Source: http://www.wvlegislature.gov/bill_status/bills_text.cfm?billdoc=SB401%20intr.htm&yr=2010&sesstype=RS&i=401
Timestamp: 2018-04-22 12:10:15
Document Index: 164341782

Matched Legal Cases: ['§11', '§11', '§11', '§11', '§11', '§11', '§11', '§11', '§11', '§11', '§11', '§11', '§11', '§11', '§11', '§11', '§11', '§11', '§11', '§11', '§11', '§11', '§11', '§11', '§11', '§11', '§11', '§11', '§11', '§11', '§11', '§18', '§11', '§11', '§11', '§11', '§11', '§11', '§11', '§11', '§11', '§11', '§11', '§11', '§11', '§11', '§11', '§11', '§11', '§11', '§11', '§11', '§11', '§11']

Introduced Version Senate Bill 401 History
SB401 intr
(By Senators McCabe, Wells, Prezioso, K. Facemyer, Boley, Plymale, Fanning, Minard, Edgell, Jenkins, Chafin and Foster)
[Introduced January 29, 2010; referred to the Committee on Finance.]
A BILL to amend and reenact §11-3-1, §11-3-2a, §11-3-10, §11-3-12, §11-3-15, §11-3-19, §11-3-24, §11-3-24a and §11-3-25 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended; to amend said code by adding thereto fourteen new sections, designated §11-3-15a, §11-3-15b, §11-3-15c, §11-3-15d, §11-3-15e, §11-3-15f, §11-3-15g, §11-3-15h, §11-3-15i, §11-3-23a, §11-3-24b, §11-3-25a, §11-3-32 and §11-3-33; to amend said code by adding thereto a new article, designated §11-6K-1, §11-6K-2, §11-6K-3, §11-6K-4, §11-6K-5, §11-6K-6, §11-6K-7 and §11-6K-8; and to amend and reenact §18-9A-12 of said code, all relating to taxation of real and personal property for ad valorem property tax purposes; defining and conforming terms used; making technical corrections in certain code sections to conform to prior acts of the Legislature; accelerating date for issuance of notices of increase in assessed value of real property; updating penalties for failure to file required property tax reports and returns; clarifying report and return filing requirements; accelerating due dates for filing reports and returns; assessment of property of limited liability companies; requiring assessors to notify owners of commercial business personal property of increases in assessed values for current assessment year by an established deadline; providing procedures for property owners to protest notices of assessed valuation and obtain appropriate adjustments from county assessors; providing for appeal of protested assessments to county board of equalization and review, board of assessment appeals and circuit court; providing for protest of classification or taxability to Tax Commissioner; specifying effective dates; providing methods for assessment of industrial property and natural resources property; establishing time and basis for assessments; providing for pertinent definitions; specifying form and manner of making returns; establishing criminal penalties for failure to file; providing for tentative appraisals by Tax Commissioner and notification to taxpayers; providing procedures for informal review of tentative appraisals; making of final appraisals; transmitting final appraisals to assessors; providing for appeals; authorizing reductions of assessments upon instruction of Tax Commissioner in certain circumstances; specifying effective dates; and holding harmless the local share for public school support for reductions in revenues resulting from decisions of a board of assessment appeals.
(a) All property, except public service businesses assessed pursuant to article six of this chapter, shall be assessed annually as of July 1 at sixty percent of its true and actual value, that is to say, at the price for which such the property would sell if voluntarily offered for sale by the owner thereof, upon such the terms as such the property, the value of which is sought to be ascertained, is usually sold, and not the price which might be realized if such the property were sold at a forced sale. except that
(b) Any conflicting provisions of subsection (a) of this section notwithstanding, the true and actual value of all property owned, used and occupied by the owner thereof exclusively for residential purposes shall be arrived at by giving primary, but not exclusive consideration to the fair and reasonable amount of income which the same might be expected to earn, under normal conditions in the locality wherein situated, if rented: Provided, That the true and actual value of all farms used, occupied and cultivated by their owners or bona fide tenants shall be arrived at according to the fair and reasonable value of the property for the purpose for which it is actually used regardless of what the value of the property would be if used for some other purpose; and that the true and actual value shall be arrived at by giving consideration to the fair and reasonable income which the same might be expected to earn under normal conditions in the locality wherein situated, if rented: Provided, however, That nothing herein shall alter the method of assessment of lands or minerals owned by domestic or foreign corporations.
(c) The taxes upon all property shall be paid by those who are the owners thereof on that day the assessment date whether it be assessed to them or others.
