As Amended
SEC. 27-7-51. Additional taxes or refunds.
(1) If, upon examination of a return made under the provisions of this article, it appears that the correct amount of tax is greater or less than that shown in the return, the tax shall be recomputed. Any overpayment of tax so determined shall be credited or refunded to the taxpayer. If the correct amount of tax is greater than that shown in the return of the taxpayer, the commissioner shall make his assessment of additional tax due by certified mail or by personal delivery of the assessment to the taxpayer, which assessment shall constitute notice and demand for payment. The taxpayer shall be given a period of thirty (30) days after receipt of notice in which to pay the additional tax due, including penalty and interest as hereinafter provided, and if said sum is not paid within the period of thirty (30) days, the commissioner shall proceed to collect same under the provisions of Sections 27-7-55 to 27-7-67, provided that within said period of thirty (30) days the taxpayer may appeal as set out in Sections 27-7-71 and 27-7-73.
(2) In the case of an overpayment of tax, interest shall be computed under the provisions of Section 27-7-315. In the case of an underpayment of tax, interest at the rate of one percent (1%) per month from the due date of the return may be added or assessed in addition to the additional tax due as hereinabove provided in subsection (1).
(3) In case of failure to pay any additional taxes as assessed under this section, unless it is shown that such failure is due to reasonable cause and not due to willful neglect, there may be added to the additional amount assessed a penalty of one-half of one percent (1/2 of 1%) of the amount of the additional tax if the failure is for not more than one (1) month, with an additional one-half of one percent (1/2 of 1%) for each additional month or fraction thereof during which the failure continues, not to exceed twenty-five percent (25%) in the aggregate.
(4) Where the reported net income of a taxpayer is increased by the Internal Revenue Service, a taxpayer who, without action by the commissioner, amends a return filed under this article on the basis of a change in taxable income made by the Internal Revenue Service, and pays the additional tax due thereon within thirty (30) days after agreeing to the federal change (and has received statement of the federal changes to which agreement has been made or payment thereof), shall add interest to the additional tax at the rate of one percent (1%) per month from due date of the original return. If the additional tax, based on changes in taxable income by the Internal Revenue Service, is assessed by the commissioner under subsection (1) of this section, in addition to the interest there may be added a penalty of one-half of one percent (1/2 of 1%) of the additional tax due if the failure is for not more than one (1) month, with an additional one-half of one percent (1/2 of 1%) for each additional month or fraction thereof during which the failure to pay continues, not to exceed twenty-five percent (25%) in the aggregate, unless it is shown that the failure is due to reasonable cause and not due to willful neglect.
(5) In the case of a taxpayer who files a bond as provided by Section 27-13-45 in lieu of payment of the additional tax found to be due by the State Tax Commission, and such tax assessment or a part thereof is upheld by the chancery court and/or the Supreme Court, such assessment shall bear interest at the rate of one percent (1%) per month from the due date until paid.
Nothing in this section shall be construed as authorizing a refund of taxes for claims pursuant to the United States Supreme Court decision of Davis v. Michigan Department of Treasury, 109 S.Ct. 1500 (1989). These taxes were not incorrectly and/or erroneously collected as contemplated by this chapter.
In the event a court of final jurisdiction determines the above provision to be void for any reason, it is hereby declared the intent of the Legislature that affected taxpayers shall be allowed a credit against future income tax liability as opposed to a tax refund.
SOURCES: Codes, 1942, Sec. 9220-25.1; Laws, 1971, ch. 512, Sec. 2; 1978, ch. 341, Sec. 1; 1979, ch. 427, Sec. 5; 1984, ch. 447, Sec. 2; 1988, ch. 391, Sec. 5; 1990, ch. 523, Sec. 6; 1991, ch. 524, Sec. 7; Laws, 2002, ch. 414, § 1, HB 1417, eff from and after passage (approved Mar. 19, 2002.).
PREVIOUS VERSIONS: Pre-2002.