Req. No. 254 Page 1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 STATE OF OKLAHOMA 1st Session of the 59th Legislature (2023) SENATE BILL 601 By: Rader AS INTRODUCED An Act relating to uniform tax procedure; amen ding 68 O.S. 2021, Sections 221, 226, 227, as amended by Section 1, Chapter 114, O.S.L. 2022, and 231 (68 O.S. Supp. 2022, Section 227), which relate to failure to make report or return , action to recover taxes as additional remedy, refund of erroneous payments, and tax warrants; modifying the st art date for certain deadlines to the date i ndicated on certain notice or assessment; requiring certain warrant to be filed by electronic means; and providing an effective date . BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA: SECTION 1. AMENDATORY 68 O.S. 202 1, Section 221, is amended to read as follows: Section 221. A. If any taxpayer shall fail to make any report or return as required by any state tax law, the Oklahoma Tax Commission, from any information in i ts possession or obtainable by it, may determine the correct amount of tax for the taxable period. If a report or return has been filed, the Tax Commission shall examine such report or return and make such audit or investigation as it may deem necessary. If, in cases where no report or return has been filed, the Tax Commission determines that there is a tax Req. No. 254 Page 2 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 due for the taxable period, or if, in cases where a report or return has been filed, the Tax Commission shall determine that the tax disclosed by such report or return is less than the tax disclose d by its examination, it shall in writing propose the assessment of taxes or additional taxes, as the case may be, and shall mail a copy of the proposed assessment to the taxpayer at the taxpayer ’s last-known address. Proposed assessments made in the name of the “Oklahoma Tax Commission” by its authorized agents shall be considered as the action of the Tax Commission. B. Any assessment, correction or adjustment made as a result of an office audit shall be pre sumed to be the result of an audit of the report or return only, and such office audit shall not be deemed a verification of any item in the report or return unless the item shall have been made the subject of a hearing before the Tax Commission, and the c orrectness and amount of such item determined at such hearing; and such office audit shall not preclude the Tax Commission from subsequently making further adjustment, correction or assessment as a result of a field audit of the books and records of the taxpayer, wherever located, or upon disclosures f rom any source other than the return. In cases where no report or return has been filed, the assessment of the tax on any information available shall in no event preclude the assessment at any time on subsequently disclosed information. Req. No. 254 Page 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 C. Within sixty (60) days after the mailing of date indicated on the aforesaid proposed assessment, the taxpayer may file with the Tax Commission a written protest under oath, signed by the taxpayer or the taxpayer’s duly authorized agent, setting out therein: 1. A statement of the amount of deficiency as d etermined by the Tax Commission, the nature of the tax and the amount thereof in controversy; 2. A clear and concise assignment of each error alleged to have been committed by the Tax Commission; 3. The argument and le gal authority upon which each assign ment of error is made; provided, that the applicant shall not be bound or restricted in such hearing, or on appeal, to the arguments and legal authorities contained and cite d in the application; 4. A statement of relief sought by the taxpayer; and 5. A verification by the taxpayer or the taxpayer ’s duly authorized agent that the statements and facts contained therein are true. D. If in such written protest the taxpayer sha ll request an oral hearing, the Tax Commission shall grant such hearing, and shall, by written notice, advise the taxpayer of a date, which shall not be less than ten (10) days from the date of mailing of such written notice, when such taxpayer may appear before the Tax Commission and present arguments and evidence, oral or written, in support of the protest. Hearings shall be held as soon as Req. No. 254 Page 4 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 practicable. In the event an oral hearing is not requested, the Tax Commission shall proceed without further notic e to examine into the merits of the protest and enter an order in accordance with i ts findings. Upon request of any taxpayer and upon proper showing that the principle of law involved in the assessment of any tax is already pending before the courts for j udicial determination, the taxpayer, upon agree ment to abide by the decision of the court, may pay the tax so assessed under protest and such protest shall be resolved in accordance with the agreement to abide. E. If the