(d) If at any time after the beginning of the assessment year, it be ascertained by the Tax Commissioner that the assessor, or any of his or her deputies, is not complying with this provision or that he has they have failed, neglected or refused, or is failing, neglecting or refusing after five days' notice to list and assess all property therein at sixty percent of its true and actual value as determined under this chapter, the Tax Commissioner may order and direct a reassessment of any or all of the property in any county, district or municipality, where any assessor, or deputy, fails, neglects or refuses to assess the property in the manner herein provided. And, for the purpose of making such assessment and correction of values, the Tax Commissioner may appoint one or more special assessors, as necessity may require, to make such assessment in any such county and any such special assessor or assessors, as the case may be, shall have all has the power and authority now vested by law in assessors, and the work of such special assessor or assessors shall be accepted and treated for all purposes by the county boards of review and equalization and the levying bodies, subject to any revisions of value on appeal, as the true and lawful assessment of that year as to all property valued by him or her or them. The Tax Commissioner shall with the approval of the board of public works, fix the compensation of all such special assessors as may be designated by him appointed, which, together with their actual expenses, shall be paid out of the county fund by the county commission of the county in which any such assessment is ordered, upon the receipt of a certificate of the Tax Commissioner filed with the clerk of the county commission showing the amounts due and to whom payable, after such expenses have been audited by the county commission.
(e) Any assessor who knowingly fails, neglects or refuses to assess all the property of his or her county, as herein provided, shall be guilty of malfeasance in office and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined not less than $100 nor more than $500, or imprisoned in the county jail not less than three nor more than six months, or both, in the discretion of the court, and upon conviction, shall be removed from office.
(a) If the assessor determines the assessed valuation of any item of real property appraised by him or her is more than ten percent greater than the valuation assessed for that item in the last tax year, the increase is $1,000 or more and the increase is entered in the property books as provided in section nineteen of this article, the assessor shall give notice of the increase to the person assessed or the person controlling the property as provided in section two of this article. The notice shall be given at least fifteen days prior to the first meeting in February at which the county commission meets as the board of equalization and review for that on or before January 15 of the tax year and advise the person assessed or the person controlling the property of his or her right to appear and seek an adjustment in the assessment: Provided, That this notification requirement does not apply to industrial or natural resources property appraised by the Tax Commissioner under article six-k of this chapter which is assessed at sixty percent of its true and actual value. The notice shall be made by first-class United States postage mailed to the address of the person assessed or the person controlling the property for payment of tax on the item in the previous year, unless there was a general increase of the entire valuation in any one or more tax districts in which case the notice shall be by publication of the notice by a Class II-0 legal advertisement in compliance with the provisions of article three, chapter fifty-nine of this code. The area for the publication is the county. The requirement of notice under this section is satisfied and waived if personal notice of the increase is shown by:
(3) The person so assessed executing acknowledgment of the notice of the increase.
(b) During the initial reappraisal of all property under section seven, article one-c of this chapter, the Tax Commissioner and each county assessor shall send every person owning or controlling property appraised by the Tax Commissioner or the county assessor as the case may be a pamphlet which explains the reappraisal process and its equalization goal in a detailed yet informal manner. The property valuation training and procedures commission, created under section three, article one-c of this chapter, shall design the pamphlet for use in all counties while allowing individual county information to be included if it determines that the information would improve understanding of the process.
(a) If any person, firm or corporation, including public service corporations, whose duty it is by law to list any real estate or personal property for taxation, refuses to furnish a proper list thereof or refuses to list within the time required by law, or if any person, firm or corporation, including public service corporations, refuses to answer or answers falsely any question asked by the assessor or by the Tax Commissioner, or fails or refuses to deliver any statement required by law, he, she or it the person, firm or corporation may forfeit, at the discretion of the assessor or the Tax Commissioner for good cause shown, not less than $25 nor more than $100. If any person, firm or corporation willfully fails to furnish a proper list of real estate or personal property for taxation or refuses to answer or falsely answers any question asked by the assessor or by the Tax Commissioner, or fails or refuses to deliver any statement required by law, such person, firm or corporation shall be denied all remedy provided by law for the correction of any assessment made by the assessor or by the board of public works: Provided, That no person, firm or corporation shall be denied the remedy provided by law to contest any assessment unless the assessor or the Tax Commissioner has notified such person, firm or corporation in writing that this penalty will be asserted and the requested information is not provided within fifteen days of the date of receipt of such notice.
(b) If any person, firm or corporation, including public service corporations, required by law to make return of property for taxation, whether the return is to be made to the assessor, the board of Public Works, or any other assessing officer or body, fails to return a true list of all property which should be assessed in this state, including notes, bonds, bills and accounts receivable, stocks, and any other intangible personal property, the person, firm or corporation, in addition to all other penalties provided by law, shall forfeit one percent of the value of the property not yet returned and not otherwise taxed in this state.
