagrees with the department determination may request a contested case hearing before the Administrative Law Judge Division if he files an action within thirty days of the date of the department's determination. Requests for a hearing before the Administrative Law Judge Division must be made in accordance with its rules. If a taxpayer requests a contested case hearing before the Administrative Law Judge Division without exhausting his prehearing remedy because he failed to file a protest, the administrative law judge shall dismiss the action without prejudice. If the taxpayer failed to provide the department with the facts, law, and other authority supporting his position, he shall provide the department with the facts, law, and other authority he failed to present to the department earlier. The administrative law judge shall then remand the case to the department for reconsideration in light of the new facts or issues unless the department elects to forego the remand.

Upon remand the department will have thirty days, or a longer period ordered by the Administrative Law Judge, to consider the new facts and issues and amend its department determination. The department shall issue its amended department determination in the same manner as the original. The taxpayer has thirty days after the date the department's amended determination was sent by first class mail or delivered to the taxpayer to again request a contested case hearing. Requests for a hearing before the Administrative Law Judge Division must be made in accordance with its rules. If the department fails to issue its amended department determination within thirty days of the date of the remand, or a longer period ordered by the Administrative Law Judge, the taxpayer can again request a contested case hearing. At the new hearing the facts, law, and other authority presented at the original hearing must be deemed to have been presented in a timely manner for purposes of exhausting the taxpayer's prehearing remedy. The statute of limitations remains suspended by Section 12-54-85(G) during this process.

SECTION 12-60-2140. Payment of adjusted assessment if appeal not concluded by December thirty-first of tax year; payment or refund of difference after final determination.

(A) If it is reasonably expected that the appeal will not be resolved by December thirty-first of the tax year, the department shall notify the auditor of the county where the property is located to adjust the property tax assessment of property under protest to eighty percent of the protested property tax assessment, or any valuation greater than eighty percent agreed to in writing by the taxpayer, and enter the adjusted property tax assessment on the tax duplicate. The tax must be paid as in other cases.

(B) After a final determination, if the property tax assessment is greater than the adjusted property tax assessment, a corrected property tax assessment must be made and entered. Interest determined in accordance with Section 12-54-25 must be collected in the same manner as the tax.

(C) After a final determination, if the property tax assessment is less than the adjusted property tax assessment, a corrected property tax assessment must be made and entered. The overpayment of tax must be refunded together with interest determined in accordance with Section 12-54-25 on the overpayment.

(D) For purposes of this section, the "final determination" includes the decision of the Administrative Law Judge Division or court if the property tax assessment was heard by the Administrative Law Judge Division or appealed to a court as provided in this subarticle.

SECTION 12-60-2150. Filing claim for a refund; contents.

(A) Subject to the limitations in Section 12-60-1750, and within the time limitation of Section 12-54-85(F), a property taxpayer may seek a refund of property taxes paid and assessed by the department by filing a claim for refund with the department if it originally assessed the property or the taxpayer believes the property is exempt, other than from the homestead exemption, from property taxes.

(B) The department shall notify the counties affected by the claim for refund. A county auditor, upon notification, shall notify any affected municipalities or other political subdivisions.

(C) The claim for refund under this section must be mailed or delivered to the department, and must include the information required in Section 12-60-450(B), the fair market value, special use value, if applicable, and property classification of the property the taxpayer believes correct. If the claim for refund states the property is exempt, the claim for refund must state the basis on which exemption is claimed.

(D) The appropriate division of the department shall determine what refund is due, if any, and give the taxpayer written notice of its determination as soon as practicable after a claim has been filed.

(E) A taxpayer may appeal the division's decision by filing a written protest with the department following the procedures provided in Section 12-60-2110. For purposes of complying with the provisions of Section 12-60-2110, the written denial of any part of a claim for refund is the equivalent of a property tax assessment notice.

(F) The department shall consider the claim, determine the correct property tax assessment, and issue any necessary orders. All appeals before the department must be conducted as provided in Section 12-60-450(C) through (E).

(G) Even if a taxpayer has not filed a claim for refund, where no question of fact or law is involved, and it appears from the record that money has been erroneously or illegally collected from a taxpayer or other person under a mistake of fact or law, the department may, subject to the limitations in Section 12-60-1750, within the period specified in Section 12-54-85 and upon making a record in writing of its reasons, order a refund to the taxpayer or other person.