taxpayer fails to file a written p rotest within the sixty-day period herein provided for or within the period as extended by the Tax Commission, or if the taxpayer fails to file the notice required by Section 226 of this title within thirty (30) days from the date of mailing of an indicated on the proposed assessment, then the proposed assessment, without further action of the Tax Commission, shall become final and absolute . A taxpayer who fails to file a protest to an assessment of taxes within the time period prescribed by this section m ay, within one (1) year of the date the assessment becomes final, request the Tax Commission to adjust or abate the assessment if the taxpayer can demonstrate, by a preponderance of the evidence, that the assessment or some portion thereof is clearly erron eous. If the Tax Commission determines that the proper showing has been made, the assessment or portion ther eof determined to be clearly erroneous shall be deemed not to have Req. No. 254 Page 5 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 become final and absolute. No hearing to adjust or abate a clearly erroneous assessment may be granted after the Tax Commissio n’s denial of such a request. An order of the Tax Commission denying a taxpayer’s request to adjust or abate an assessment alleged to be clearly erroneous is not an appealable order under Section 225 of this title. No proceeding instituted by the Tax Com mission to collect a tax liability may be stayed because of a request made by a taxpayer to adjust or abate an assessment alleged to be clearly erroneous. F. The Tax Commission may in its discretion extend th e time for filing a protest for any period of t ime not to exceed an additional ninety (90) days. Any extensi on granted shall not extend the period of time within which the notice required by Section 226 of this title may be filed. G. Within a reasonable time after the hearing herein provided for, the Tax Commission shall make and enter an order in writing in which it shall set forth the disposition made of the protest and a copy of such order shall forthwith be mailed to the taxpayer. The order shall contain findings of fact and conclusions of law. After removing the identity of the taxpayer, the Tax Commissio n shall make the order available for public inspection and shall publish those orders the Tax Commission deems to be of precedential value. The taxpayer may within the time and in the manner pr ovided for by Section 225 of this title, appeal to the Supreme Court, but in the Req. No. 254 Page 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 event the taxpayer fails to so proceed, the order shall within thirty (30) days from the date a certified copy thereof is mailed to the taxpayer, become final. The provisions of Section 226 of this title shall not apply where a proposed assessment or an assessment of taxes has been permitted to become final. H. In all instances where the proposed assessment or the assessment of taxes or additional taxes has been permitted to become final, a certified copy of the assessment may be filed in the office of the county clerk of any county in this state, and upon being so filed, the county clerk shall enter same upon the judgment docket in the same manner as provided for in connectio n with judgments of district courts. When an assessment is so filed and docketed, it shall have the same force and be subject to the same law as a judgment of the district court, and accordingly it shall cons titute a lien on any real estate of the taxpaye r located in the county wherein filed; and execution may issue and proceedings in aid of execution may be had the same as on judgments of district courts. Such lien is hereby released and extinguished upon th e payment of such assessment, or, except as oth erwise provided herein, upon the expiration of ten (10) years after the date upon which the assessment was filed in the office of the county clerk; provided, the Tax Commission may, prior to the release and ex tinguishment of such lien, refile the assessmen t one time in the office of the county clerk. An assessment s o refiled shall continue the lien Req. No. 254 Page 7 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 until payment of the assessment, or upon the expiration of ten (10) years after the date upon which the assessmen t was refiled in the office of the county clerk . The remedies provided in this subsection shall be in additi on to other remedies provided by law. All active liens evidenced by an assessment filed with a county clerk’s office prior to November 1, 1989, sh all be released and extinguished if the assessm ent is not refiled prior to November 1, 2001. I. In order to make more definite the intention of the Legislature in connection with the applicability or lack of applicability of the refund provisions of the t ax statutes to those treating with proposed ass essments and assessments that have become final, the Legislatu re being cognizant of the fact that such intent