(c) A forfeiture as to all property aforesaid may be enforced for any such default occurring in any year not exceeding five years immediately prior to the time the default is discovered. but no liability to penalty or forfeiture as to notes, bonds, bills and accounts receivable, stocks and other intangible personal property arising prior to the first day of January, one thousand nine hundred thirty-three, is enforceable on behalf of the state or of any of its subdivisions
(a) Each incorporated company, banking institution and national banking association, foreign or domestic, having its principal office or chief place of business in this state, owning property subject to taxation in this state, except railroad, telegraph and express companies, telephone companies, pipeline, car line companies and other public utility companies, shall annually, between the first day of the assessment year assessment date and October September 1, make a written report, verified by the oath of the president or chief accounting officer, to the assessor of the county in which its principal office or chief place of business is situated or in which such property subject to taxation in this state is located if such the corporation does not have a principal office or chief place of business in this state, showing the following items: viz (1) The amount of capital authorized to be employed by it; (2) the amount of cash capital paid on each share of stock; (3) the amount of credits and investments other than its own capital stock held by it on said date, with their fair market value; (4) The quantity, location and fair market value of all of its real estate, and tax district or districts in which it is located; and (5) (2) the kinds, quantity and fair market value of all its tangible personal property in each tax district in which it is located.
(b) The oath required for this section shall be substantially as follows: viz
I, ...................., president (treasurer or manager) of (here insert name of corporation), do solemnly swear (or affirm) that the foregoing is, to the best of my knowledge and judgment, true in all respects; that it contains a statement of all the real estate and tangible personal property including credits and investments belonging to said corporation; that the value affixed to such property is, in my opinion, its value, by which I mean the price at which it would sell if voluntarily offered for sale on such terms as are usually employed in selling such property, and not the price which might be realized at a forced or auction sale; and said corporation has not, to my knowledge, during the sixty-day period immediately prior to the first day of the assessment year assessment date converted any of its assets into nontaxable securities or notes or other evidence of indebtedness for the purposes of evading the assessment of taxes thereon; so help me, God.
The officer administering such the oath shall append thereto the following certificate: viz
Subscribed and sworn to before me by ............... this the .......... day of................., 19 20 ......
(c) The amendments to this section enacted in the year one thousand nine hundred ninety-seven 2010 shall be effective beginning for the tax year one thousand nine hundred ninety-eight and thereafter for assessment years beginning on and after January 1, 2011.
The value of the capital used by any individual or firm not incorporated, in any trade or business taxable by law, shall be ascertained in the following manner: The owner, agent or chief accountant of every such trade or business, except the business of agriculture, carried on in any county of the state, shall, annually, between the first day of the assessment year and November 1 of the current year, make a written report as of the first day of the assessment year, to the assessor, verified by his affidavit, showing the following matters and things, viz:
(a) (1) The amount, the true and actual value and classification of all tangible personal property used in connection with such the trade or business, otherwise other than such as is that regularly kept for sale therein, including chattels real and personal;
(b) (2) The true and actual value and classification of all goods and property kept for sale and remaining unsold; and
(c) the amount in value of all credits arising out of any such business and remaining unpaid on that date, whether due or not, and whether in or out of the state;
(d) the amount and true and actual value of all notes, bonds, bills, accounts receivable, stocks and other intangible property made by such person or firm whether in or out of the state, other than those hereinbefore specified;
(e) (3) The location, quantity, the true and actual value and classification of all real estate owned by such the individuals or firm and used in such the trade or business.
(b) The assessor shall, upon the receipt of such report, properly verified, if he the assessor is satisfied with the correctness thereof, enter the real estate in the land book of the county in the tax district wherein the same is situated and assess the same with taxes, if not otherwise assessed, to the owner thereof: Provided, That the personal property mentioned in such the report he shall enter be entered in the personal property book of his the county for assessment with taxes as follows: viz Items (a) (1) and (b) (2) shall be entered in the tax districts where they are for the greater part of the year kept or located; and items (c), (d) and item (3) shall be entered under their appropriate headings in the municipality or tax district wherein the principal place of business of such individual or firm is property is located. and
(c) If the assessor is not satisfied with the correctness of such the report, he the assessor may proceed to ascertain a correct list of the property on which such the individual or firm is liable to be assessed with taxes, and to value the same as in other cases.
(d) The person making such the report shall take and subscribe an oath in substantially the following form:
I, .................., do solemnly swear (or affirm) that the foregoing list is true and correct to the best of my knowledge; that the value affixed to the property therein listed I believe to be the true and actual value thereof; that none of the assets belonging to (here state the name of individual or firm) and used in the business of (here describe the business) have to my knowledge, since the first day of the assessment year assessment date, been converted into nontaxable securities for the purpose of evading the assessment of taxes thereon; so help me, God.
The officer administering said the oath shall append thereto the following certificate: viz
Subscribed and sworn to before me by (here insert affiant's name) this ........... day of ..................., 19 20 ......