(H) A property taxpayer or the local governing body who disagrees with the department determination may request a contested case hearing before the Administrative Law Judge Division by filing the request in accordance with the Administrative Law Judge Division rules within thirty days of the date of the department determination.

If a taxpayer requests a contested case hearing before the Administrative Law Judge Division without exhausting his prehearing remedy because he failed to file a protest, the Administrative Law Judge shall dismiss the action without prejudice. If the taxpayer failed to provide the department with the facts, law, and other authority supporting his position, he shall provide the department with the facts, law, and other authority he failed to present to the department earlier. The Administrative Law Judge shall then remand the case to the department for reconsideration in light of the new facts or issues unless the department elects to forego the remand.

Upon remand the department has thirty days, or a longer period ordered by the Administrative Law Judge, to consider the new facts and issues and amend its department determination. The department shall issue its amended department determination in the same manner as the original. The taxpayer has thirty days after the date the department amended determination was sent by first class mail or delivered to the taxpayer to again request a contested case hearing. Requests for a hearing before the Administrative Law Judge Division must be made in accordance with its rules. If the department fails to issue its amended department determination within thirty days of the date of the remand, or a longer period ordered by the Administrative Law Judge, the taxpayer can again request a contested case hearing. At the new hearing the facts, law, and other authority presented at the original hearing must be deemed to have been presented in a timely manner for purposes of exhausting the taxpayer's prehearing remedy. The statute of limitations remains suspended by Section 12-54-85(G) during this process.



SECTION 12-60-2510. Property tax assessment notice; contents; written notice of objection.

(A)(1) In the case of property tax assessments made by the county assessor, whenever the assessor increases the fair market value or special use value in making a property tax assessment by one thousand dollars or more, or whenever the first property tax assessment is made on the property by a county assessor, the assessor, by July first in the year in which the property tax assessment is made, or as soon after as is practical, shall send the taxpayer a property tax assessment notice. In years when real property is appraised and assessed under a countywide equalization program, substantially all property tax assessment notices must be mailed by October first of the implementation year. In these reassessment years, if substantially all of the tax assessment notices are not mailed by October first, the prior year's property tax assessment must be the basis for all property tax assessments for the current tax year. A property tax assessment notice under this subsection must be in writing and must include:

(a) the fair market value;

(b) value as limited by Section 12-37-223A, if applicable;

(c) the special use value, if applicable;

(d) the assessment ratio;

(e) the property tax assessment;

(f) the number of acres or lots;

(g) the location of the property;

(h) the tax map number; and

(i) the appeal procedure.

(2) The notice must be served upon the taxpayer personally or by mailing it to the taxpayer at his last known place of residence which may be determined from the most recent listing in the applicable telephone directory, the department's motor vehicle registration list, county treasurer's records, or official notice from the property taxpayer.

(3) In years when there is a notice of property tax assessment, the property taxpayer, within ninety days after the assessor mails the property tax assessment notice, must give the assessor written notice of objection to one or more of the following: the fair market value, the special use value, the assessment ratio, and the property tax assessment.

(4) In years when there is no notice of property tax assessment, the property taxpayer must, by March first, give the assessor written notice of objection to one or more of the following: the fair market value, the special use value, the assessment ratio, and the property tax assessment. The failure to serve written notice of objection by March first is a waiver of the taxpayer's right of protest for that tax year, and the assessor may not review any request filed after March first.

(B) The department shall prescribe a standard property tax assessment notice designed to contain the information required in subsection (A) in a manner that may be easily understood.

SECTION 12-60-2520. Written request to meet with assessor constitutes notice of objection; written protest following conference; contents.

(A) A property taxpayer may object to a property tax assessment made by a county assessor by requesting in writing to meet with the assessor within the time limits provided in Section 12-60-2510. This written request is a notice of objection for purposes of this subarticle.