has been questioned, it is declared to be the intent of the Legislature that the refund provisions shall be without application to taxes where the amount thereof has been determined by an assessment, other th an an assessment designated as an “office audit”, that has become final. SECTION 2. AMENDATORY 68 O.S. 2021, Section 226, is amended to read as follows: Section 226. (a) A. In addition to the right to a protest of a proposed assessment as authorized by Section 221 of this title, a right of action is hereby created to afford a remedy to a taxpa yer aggrieved by the provision s of this article or of any other state Req. No. 254 Page 8 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 tax law, or who resists the collection of or the enforcement of the rules or regulations of the Tax Commission relating to the collection of any state tax; however, such remedy shall be limited as prescribed by subse ction (c) C of this section. (b) B. Within thirty (30) days from the date of mailing to the taxpayer of indicated on an assessment for taxes or additional taxes pursuant to Section 221 of this title by the Tax Commission, any such taxpayer shall pay the tax to the Tax Commission, and at the time of making such payment shall give notice to the Tax Commission of his intention to file suit for recovery of such tax. The taxpayer shall not be required to file suit within such thirty -day period in order to prosecute an action as authorized by this section; however, failure to file such suit within one (1) year from the date of mailing of the assessment shall result in the assessment becoming final and absolute. If the taxpayer prevails the Tax Commission shall, by cash voucher drawn by the Tax Commission up on its official depository clearing account or special refund reserve account with the State Treasurer, refund to the taxpayer the amount of tax determined not to be due pursuant to the final judgm ent of the court having jurisdiction, together with interes t on such amount at the rate applicable to money judgments in civil cases from the date of payment by the taxpayer to the date of the refund by the Tax Commission. The refunds paid shall be payab le as provided in Section 225(d). If the taxpayer prevails and the court determines Req. No. 254 Page 9 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 that the position of the Tax Commission in the proceeding was not substantially justified, the court shall award the taxpayer a judgment for reasonable attorney fees, reas onable expenses of expert witnesses in connection with the proceeding and reasonable costs of any study, analysis, engineering report, test , or project which is found by the court to be necessary for the preparation of the taxpayer’s case. (c) C. This section shall afford a legal remedy and right of action in any state or federal court having jurisdiction of the parties and the subject matter. It shall be construed to provide a legal remedy in the state or federal courts by action at law only in cases where the taxes complained of are claimed to be an unlawful burden on interstate commerce, or the collection thereof violative of any Congressional Act or provision of the Federal Constitution, or in cases where jurisdiction is vested in any of the Courts of the United States. In all actions brought hereunder servic e of process upon the Chairman of the Tax Commission shall be sufficient service, and the Tax Commission shall be the sole, necessary and proper party defendant in any such suit, and the State Treasure r shall not be a necessary or proper party thereto. (d) D. Upon request of any taxpayer and upon proper showing that the principle of law involved in the assessment of any tax is already pending before the courts for judicial determination, the Req. No. 254 Page 10 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 taxpayer, upon agreement to abide by the decision of the court, m ay pay the tax so assessed under protest, but need not file a suit. SECTION 3. AMENDATORY 68 O.S. 2021, Section 227, as amended by Section 1, Chapter 114, O.S.L. 2022 (68 O.S. Supp. 20 22, Section 227), is amended to read as follow s: Section 227. A. Except as provided in subsection B of Section 1361.2 and subsection D of Section 1364.1 of this title, any taxpayer who has paid to the State of Oklahoma, thr ough error of fact, or computation, or misinterpretation of law, any tax collected by the Tax Commission may, as he reinafter provided, be refunded the amount of such tax so erroneously paid, w ithout interest. B. 1. Except as otherwise provided by paragra ph 2 of this subsection, any taxpayer who has so paid any such tax may, within three (3) years from the date of pay ment thereof file with the Tax Commission a verified claim for refund of suc h tax so erroneously paid. The Tax Commission may accept an amen ded withholding tax o r other report or return as a verifi ed claim for refund if the amended report or return establ ishes a liability less than the original report or return previously filed. 