Limited liability companies that elect to be treated as a corporation for federal income tax purposes shall make and file the report required of corporations in section twelve of this article. Limited liability companies treated as a partnership for federal income tax purposes shall make and file the report required of partnerships in section fifteen of this article. A limited liability company that elects to be treated as a disregarded entity for federal income tax purposes shall be treated as a disregarded entity under this article and its owner shall make and file the report required by section twelve or section fifteen of this article depending upon whether the owner is a corporation, a firm or an individual.
The assessor shall complete his the assessment and make up his the assessor's official copy of the land and personal property books in time to submit the same to the board of equalization and review not later than February 1 of the assessment tax year. The assessor shall, as soon as practicable after the levy is laid, extend the levies on the land and personal property books, and shall forthwith make three copies of the land books and two copies of the personal property books with the levies extended. One of such the copies of the land books he shall deliver be delivered to the sheriff not later than June 7; one copy he shall deliver be delivered to the clerk of the county court commission not later than July 1; and one copy he shall send be sent to the State Auditor not later than July 1. and One of such the copies of the personal property books he shall deliver be delivered to the sheriff and one copy shall be delivered to the clerk of the county court commission on or before the same date fixed above for the delivery of the land books. and such The copies so delivered shall be official records of the respective officers. He The assessor may require the written receipt of each of such the officers for such the copy. Before delivering any of such the copies the assessor shall make and subscribe the following oath at the foot of each of them:
Subscribed and sworn to before me, a ..................... for the County of ..................... and State of West Virginia, by ..............., assessor for said county, this the ...... day of .........., 19 20 ......
(2) A taxpayer may apply for relief to the county commission sitting as a board of equalization and review pursuant to section twenty-four of this article not later than February 20 of the tax year by filing a written protest with the clerk of the county commission that identifies the amount of the assessed value the taxpayer believes to be in controversy and states generally the taxpayer's reason or reasons for filing the protest. The board shall then set a date and time to hear the taxpayer's protest: Provided, That in the written protest or in a separate notice filed with the board on or before the day of the hearing, the taxpayer or taxpayer's representative may notify the board of the taxpayer's election to have the matter heard when the county commission convenes as a board of assessment appeals in the fall of the tax year as provided in section twenty-four-b of this article. A copy of this election shall be served on the assessor, and the Tax Commissioner in the case of industrial property or natural resources property, by personal service or by certified mail. The notice of election shall include an acknowledgment by the taxpayer that taxpayer will timely pay first and second half installment payments of taxes levied for the current tax year on or before they become due and that any reduction in assessed value that is administratively or judicially determined in a decision that becomes final will result in a credit being established against taxes that become due for a tax year subsequent to the tax year in which the decision becomes final, except as otherwise stated in the decision or as otherwise provided in this article. In the event the board adjourns sine die before February 20 of the tax year, a taxpayer may still file its written protest and the acknowledgment described in this subdivision with the county clerk on or before February 20 of the tax year, and the petition shall be heard when the county commission meets as a board of assessment appeals, as provided in section twenty-four-b of this article. If a taxpayer fails to provide its written protest on or before February 20, and the board unilaterally increases the assessed value subsequent to that date, the taxpayer may still file a written protest and the acknowledgment described in this subdivision with the county clerk, and the petition shall be heard when the county commission meets as a board of assessment appeals as provided in section twenty-four-b of this article.
(a) The county commission shall annually, not later than February 1 of the tax year, meet as a board of equalization and review for the purpose of reviewing and equalizing the assessment made by the assessor. It The board shall not adjourn for longer than three business days at a time, not including a Saturday, Sunday or legal holiday in this state, until this work is completed. and shall not remain in session for a longer period than twenty-eight days and shall not adjourn sine die before the fifteenth day of February The board may adjourn sine die anytime after February 15 of the tax year and shall adjourn sine die not later than the last day of February of the tax year.
(b) At the first meeting of the board, the assessor shall submit the property books for the current year, which shall be complete in every particular, except that the levies shall not be extended. The assessor and his the assessor's assistants shall attend and render every assistance possible in connection with the value of property assessed by them.
(c) The commission board shall proceed to examine and review the property books, and shall add on the books the names of persons, the value of personal property and the description and value of real estate liable to assessment which was omitted by the assessor. They The board shall correct all errors in the names of persons, in the description and valuation of property, and they shall cause to be done whatever else may be necessary to make the valuation assessed valuations comply with the provisions of this chapter. But in no case shall any question of classification or taxability be considered or reviewed by the board.