(B) If, upon examination of the property taxpayer's written objection, the county assessor agrees with the taxpayer, the county assessor must correct the error. If, upon the examination, the county assessor does not agree with the taxpayer, the assessor shall schedule a conference with the property taxpayer within thirty days of the date of the request for a meeting or as soon after that as practical. If the matter is not resolved at the conference, the assessor shall advise the property taxpayer of the right to protest and provide the taxpayer a form on which to file the protest. The property taxpayer has thirty days after the date of the conference to file a written protest with the assessor. The protest must contain:

(1) the name, address, and telephone number of the property taxpayer;

(2) a description of the property in issue;

(3) a statement of facts supporting the taxpayer's position;

(4) a statement outlining the reasons for the appeal, including any law or other authority, upon which the taxpayer relies; and

(5) the value and classification which the property taxpayer considers the fair market value, special use value, if applicable, and the proper classification.

The taxpayer may use the form prepared by the department, but use of the form is not mandatory.

(C) The assessor shall respond to the written protest and the response must:

(1) be in writing;

(2) be mailed to the property taxpayer by first class mail within thirty days of the date of receipt of the property taxpayer's protest or as soon thereafter as practical;

(3) include a statement of the initial property tax assessment and the redetermined property tax assessment;

(4) state that the redetermined property tax assessment will become final if the property taxpayer does not appeal the property tax assessment to the county board of assessment appeals; and

(5) inform the taxpayer of procedures for all further appeals.

(D) The assessor may amend, modify, or rescind any property tax assessment, except claims relating to property tax exemptions.

(E) Each protest and each response must be filed and maintained at the office of the assessor for four years, and must be made available for examination and copying by any property taxpayer, at the taxpayer's expense pursuant to Chapter 4 of Title 30, the Freedom of Information Act.

SECTION 12-60-2530. County board of assessment appeals.

(A) Within thirty days after the date of the county assessor's response provided in Section 12-60-2520, a property taxpayer may appeal a real property tax assessment to the county board of assessment appeals. The board may rule on any timely appeal relating to the correctness of any of the elements of the property tax assessment, and also other relevant claims of a legal or factual nature, except claims relating to property tax exemptions. Conferences held by the board are subject to any rules prescribed for the county boards of assessment appeals by the Administrative Law Judge Division. The assessor may extend the time period for filing a taxpayer's appeal if the request for an extension is received by the assessor within thirty days of the date of the county assessor's response provided in Section 12-60-2520.

(B) An appeal to the board begins by giving written notice of intent to appeal to the assessor.

(C) A conference on the appeal must be conducted by the board within thirty days after the date of receiving a notice of appeal, or as soon thereafter as practical. The board shall:

(1) set the place, date, and time for the conference;

(2) give the assessor and the property taxpayer at least thirty days' written notice of the conference;

(3) advise the property taxpayer that all evidence must be presented at the conference; and

(4) have the authority and jurisdiction to enter a default decision if either the property taxpayer or the assessor fails to appear at the conference, if proper notice of the conference was given. If a default decision is entered against the property taxpayer for failure to appear at the conference, the property tax assessment becomes a final property tax assessment. A default order entered against the assessor for failure to appear at the conference results in a final property tax assessment based on the value stated in the property taxpayer's written protest. However, the board may grant a continuance and refrain from entering a default order upon good cause shown by any party.

(D) The intervention by an interested person not a party to the action is allowed where:

(1) the intervenor has a legal or equitable interest in the property which is the subject of the property tax assessment;

(2) the intervention is not prevented by any applicable statute of limitations and the intervenor has exhausted his prehearing remedies;

(3) the disposition of the action could, as a practical matter, impede protection of that interest; and

(4) the intervenor's interest is not being adequately represented by the existing parties, and could be impeded, as a practical matter, if intervention is denied.

(E) Each appeal must be considered by all board members present at a meeting. The lesser of a majority of the members or three members of the board is a quorum, unless the parties agree to a lesser number.

(F) At least fifteen days before the date of the conference, the assessor shall file with the board:

(1) a copy of the original property tax assessment for the subject property;

(2) the written protest of the property taxpayer;

(3) a written response to the taxpayer's protest; and

(4) copies of documents, including appraisals, property sales, and a brief description of other evidence to be presented by him. Copies of the documents filed with the board must be mailed or delivered to the property taxpayer at the same time.

(G) At least fifteen days before the date of the conference, the property taxpayer shall file with the board copies of documents, including appraisals, property sales, and a brief description of other evidence to be presented. Copies of the documents and lists must be mailed or delivered to the assessor at the same time. The requirement that the property taxpayer file the material with the board and mail or deliver it to the assessor may be waived by the board.

