Mississippi Code 1972 (2023) › Title 67 - ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES (§§ 67-1-1 — 67-11-11) › Chapter 1 - ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE CONTROL (§§ 67-1-1 — 67-1-211) › Article 1 - LOCAL OPTION ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE CONTROL (§§ 67-1-1 — 67-1-101) › Section 67-1-72 - Appeal to Board of Tax Appeals from certain actions of the Department of Revenue; notice of hearing; order

(1)
Except as otherwise provided in this article, any applicant or holder of a permit issued under this article which is aggrieved by an action of the Department of Revenue to deny his application for a permit, to deny the renewal of his permit or to revoke or suspend his permit shall be allowed to appeal to the Board of Tax Appeals from this action. This appeal is to be filed by the aggrieved person with the Executive Director of the Board of Tax Appeals, with a copy being sent to the Department of Revenue, within fifteen (15) days from the date that person received notice of the action of the department being aggrieved. If the person aggrieved fails to appeal within this fifteen-day period, the action of the Department of Revenue shall take effect as set out in the notice. The Department of Revenue retains the authority to change at any time the action aggrieved to in an appeal under this subsection. The applicant or holder of any permit issued under this article may waive his right to notice and opportunity to a hearing as provided by this subsection and agree to the action being taken by the department. The inability of the Department of Revenue to issue or renew a permit due to an incomplete application or due to the failure of the applicant to pay the annual privilege taxes and fees provided by Section
27-71-5
and/or the failure of the applicant to post or deposit the bond, cash or securities as required by Section
27-71-21
shall not constitute a denial for purposes of this subsection.
(2)
Any applicant for approval as a manager of an establishment operating under a permit issued under this article or who holds the designation of an approved manager of an establishment operating under a permit issued under this article and who is aggrieved by an action of the Department of Revenue to deny his application for approval as a manager or to revoke or suspend his designation as an approved manager shall be allowed to appeal to the Board of Tax Appeals from this action. This appeal is to be filed by the aggrieved person with the Executive Director of the Board of Tax Appeals, with a copy being sent to the Department of Revenue, within fifteen (15) days from the date that person received notice of the action of the department being aggrieved. If the person aggrieved fails to appeal within this fifteen-day period, the action of the Department of Revenue shall take effect as set out in the notice. The Department of Revenue retains the authority to change at any time the action aggrieved to in an appeal under this subsection. The applicant or holder of an approved manager designation may waive his right to notice and opportunity to a hearing as provided by this subsection and agree to the action being taken by the department. The inability of the Department of Revenue to consider an application for approval of an applicant as a manager due to an incomplete application shall not constitute a denial of the application for purposes of this subsection.
(3)
Any applicant for approval of an area or locality as a qualified resort area under this article who is aggrieved by the decision of the Department of Revenue to deny the qualified resort area as requested and any county or municipality wherein the proposed qualified resort area is located may appeal to the Board of Tax Appeals from such decision. This appeal is to be filed by the aggrieved applicant or by the affected county or municipality with the Executive Director of the Board of Tax Appeals, with a copy being sent to the Department of Revenue, within fifteen (15) days from the date that the person or entity filing the appeal received notice of the decision of the Department of Revenue to deny the qualified resort area. If an appeal is not filed within this fifteen-day period, the decision of the Department of Revenue shall become final. The Department of Revenue retains the authority to change at any time the decision aggrieved to in an appeal under this subsection. The inability of the Department of Revenue to consider an application for the approval of an area or locality as a qualified resort area due to an incomplete application shall not constitute a denial of that application for purposes of this subsection.
(4)
Any person, including any county or municipality in which the qualified resort area is located, who is aggrieved by the decision of the Department of Revenue to revoke the approval of an area or locality as a qualified resort area may appeal to the Board of Tax Appeals from such decision. This appeal is to be filed by the aggrieved person with the Executive Director of the Board of Tax Appeals, with a copy being sent to the Department of Revenue, within fifteen (15) days from the date that the person or entity filing the appeal received notice of the decision of the department to revoke approval of the qualified resort area. At the discretion of the Department of Revenue, in addition to any other notice to be provided under this subsection, the department may provide notice of its decision to revoke approval of the qualified resort area by publication in the same manner as provided by regulation when approval of a qualified resort area is sought. In regard to such publication, the fifteen-day period provided herein will begin on the date that notice is first published. If an appeal is not filed within this fifteen-day period, the decision of the Department of Revenue shall become final. The Department of Revenue retains the authority to change at any time the decision aggrieved to in an appeal under this subsection.
(5)
Any person objecting to an application for the issuance or transfer of a permit, other than a temporary retailer's permit, issued under this article and who timely requests in writing a hearing on his objection shall be given a hearing before the Board of Tax Appeals unless the permit is denied by the Department of Revenue and an appeal is not taken by the applicant to the Board of Tax Appeals from that denial or the applicant withdraws his application. Any written request for a hearing on an objection must be filed with the Department of Revenue within fifteen (15) days from the first date of publication of the notice of such application under Section
67-1-53
. If the department determines that the permit should be denied, notice will be provided to the applicant as set out in subsection (1) of this section, and if the applicant timely requests a hearing on the denial as provided by this subsection (5), the department will advise the Executive Director of the Board of Tax Appeals and the applicant of the written request for a hearing on an objection to the permit. The hearing on the objection to the permit and the hearing on the appeal by the applicant from the denial of the department of the application shall be consolidated and heard by the Board of Tax Appeals at the same time. If the department determines that the permit should be issued, the department will advise the applicant and the Executive Director of the Board of Tax Appeals of the timely written request for a hearing on an objection to the application and a hearing will be set before the Board of Tax Appeals on this objection. If prior to the hearing, either the person requesting the hearing withdraws his request or the applicant withdraws his application, the hearing will be cancelled and the objection proceedings before the Board of Tax Appeals on the application will be dismissed as moot. In the case of such withdrawals, the Board of Tax Appeals is authorized to assess to either or both parties any costs incurred by it prior to such withdrawal. The Department of Revenue retains authority to issue the permit to the applicant where the person objecting to the application withdraws his request for a hearing.