(d) If the commission determine board determines that any property or interest is assessed at more or less than sixty percent of its true and actual value as determined under this chapter, it shall fix it at the sixty percent of its true and actual value: But Provided, That no assessment shall be increased without giving the property owner taxpayer at least five days' notice, in writing, and signed by the president of the commission, of the intention to make the increase and no assessment shall be greater than sixty percent of the true and actual value of the property.
(e) Service of notice of the increase upon the property owner taxpayer shall be sufficient, or upon his or her agent or attorney, if served in person, or if sent by registered or certified mail to such the property owner, his or her agent, or attorney, at the last known place of abode mailing address of the person as shown in the records of the assessor or the tax records of the county sheriff. If he such person cannot be not found and have has no last known place of abode mailing address, then notice shall be given by publication thereof as a Class I legal advertisement in compliance with the provisions of article three, chapter fifty-nine of this code and the publication area for such publication shall be the county. The date of the publication shall be at least five days, not including a Saturday, Sunday or legal holiday in this state, prior to the day the board acts on the increase. When it is desired the board intends to increase the entire valuation in any one tax district by a general increase, notice shall be given by publication thereof as a Class II-0 legal advertisement in compliance with the provisions of article three, chapter fifty-nine of this code and the publication area for such publication shall be the county. The date of the last publication shall be at least five days, not including a Saturday, Sunday or legal holiday in this state, prior to the meeting at which the increase in valuation is acted on by the board. When an increase is made, the same valuation shall not again be changed unless notice is again given as heretofore provided.
The clerk of the county commission shall publish notice of the time, place and general purpose of the meeting as a Class II legal advertisement in compliance with the provisions of article three, chapter fifty-nine of this code and the publication area for such publication shall be the county. involved The expense of publication shall be paid out of the county treasury.
(h) If any person fails to apply for relief at this meeting, he or she shall have waived his the right to ask for correction in his the assessment list for the current year, and shall not thereafter be permitted to question the correctness of his the list as finally fixed by the county commission board, except on appeal to the circuit court or as otherwise provided in this article.
(i) After the county commission board completes the review and equalization of the property books, a majority of the commission board shall sign a statement that it is the completed assessment of the county for the tax year. Then the property books shall be delivered to the assessor and the levies extended as provided by law.
(a) At any time after property is returned for taxation, and up to and including the time the property books are before the county court for county commission sitting as a board of equalization and review, any taxpayer may apply to the assessor for information regarding the classification and taxability of his the taxpayer's property. In case the taxpayer is dissatisfied with the classification of property assessed to him the taxpayer or believes that such the property is exempt or otherwise not subject to taxation, he the taxpayer shall file his objections in writing with the assessor. The assessor shall decide the question by either sustaining the protest and making proper corrections, or by stating, in writing if requested, the reasons for his refusal to grant the protest.
(b) The assessor may, and if the taxpayer requests, the assessor shall, certify the question to the State Tax Commissioner in a statement sworn to by both parties, or if the parties are unable to agree, in separate sworn statements, giving a full description of the property and any other information which the Tax Commissioner may require. The Tax Commissioner shall prescribe forms on which the aforesaid question shall be certified and the Tax Commissioner shall have the authority to pursue any inquiry and procure any information which may be necessary for the disposition of the issue.
(c) The Tax Commissioner shall, as soon as possible on receipt of the question, but in no case later than February 28 of the assessment year, instruct the assessor as to how the property shall be treated. The instructions issued and forwarded by mail to the assessor shall be binding upon him the assessor, but either the assessor or the taxpayer may apply to the circuit court of the county within thirty days after receiving written notice of the Tax Commissioner's ruling, for the review of the question of classification and or taxability in the same fashion as is provided for appeals from the county court commission sitting as a board of equalization and review in section twenty-five of this article. The Tax Commissioner shall prescribe forms on which the aforesaid questions shall be certified, and he shall have the authority to pursue any inquiry and procure any information which may be necessary for the disposition of the issue.
(b) The board shall set a date and time for hearing each protest filed on of before February 20 of the tax year, as provided in section twenty-three-a of this article, and for which the taxpayer elected to have the matter heard by the board of assessment appeals: Provided, That the commission may, prior to October 1, begin developing such a hearing schedule for such hearings to commence on or after October 1. The board may in its discretion grant one or more continuances of the hearing date. The board shall grant a continuance when the continuance is agreed to by the assessor and the taxpayer. When the hearing involves industrial property or natural resources property appraised by the Tax Commissioner, the board shall grant continuances of hearing dates and otherwise work with the Tax Commissioner to develop a hearing schedule that recognizes the limitations of state resources and the fact that the Tax Commissioner is responsible for appraising industrial properties and natural resource properties in all fifty- five counties.
(c) The board may approve an agreement signed by the taxpayer or taxpayer's representative and the assessor, and by a representative of the Tax Commissioner when the property is industrial property or natural resource property, that resolves a valuation matter while the land and personal property books are before the board for equalization and review.