(H) At least seven days before the date of the conference, the parties may file with the board any response each may have to the information filed by the other. This material must be mailed or delivered to the other party at the same time.

(I) The conference must be held as follows:

(1) Conferences are open to the public.

(2) The board may meet in closed session to consider evidence presented at the conference.

(3) The assessor shall explain the property tax assessment and his response to the taxpayer's written protest.

(4) The assessor may provide the board with evidence to support the property tax assessment.

(5) The property taxpayer shall state his reasons for protesting the property tax assessment.

(6) The property taxpayer may provide the board with evidence to support amending, modifying, or rescinding the property tax assessment.

(7) A person intervening as a party in the appeal may state his position and present evidence in support of his position.

(8) The assessor may rebut information and arguments presented by the taxpayer or intervenor.

(9) The property taxpayer and intervenors, if any, may rebut information and arguments presented by the assessor.

(10) Any member of the board may question the property taxpayer, the assessor, and anyone else providing information at the conference. Any member of the board may request additional information.

(J) After the conference, the board shall issue a decision based upon the evidence before it as follows:

(1) The decision must be made by a majority vote of the board members present at the conference. In case of a tie, the assessor's determination is upheld.

(2) At the conclusion of the conference, the decision may be announced orally or it may be reserved for consideration. In either event, the board shall mail a written decision to the parties within fifteen days after the date of the conference, or as soon thereafter as practical.

(3) The written decision of the board shall:

(a) explain the basis for the decision;

(b) state that if the decision is not appealed, it must be certified to the county auditor for entry upon the property tax assessment rolls or tax duplicate; and

(c) inform the parties of their right to request a contested case hearing before the Administrative Law Judge Division.

SECTION 12-60-2540. Contested case hearing; time for requesting following board's decision.

(A) Within thirty days after the date of the board's written decision, a property taxpayer or county assessor may appeal a property tax assessment made by the board by requesting a contested case hearing before the Administrative Law Judge Division in accordance with the rules of the Administrative Law Judge Division.

(B) If a taxpayer requests a contested case hearing before the Administrative Law Judge Division without exhausting his prehearing remedy because he failed to file a protest or attend the conference with the county board of assessment appeals, the Administrative Law Judge shall dismiss the action without prejudice. If the taxpayer failed to provide the county board with the facts, law, and other authority supporting his position, he shall provide the representative of the county at the hearing with the facts, law, and other authority he failed to present to the county board earlier. The Administrative Law Judge shall then remand the case to the county board for reconsideration in light of the new facts or issues unless the representative of the county at the hearing elects to forego the remand.

Upon remand the county board has thirty days, or a longer period ordered by the Administrative Law Judge, to consider the new facts and issues and amend its decision. The county board shall issue its amended decision in the same manner as the original. The taxpayer has thirty days after the date the county board's decision was mailed or delivered to the taxpayer to again request a contested case hearing. Requests for a hearing before the Administrative Law Judge Division must be made in accordance with its rules. If the county board fails to issue its amended decision within thirty days of the date of the remand, or a longer period ordered by the Administrative Law Judge, the taxpayer can again request a contested case hearing. At the new hearing the facts, law, and other authority presented at the original hearing must be deemed to have been presented in a timely manner for purposes of exhausting the taxpayer's prehearing remedy. The statute of limitations remains suspended by Section 12-54-85(G) during this process.

SECTION 12-60-2550. Payment of adjusted assessment if protest or appeal not concluded by December thirty-first of tax year; payment or refund of difference after final determination.

(A) If it is reasonably expected that the written protest or appeal will not be resolved by December thirty-first of the tax year, the county assessor shall notify the auditor to adjust the property tax assessment of the property under protest to eighty percent of the protested property tax assessment, or any valuation greater than eighty percent agreed to in writing by the taxpayer, and enter the adjusted property tax assessment on the tax duplicate. The tax must be paid as in other cases.

(B) After final review of the protest or appeal, if the property tax assessment is greater than the adjusted property tax assessment, a corrected property tax assessment must be made and entered. Interest determined in accordance with Section 12-54-25 must be collected in the same manner as the tax.