2. Upon August 26, 2016, with respect to the sales tax imposed by Section 1354 of thi s title and with respect to the use tax imposed by Section 1402 of this title, any taxpayer wh o has so paid such sales or use tax may, within two (2) years from the date of payment thereof file with the Tax Commission a verified claim for Req. No. 254 Page 11 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 refund of such tax so erroneously paid. The Tax Commission may accept an amended sales or use tax report or re turn as a verified claim for refund if the amended report or return establi shes a liability less than the original report or return previousl y filed. C. The claim so filed with the Tax Commission, except for an amended report or return, shall specify the name of the taxpayer, the time when and period for which the tax was paid, the nature and kind of tax so paid, the amount of the tax which th e taxpayer claimed was erroneously paid, the grounds upon which a refund is sought, and such other information or d ata relative to such payment as may be necessary to an adjustment thereof by the Tax Commission. It shall be the duty of the Commission to d etermine what amount of refund, if any, is due as soon as practicable after such claim has been filed and advise th e taxpayer about the correctness of his claim and the claim for refund sha ll be approved or denied by written notice to the taxpayer. D. If the claim for refund is denied, the taxpayer may file a demand for hearing with the Commission. The demand for hearing must be filed on or before the sixtieth day after the date indicated on the notice of denial was mailed. If the taxpayer fails to file a demand for hearing, the claim for refund shall be barred. E. Upon the taxpayer’s timely filing of a demand for hearing, the Commission shall set a date for hearing upon the claim for refund which date shall not be later than sixty (60) days from the Req. No. 254 Page 12 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 date the demand for hearing was mailed. The taxpayer shall be notified of the time and place of the hearing . The hearing may be held after the sixty-day period provided by this subsection upon agreement of the taxpayer. F. The provisions of this section shall not apply : 1. To refunds of income tax erroneously paid, refunds of which tax shall be payable out of the income tax adjust ment fund as provided by law; 2. To estate tax because the payment o f such tax is covered by an order of the Tax Commission and the estate and interested parties are given notice that Commission ’s position and computation of the tax will become final unle ss they protest and resist the payment thereof as provided by statute ; nor 3. In any case where the tax was paid after an assessment thereof was made by the T ax Commission which assessment became final under the law. SECTION 4. AMENDATORY 68 O.S. 2021, Section 231, is amended to read as follows: Section 231. A. If any tax, imposed or levied by any state tax law, or any portion of suc h tax, is not paid before the same becomes delinquent, the Oklahoma Tax Commission may immediately issue a warrant under its official seal. A tax warrant directed to the sheriff of any county of the state shall command the sheriff to levy upon and sell without any appraisement or valuation any real o r Req. No. 254 Page 13 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 personal property of the taxpayer found within the county for the payment of the delinquent tax, interest , and penalties, and the cost of executing the warrant, and to return such warrant to the Tax Commission, and to pay to it any monies collected by vi rtue thereof, by a time to be therein specified, not more than sixty (60) days from the date of the warrant. B. The Tax Commission shall, immediately upon issuance of the warrant, file with the county clerk of the county for which the warrant was issued a copy thereof, and thereupon the county clerk shall record and index such warrant in the same manner as judgments using the name of the taxpayer named in the warrant, a short name for the tax, the amount of the tax or portion thereof, and interest and penalties for which the warrant was issued, and the date and time when such copy was filed. The Tax Commission may shall file the warrant in the appropriate office of the county clerk by electronic means. The filing of the warrant in the office of the county clerk of the county, shall constitute and be evidence and notice of the state’s lien upon any interest in any real property of the taxpayer against whom such warrant is issued, until such tax, penalty and interest accruing thereon is paid. Such lien shal l be in addition to any and all other liens existing in favor of the state to secure the payment of the unpaid tax, penalty, interest , and costs, and such lien shall be paramount and superior to all other liens of whatsoever kind or cha racter, attaching to any of Req. No. 254 Page 14 