(d) The board shall issue its order within a reasonable time after the record for the hearing is closed and all required briefs have been submitted.
(e) Any party to the hearing may appeal the order of the board in the manner provided in section twenty-five of this article for appealing an order of the board of equalization and review.
(f) In the event the order of the board reduces an assessed value in an order that becomes final, the county clerk shall certify copies of the order to the Auditor, sheriff and assessor, and to the Tax Commissioner if the property is industrial property or natural resources property. The assessor shall make a correction in the property books for the next assessment year in accordance with the order. The taxpayer shall be entitled to a credit voucher to be applied against future taxes as provided in this article. When endorsed by the taxpayer, the voucher shall be sufficient to entitle the sheriff to a credit for so much of his or her settlement which he or she is required to make.
(g) The board of assessment appeals shall meet as often as necessary until the work of the board is completed: Provided, That the board shall adjourn sine die not later than October 31 of the tax year unless the board, by majority vote, agrees to extend such term beyond such date if necessary to afford the parties due process and to complete its work, after which it shall adjourn sine die.
(a) Any person claiming to be aggrieved by any assessment in any land or personal property book of any county who shall have appeared and contested the valuation as provided in section twenty-four or twenty-four-a of this article, or whose assessment has been raised by the county court commission sitting as a board of equalization and review above the assessment fixed by the assessor or who contested the classification or taxability of his property may, at any time up to thirty days after the adjournment of the county court board sitting as a board of equalization and review, or at anytime up to thirty days after the order of the board of assessment appeals is served on the parties, apply for relief to the circuit court of the county in which such the property books are made out; but he any person applying for relief in circuit court shall, before any such application is heard, give ten days' notice to the prosecuting attorney of the county, whose duty it shall be to attend to the interests of the state, county and district in the matter, and the prosecuting attorney shall give at least five days' notice of such hearing to the Tax Commissioner.
(b) The right of appeal from any assessment by the county court board of equalization and review or order of the board of assessment appeals as hereinbefore provided in this section, may be taken either by the applicant or by the state, and in case the applicant, by his or her agent or attorney, or the state, by its prosecuting attorney or Tax Commissioner, desires to take an appeal from the decision of the county court either board, the party desiring to take such an appeal shall have the evidence taken at the hearing of the application before the county court either board, including a transcript of all testimony and all papers, motions, documents, evidence and records as were before the board, certified by the county clerk and transmitted to the circuit court as provided in section four, article three, chapter fifty-eight of this code, except that, any other provision of this code notwithstanding, the evidence shall be certified and transmitted within thirty days after the petition for appeal is filed with the court or judge, in vacation.
(c) If there was an appearance by or on behalf of the owner taxpayer before the county court either board, or if actual notice, certified by such court the board, was given to the owner taxpayer, the appeal, when allowed by the court or judge, in vacation, shall be determined from the evidence by the court from the record as so certified: Provided, That in cases where the court determines that the record made before the board is inadequate as a result of the parties having had insufficient time to present evidence at the hearing before the board to make a proper record, as a result of the parties having received insufficient notice of changes in the assessed value of the property and the reason or reasons for the changes to make a proper record at the hearing before the board, as a result of irregularities in the procedures followed at the hearing before the board, or for any other reason not involving the negligence of the party alleging that the record is inadequate, the court may remand the appeal back to the county commission of the county in which the property is located, even after the county commission has adjourned sine die as a board of equalization and review or a board of assessment appeals for the tax year in which the appeal arose, for the purpose of developing an adequate record upon which the appeal can be decided. The county commission shall schedule a hearing for the purpose of taking additional evidence at any time within ninety days of the remand order that is convenient for the county commission and for the parties to the appeal. If, however, there was no actual notice to such owner the taxpayer, and no appearance by or on behalf of the owner taxpayer before the county court board, or if a question of classification or taxability is presented, the matter shall be heard de novo by the circuit court.