(C) After final review of the protest or appeal, if the property tax assessment is less than the adjusted property tax assessment, a corrected property tax assessment must be made and entered. The overpayment of tax must be refunded together with interest determined in accordance with Section 12-54-25.

(D) For purposes of this section the "final review of the protest or appeal" includes the final decision of the Administrative Law Judge Division or court with respect to the property tax assessment if the property tax assessment was heard by the Administrative Law Judge Division or appealed to a court as provided in this subarticle.

SECTION 12-60-2560. Filing claim for refund; contents.

(A) Subject to the limitations in Section 12-60-1750, and within the time limitation of Section 12-54-85(F), a property taxpayer may seek a refund of real property taxes assessed by the county assessor and paid, other than taxes paid on property the taxpayer claims is exempt, by filing a claim for refund with the county assessor who made the property tax assessment for the property for which the tax refund is sought.

The assessor, upon receipt of a claim for refund, shall immediately notify the county treasurer and the county auditor for the county from which the refund is sought. The majority of these three officials shall determine the taxpayer's refund, if any, and shall notify the taxpayer in writing of their decision.

(B) Within thirty days after the decision is mailed to the taxpayer on the claim for refund, a property taxpayer may appeal the decision to the county board of assessment appeals. The board may rule on any timely refund appeal relating to the correctness of the property tax assessment. Conferences conducted by the board are pursuant to the same rules and procedures provided in Section 12-60-2530 except that a taxpayer's denied claim for refund is considered the assessor's response to a protest of property tax assessment.

(C) Within thirty days after the board's decision is mailed to the taxpayer, a property taxpayer or county assessor may appeal the decision issued by the board by requesting a contested case hearing before the Administrative Law Judge Division. Requests for a hearing before the Administrative Law Judge Division must be made in accordance with its rules.

If a taxpayer requests a contested case hearing before the Administrative Law Judge Division without exhausting his prehearing remedy because he failed to file a claim for refund or attend the conference with the county board of assessment appeals, the Administrative Law Judge shall dismiss the action without prejudice. If the taxpayer failed to provide the county board with the facts, law, and other authority supporting his position, he shall provide the representative of the county at the hearing with the facts, law, and other authority he failed to present to the county board earlier. The Administrative Law Judge shall then remand the case to the county board for reconsideration in light of the new facts or issues unless the representative of the county at the hearing elects to forego the remand.

Upon remand the county board has thirty days, or a longer period ordered by the Administrative Law Judge, to consider the new facts and issues and amend its decision. The county board shall issue its amended decision in the same manner as the original. The taxpayer has thirty days after the date the county board's decision was mailed or delivered to the taxpayer to again request a contested case hearing. Requests for a hearing before the Administrative Law Judge Division must be made in accordance with its rules. If the county board fails to issue its amended decision within thirty days of the date of the remand, or a longer period ordered by the Administrative Law Judge, the taxpayer can again request a contested case hearing. At the new hearing the facts, law, and other authority presented at the original hearing must be deemed to have been presented in a timely manner for purposes of exhausting the taxpayer's prehearing remedy. The statute of limitations remains suspended by Section 12-54-85(G) during this process.



SECTION 12-60-2910. Request to meet with auditor regarding personal property tax assessment; written protest following conference; contents.

(A) A property taxpayer may object to a personal property tax assessment or a denial of a homestead exemption made by the county auditor by requesting, in writing, to meet with the auditor at any time on or before the later of:

(1) thirty days after the tax notice is mailed; or

(2) last day the tax levied upon the assessment may be timely paid.

(B) Within thirty days of the request for a meeting, or as soon thereafter as practical, the auditor shall schedule a conference with the taxpayer. If the matter is not resolved at the conference, the auditor shall advise the taxpayer of the right to protest and provide the taxpayer a form on which to file the protest. The taxpayer shall file with the auditor a written protest within thirty days after the date of the conference. The protest shall contain:

(1) the name, address, and phone number of the taxpayer;

(2) a copy of the tax notice or a description of the property including the receipt number of the tax notice;

(3) a statement of facts supporting the taxpayer's position;

(4) a statement outlining the reasons for the appeal, including any law or other authority upon which the taxpayer relies; and

(5) the value which the taxpayer considers the fair market value of the property.

The taxpayer may use the form provided by the auditor but is not required to use this form.