(6)
Any person objecting to an application for approval by the Department of Revenue of a area or locality as a qualified resort area under this article and who timely requests in writing a hearing on his objection shall be given a hearing before the Board of Tax Appeals unless approval of the application is denied by the Department of Revenue and an appeal is not taken by the applicant or the county or municipality in which the proposed qualified resort area is located to the Board of Tax Appeals from that denial or the applicant withdraws his application. Any written request for a hearing on an objection must be filed with the Department of Revenue within fifteen (15) days from the first date of publication of the notice of such application as provided by regulation. If the department determines that the application for approval of the proposed area or locality as a qualified resort area should be denied, the department will proceed with denial of such application as set out in subsection (3) of this section, and if the applicant or the county or municipality in which the proposed qualified resort area is located timely requests a hearing on the denial as provided by subsection (3) of this section, the department will advise the Executive Director of the Board of Tax Appeals and the applicant of the written request for a hearing on an objection to the application. The hearing on the objection to approval of the proposed qualified resort area and the hearing on the appeal from the denial of the department of the application for such approval shall be consolidated and heard by the Board of Tax Appeals at the same time. If the department determines that the proposed qualified resort area should be approved, the department will advise the applicant and the Executive Director of the Board of Tax Appeals of the timely written request for a hearing on an objection to the application and a hearing will be set before the Board of Tax Appeals on this objection. If prior to the hearing, either the person requesting the hearing withdraws his request or the applicant withdraws his application, the hearing will be cancelled and the objection proceedings before the Board of Tax Appeals on the application will be dismissed as moot. In the case of such withdrawals, the Board of Tax Appeals is authorized to assess to either or both parties any costs incurred by it prior to such withdrawal. The Department of Revenue retains authority to approve the proposed area or locality as a qualified resort area where the person objecting to the application withdraws his request for a hearing.
(7)
Any person having an interest in any alcoholic beverages, light wine, beer, light spirit products or raw materials which the Department of Revenue intends to dispose of under Section
67-1-18
shall be given reasonable notice of this proposed disposal, and upon such notice, this person may request a hearing before the Board of Tax Appeals to establish his right or claim to this property. This request for a hearing shall be filed with the Board of Tax Appeals, with a copy sent to the Department of Revenue, within fifteen (15) days from the date of receipt of the notice provided above by the person filing the request. If a request is not received by the Board of Tax Appeals within this fifteen-day period, the department may order the property disposed of in accordance with Section
67-1-18
.
(8)
Upon receipt of a written request for hearing or appeal as set out above, the executive director shall schedule a hearing before the Board of Tax Appeals on this request or appeal. A notice of the hearing shall be mailed to all persons or entities having an interest in the matter being heard which shall always include the person or entity filing the request or appeal for which the hearing is being set, the applicant or holder of any permit, approved manager status or qualified resort area status in issue, any person who filed a written request for a hearing on an objection to any application in issue and the Department of Revenue. This notice shall provide the date, time and location of the hearing. Mailing to the attorney representing a person or entity in the matter being heard shall be the same as mailing to the person or entity the attorney represents. Failure of the person or entity on whose request or appeal the matter was set for hearing to appear personally or through his designated representative at the hearing shall constitute an involuntary withdrawal of his request or appeal. Upon such withdrawal, the Board of Tax Appeals shall note on the record the failure of the person or entity to appear at the hearing and shall dismiss the request or appeal and remand the matter back to the Department of Revenue for appropriate action.
(9)
At any hearing before the Board of Tax Appeals on an appeal or hearing request as set out above, two (2) members of the Board of Tax Appeals shall constitute a quorum. At the hearing, the Board of Tax Appeals shall try the issues presented according to law and the facts and pursuant to any guidelines established by regulation. The rules of evidence shall be relaxed at the hearing and the hearing shall be recorded by a court reporter. After reaching a decision on the issues presented, the Board of Tax Appeals shall enter an order setting forth its findings and decision in the matter. A copy of the order of the Board of Tax Appeals shall be mailed to the person or entity filing the request or appeal which was heard, the applicant or holder of any permit, approved manager status or qualified resort area status in issue, any person who filed a written request for a hearing on an objection to any application in issue and the Department of Revenue to notify them of the findings and decision of the Board of Tax Appeals.
Laws, 2009, ch. 492, § 135; Laws, 2010, ch. 388, § 14, eff. 7/1/2010.
Amended by Laws, 2020, ch. 314, HB 917,§ 40, eff. 6/18/2020.
Amended by Laws, 2015, ch. 438, SB 2071, 3, eff. 4/13/2015.