(d) If, upon the hearing of such appeal, it is determined that any property has been valued assessed at more than sixty percent of its true and actual value determined as provided in this chapter, or illegally classified or assessed, the circuit court shall, by an order entered of record, correct the assessment, and fix the assessed value of the property at sixty percent of its true and actual value. A copy of such the order or orders entered by the circuit court reducing the valuation shall be certified to the Auditor, if the order or orders pertain to real property, by the clerk within twenty days after the entering of the same, and every order or judgment shall show that the prosecuting attorney or Tax Commissioner was present and defended the interest of the state, county and district. If it be ascertained that any property has been valued too high, and that the owner taxpayer has paid the excess tax, it shall be refunded or credited to him the taxpayer in accordance with the provisions of section twenty-five-a of this article, and if not paid, he or she shall be relieved from the payment thereof. If it is ascertained that any property is valued too low, the circuit court shall, by an order entered of record, correct the valuation and fix it at sixty percent of its true and actual value. A copy of any order entered by any circuit court increasing the valuation of property shall be certified within twenty days, if the order pertains to real property, to the Auditor, the county clerk and the sheriff. However, if the order pertains only to personal property, then the copy shall be certified within twenty days to the county clerk and to the sheriff and it shall be the duty of the Auditor, the county clerk and the sheriff to charge the taxpayer affected with the increase of taxes occasioned by the increase of valuation by applying the rate of levies for every purpose in the district where such the property is situated for the current year. The order shall also be filed in the office of the Auditor and clerk of the county court commission. Any order disposing of a question of classification or taxability shall be similarly prepared, certified and filed, and the increase or decrease of taxes resulting shall be treated as provided above for changes in valuation. The circuit court shall review the record submitted from the board. If the court determines that the record is adequate, it shall establish a briefing and argument schedule that will result in the appeal being submitted to the court for decision within a reasonable time, but not to exceed eight months after the appeal is filed. All final decisions or orders of the circuit court shall be issued within a reasonable time, not to exceed ninety days, from the date the last brief is filed and the case is submitted to the court for decision. The state or the aggrieved taxpayer may appeal a question of valuation to the Supreme Court of Appeals if the assessed value of the property is $50,000 or more, and either party may appeal a question of classification or taxability.
(b) In the event the order of a court becomes final and the order results in an overpayment of taxes levied for the tax year that have been paid to the sheriff, the amount of the overpayment shall be refunded to the taxpayer if the overpayment is $25,000 or less within thirty days after the time for appealing the decision or order expires or, if the decision or order is appealed, within thirty days of the date the appeals court turns down the appeal: Provided, That, if the taxpayer's protest before the county commission below was heard pursuant to the provisions of section twenty-four-b of this article, the refund shall be paid pursuant to the provisions of that section. If the overpayment is more than $25,000, a credit in the amount of the overpayment shall be established by the county sheriff and allowed as a credit against taxes owed for up to the following two tax years: Provided, That the county commission may elect to refund the amount of overpayment rather than having a credit established as provided in this section: Provided however, That if any portion of the overpayment remains unused after the date on which taxes payable for the second half of the second tax year following the tax year of the overpayment become delinquent, that portion shall be refunded to taxpayer by the county sheriff no later than thirty days after that date or thirty days from the date that the circuit court order becomes final, whichever date occurs later. Whenever an overpayment is refunded or credited under this section, the county shall pay interest at rate established in section seventeen and seventeen-a, article ten of this chapter for overpayments of taxes collected by the Tax Commissioner, which interest shall be computed from the date the overpayment was received by the sheriff to the date of the refund check or the date the credit is actually taken against taxes that become due after the order of the court becomes final.
Unless specified otherwise in this article, all amendments to this article adopted in the year 2010 shall apply to the assessment years beginning on or after January 1, 2011.
The Tax Commissioner is hereby authorized to promulgate emergency rules and such other rules in accordance with the provisions of article three, chapter twenty nine-a of this code as may be necessary or convenient for administration and interpretation of this article.
(b) If required by the Tax Commissioner, all owners or operators of natural resources property shall, on or before May 1 preceding the July 1 assessment date, make a return to the Tax Commissioner and, if requested in writing by the assessor of the county where situated, to the county assessor, at a time and in the form specified by the Tax Commissioner, of all natural resources property owned by them. Tax returns required to be filed pursuant to this section may be filed electronically in the discretion of the Tax Commissioner. The Tax Commissioner may require the filing of all information which would be useful in valuing the property covered by the returns. Upon written application by the taxpayer filed prior to the due date of any return required to be filed by this section, the Tax Commissioner may for reasonable cause shown grant an extension of no more than one month in the due date of any return.
(c) If required by the Tax Commissioner, all owners or operators of industrial property shall, on or before August 1 of the assessment year, make a return to the Tax Commissioner and, if requested in writing by the assessor of the county where situated, to the county assessor, at a time and in the form specified by the Tax Commissioner, of all industrial property owned by them. Tax returns required to be filed pursuant to this section may be filed electronically in the discretion of the Tax Commissioner. The Tax Commissioner may require the filing of all information which would be useful in valuing the property covered by the returns. Upon written application by the taxpayer filed prior to the due date of any return required to be filed by this section, the Tax Commissioner may for reasonable cause shown grant an extension of no more than one month in the due date of any return.
(a) All returns required to be made to the Tax Commissioner under this article shall be made in conformity with any reasonable requirements of the Tax Commissioner of which the person making the return shall have had notice, and shall be made upon forms prescribed by the Tax Commissioner who is invested with full power and authority to prescribe the forms as will be required from any owner, operator or producer that may be of use to the Tax Commissioner in determining the true and actual value of the properties of the owners, operators or producers.