(C) The auditor shall respond to the written protest and the response must:

(1) be in writing;

(2) be mailed to the taxpayer by first class mail within thirty days of receipt of the taxpayer's protest or as soon thereafter as practical;

(3) if applicable, include a statement of the initial personal property tax assessment and the redetermined personal property tax assessment, including the recalculated fair market value;

(4) state that a recalculated personal property tax assessment will be made, or the auditor's decision on the homestead exemption will become final, if the taxpayer does not request a contested case hearing before the Administrative Law Judge Division; and

(5) inform the taxpayer of his right to request a contested case hearing before the Administrative Law Judge Division.

(D) The auditor may amend, modify, or rescind any property tax assessment, except claims relating to property tax exemptions, other than the homestead exemption.

(E) Each protest and each response must be filed and maintained at the office of the auditor for four years, and must be made available for examination and copying by any property taxpayer at the taxpayer's expense pursuant to Chapter 4 of Title 30, the Freedom of Information Act.

SECTION 12-60-2920. Contested case hearing following county auditor's response.

(A) Within thirty days after the date of the county auditor's response provided in Section 12-60-2910, a taxpayer may appeal a personal property tax assessment, or denial of a homestead exemption, by requesting a contested case hearing before the Administrative Law Judge Division in accordance with its rules.

(B) If a taxpayer requests a contested case hearing before the Administrative Law Judge Division without exhausting his prehearing remedy because he failed to file a protest or meet with the auditor, the Administrative Law Judge shall dismiss the action without prejudice. If the taxpayer failed to provide the auditor with the facts, law, and other authority supporting his position, he shall provide the representative of the county at the hearing with the facts, law, and other authority he failed to present to the auditor earlier. The Administrative Law Judge shall then remand the case to the auditor for reconsideration in light of the new facts or issues unless the representative of the county at the hearing elects to forego the remand.

Upon remand the auditor has thirty days, or a longer period ordered by the Administrative Law Judge, to consider the new facts and issues and amend its decision. The auditor shall issue his amended decision in the same manner as the original. The taxpayer has thirty days after the date the auditor's decision was mailed or delivered to the taxpayer to again request a contested case hearing. Requests for a hearing before the Administrative Law Judge Division must be made in accordance with its rules. If the auditor fails to issue its amended decision within thirty days of the date of the remand, or a longer period ordered by the Administrative Law Judge, the taxpayer can again request a contested case hearing. At the new hearing the facts, law, and other authority presented at the original hearing must be deemed to have been presented in a timely manner for purposes of exhausting the taxpayer's prehearing remedy. The statute of limitations remains suspended by Section 12-54-85(G) during this process.

SECTION 12-60-2930. Payment or refund following final review of protest.

(A) After final review of the protest, if the property tax assessment is greater than the adjusted property tax assessment, a corrected property tax assessment must be made and entered. Interest determined in accordance with Section 12-54-25 must be collected in the same manner as the tax.

(B) After final review of the protest, if the property tax assessment is less than the adjusted property tax assessment, a corrected property tax assessment must be made and entered. The overpayment of tax must be refunded together with interest determined in accordance with Section 12-54-25.

(C) For purposes of this section the "final review of the protest" includes the final decision of the Administrative Law Judge Division or court with respect to the property tax assessment if the property tax assessment was heard by the Administrative Law Judge Division or appealed to a court as provided in this subarticle.

SECTION 12-60-2940. Claim for refund of personal property tax; request for contested case hearing following denial of claim.

(A) Subject to the limitations in Section 12-60-1750, and within the time limitation of Section 12-54-85(F), a property taxpayer may seek a refund of property taxes assessed by the county auditor and paid, other than taxes paid on property the taxpayer claims is exempt unless the exemption is the homestead exemption, by filing a claim for refund with the county auditor who made the personal property tax assessment on the property for which the tax refund is sought. The auditor upon receipt of a claim for refund shall immediately notify the county treasurer and county assessor. A majority of these three officials shall determine the taxpayer's refund, if any, and shall notify the taxpayer in writing of their decision.

(B) A taxpayer may appeal the decision by requesting a contested case hearing before the Administrative Law Judge Division in accordance with its rules within thirty days of the written denial of the claim for refund.

(C) If a taxpayer requests a contested case hearing before the Administrative Law Judge Division without exhausting his prehearing remedy because he failed to file a claim for refund, the Administrative Law Judge shall dismiss the action without prejudice. If the taxpayer failed to provide the auditor with the facts, law, and other authority supporting his position, he shall provide the representative of the county at the hearing with the facts, law, and other authority he failed to present to the auditor earlier. The Administrative Law Judge shall then remand the case to the three county officials for reconsideration in light of the new facts or issues unless the representative of the county at the hearing elects to forego the remand.

Upon remand the three county officials have thirty days, or a longer period ordered by the Administrative Law Judge, to consider the new facts and issues and amend their decision. The three county officials shall issue their amended decision in the same manner as the original. The taxpayer has thirty days after the date the taxpayer was notified of the amended decision to again request a contested case hearing. Requests for a hearing before the Administrative Law Judge Division must be made in accordance with its rules. If the three county officials fail to issue their amended decision within thirty days of the date of the remand, or a longer period ordered by the Administrative Law Judge, the taxpayer can again request a contested case hearing. At the new hearing the facts, law, and other authority presented at the original hearing must be deemed to have been presented in a timely manner for purposes of exhausting the taxpayer's prehearing remedy. The statute of limitations remains suspended by Section 12-54-85(G) during this process.



SECTION 12-60-3310. Requesting contested case hearing.

A party permitted to request a contested case hearing with the Administrative Law Judge Division shall make his request and serve it on opposing parties in accordance with rules established by the Administrative Law Judge Division. A party requesting a contested case hearing before the DMV hearing officers, within the time set forth in this chapter, shall make the request in writing to the department representative.

SECTION 12-60-3320. Stipulation of facts and issues in contested cases.

In order to increase the efficiency and reduce the costs of contested cases, all parties to a contested case hearing, in good faith, shall do their best to stipulate the facts and issues upon which they can agree.

SECTION 12-60-3330. ALJ may request department's participation in property tax matters; department may intervene.

In view of the desirability of consistent property tax treatment throughout the State and of the department's oversight of county property tax matters, the Administrative Law Judge can request the participation of the department in any case before it which arose from a property tax assessed by a county assessor or county auditor, and the department may intervene at the Administrative Law Judge level in any case which arose from a property tax assessed by a county assessor or county auditor.

SECTION 12-60-3340. Contested case hearings; rules.

Contested case hearings must be without a jury and, except as otherwise provided by this chapter, must be held in accordance with Chapter 23 of Title 1. Contested case hearings held by the Administrative Law Judge Division must be heard in accordance with its rules.

SECTION 12-60-3350. Costs or disbursements are not allowed; exceptions.

In any action covered by this chapter, no costs or disbursements may be charged or allowed to either party, except for the service of process and the attendance of witnesses.

SECTION 12-60-3360. Decisions by DMV hearing officers and ALJ Division available to public.

The DMV hearing officers shall make available to the public copies of decisions made by them in actions covered by this chapter edited to delete medical or other confidential information. The Administrative Law Judge Division shall make its decisions available to the public in accordance with Section 1-23-600.

SECTION 12-60-3370. Bond required prior to appeal to circuit court.

Except as otherwise provided, a taxpayer shall pay, or post a bond for, all taxes, not including penalties or civil fines, determined to be due by the Administrative Law Judge before appealing the decision to the circuit court. For property tax cases covered by Section 12-60-2140 or 12-60-2550, the taxpayer need pay only the amount assessed pursuant to the appropriate section.

SECTION 12-60-3380. Appeal of decision to circuit court.

Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, a party may appeal a decision of the Administrative Law Judge Division or the DMV hearing officers to the circuit court in Richland County except that a resident of this State may elect to bring the action in the circuit court for the county of his residence. Appeals of Administrative Law Judge Division decisions must be made in accordance with Section 1-23-610(B). Appeals of DMV hearing officers must be made by filing a petition with the circuit court and serving the petition on the opposing parties not more than thirty days after the party received the decision and order of the judge or hearing officer.

SECTION 12-60-3390. Premature appeal to circuit court; dismissal without prejudice.

If a taxpayer brings an action covered by this chapter in circuit court, other than an appeal of an Administrative Law Judge decision or DMV hearing officer decision, the circuit court shall dismiss the case without prejudice.