(a) All returns delivered to the Tax Commissioner shall be examined by him or her, and if found insufficient in form or in any respect defective, imperfect or not in compliance with law, he or she shall compel the person required to make it to do so in proper and sufficient form and in all respects as required by law.
(c) For the purposes of ascertaining the correctness of any return filed pursuant to this article and/or of valuing the property of any industrial taxpayer or natural resources property owner or operator, the Tax Commissioner may exercise all of the powers and authority granted to him or her by sections five-a, five-b and five- c, article ten of this chapter.
(e) On or before October 15 of the assessment year, the Tax Commissioner shall complete the preparation of tentative appraisals of all industrial property and natural resources property and shall notify the owner or operator affected thereby of the amount of such tentative appraisals: Provided, That no notification shall be required where the total increase in the aggregate amount of such tentative appraisals to the owner or operator affected thereby does not exceed $1,000 and the total tentative appraisals did not increase by more that ten percent from the prior year's appraisals. Notification may, at the reasonable discretion of the Tax Commissioner, be: (1) By written notice deposited in the United States mail, addressed to the owner or operator at the principal office or place of business of the owner or operator; (2) by electronic notification; or (3) by any other means designed to communicate the tentative appraisal information to the owner or operator in a timely and efficient manner and in a convenient useable form. Any notice required to be provided under this section to an owner or operator shall also be provided by the Tax Commissioner to the assessor of the county in which the property is located. The Tax Commissioner shall retain in his or her office true copies of tentative appraisals and of the underlying work sheets used to compute the tentative appraisals, all of which shall be available for inspection by any owner or operator or his or her duly authorized representative.
(a) A taxpayer who is of the opinion that the tentative appraisal of its industrial property or natural resources property does not reflect the true and actual value of the property or is otherwise improperly valued may, after receiving its tentative appraisal and on or before November 15 of the assessment year, informally petition the Tax Commissioner requesting a review of the tentative appraisal. Likewise, an assessor who is of the opinion that the tentative appraisal of any industrial property or natural resources property located in the county does not reflect the true and actual value of the property or is otherwise improperly valued may, after receiving the tentative appraisal and on or before November 15 of the assessment year, informally petition the Tax Commissioner requesting a review of the tentative appraisal. The Tax Commissioner may require the petition be made on a written form prescribed by the Tax Commissioner. At the time a petition is filed by a taxpayer with the Tax Commissioner, the petitioner shall provide a copy of the petition to the assessor of the county in which the property is located. At the time a petition is filed by an assessor with the Tax Commissioner, the petitioner shall provide a copy of the petition to the taxpayer involved.
(b) At the petitioner's request, the Tax Commissioner or his or her representative shall meet with the petitioner and/or the petitioner's representative, if any, to discuss the petition at a time and place designated at least five working days in advance by the Tax Commissioner after the petition is filed. If the petitioner is unable to appear and meet with the Tax Commissioner at the time and place set by the Tax Commissioner, the petitioner may submit written evidence to support the petition if it is submitted before the date of the meeting.
(c) Any taxpayer claiming to be aggrieved by any assessment made pursuant to this article may appeal the assessment as provided under the provisions of article three of this chapter: Provided, That if the assessment exceeds sixty percent of the final appraisal by the Tax Commissioner, the taxpayer may notify the Tax Commissioner in writing of this error, whereupon the Tax Commissioner shall, if such error is confirmed by the Tax Commissioner, instruct the assessor in writing to lower the assessment to sixty percent of the final appraisal. The assessor shall, upon receipt of such instruction from the Tax Commissioner, lower the assessment as required.
The provisions of this article enacted in the year 2010 shall be effective for the tax year 2012 and thereafter.
NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to reform and modernize procedures and time frames for assessments of real and personal property, notices of assessments, and appeals of assessments. It provides special provisions for assessment of industrial and natural resources property. The bill establishes the local board of assessment appeals to meet in the fall of the tax year to which taxpayers may appeal as an alternative to the board of equalization and review which meets in February of the tax year. It authorizes a circuit court, upon an appeal from a board of equalization and review or a board of assessment appeals, to remand the case back to such board if the court finds the record below is inadequate.
§11-3-15a, §11-3-15b, §11-3-15c, §11-3-15d, §11-3-15e, §11-3-15f, §11-3-15g, §11-3-15h, §11-3-15i, §11-3-23a, §11-3-24b, §11-3-25a, §11-3-32, §11-3-33, §11-6K-1, §11-6K-2, §11-6K-3, §11-6K- 4, §11-6K-5, §11-6K-6, §11-6K-7, and §11-6K-8 are new; therefore, strike-throughs and underscoring have been omitted.