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 said property subsequent to the date and time of such filing and shall be in addition to any lien provided by Section 234 of this title. The Tax Commission shall, immediately upon issuance of the warrant, mail, by regular mail, a copy of the warrant to the last- known address of the delinquent taxpayer. Such lien is hereby released and extinguished upon the payment of such tax, penalty, interest, and costs, or, except as otherwise provided herein, upon the expiration of ten (10) years after the date upon which the warrant was filed with the county clerk; provided, the Tax Commission may, prior to the release and extinguishment of such lien, refile the warrant in the office of the county clerk. A warrant so refiled shall continue the lien until payment of the tax, penalty, interest, and costs, or upon the expiration of ten (10) years after the date upon which the warrant was refiled and indexed by the county clerk. All active liens evidenced by a warrant filed with a county clerk’s office prior to November 1, 1989, shall be released and extinguished if the warrant is not refiled prior to November 1, 2001. C. Except as otherwise provided in subsection D of this section, the Tax Commission shall forward th e filed warrant to the sheriff of the county in which the warrant was filed. Upon receipt of the warrant, such sheriff shall thereupon proceed to execute the tax warrant in the same manner prescribed by law for executions against property upon judgment of a court of record; and such Req. No. 254 Page 15 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 sheriff shall execute and deliver to the purchaser a bill of sale or deed, as the case may be. D. The Tax Commission shall not direct or forward to the sheriff of any county any tax warrant issued pursuant to collection by the Tax Commission. The Tax Co mmission shall promulgate rules pertaining to tax warrants issued under this section. E. The Tax Commission may levy upon and sell without any appraisement or valuation any real or personal property of any taxpayer identified b y a filed tax warrant. The Tax Commission may execute the tax warrant in the same manner prescribed by law for executions against property upon judgment of a court of record and may execute and deliver to the purchaser a bill of sale or deed, as the case may be. F. Any purchaser, o ther than the State of Oklahoma, shall be entitled, upon application to the court having jurisdiction of the property, to have confirmation, the procedure for which shall be the same as is now provided for the confirmation of a sale of property under execution, of such sale prior to the issuance of a bill of sale or deed. The State of Oklahoma shall be authorized to make bids at any such sale to the amount of tax, penalty , and costs accrued. In the event such bid is successful, the sheriff shall issue proper muniment of title to the Tax Commission which shall hold such title for the use and benefit of the State of Oklahoma; and any taxpayer, or transferee of such taxpayer, shall have the Req. No. 254 Page 16 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 right, at any time within one (1) year fr om the date of such sale, to redeem such property, upon the payment of all taxes, penalties and costs accrued to the date of redemption. Such applicant shall not be entitled to a credit upon such taxes, penalties , and costs, by reason of revenue that migh t have accrued to the State of Oklahoma or other purchaser under sale, prior to such redemption. After the expiration of the period of redemption herein provided, the Tax Commission acting for the State of Oklahoma may sell such property at public auction , upon giving thirty (30) days ’ notice, published in a newspaper of general circulation in the county where such property is located, to the highest and best bidder for cash; and upon a sale had thereof, or when a redemption is made, the Tax Commission, for and on behalf of the State o f Oklahoma, shall issue its bill of sale or quit claim deed, as the case may be, to the successful bidder or to the redemptioner. Such muniment of title shall be executed by the Tax Commission, and attested by its secretary, with the seal of the Tax Commi ssion affixed. The sheriff shall be entitled to the same fee for services in executing the warrant, as the sheriff would be entitled to receive if he or she were executing an execution issued by the court clerk of the county upon a judgment of a court of record. G. If any sheriff shall refuse or neglect to levy upon and sell any real or personal property of any taxpayer as directed by any warrant issued by the Tax Commission, or shall refuse or neglect, on Req. No. 254 Page 17 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 demand, to pay over to the Tax Commission, its ag ents or attorneys, all monies collected or received under any warrant issued by the Tax Commission, at any time after collecting or receiving the same, such sheriff or other officer shall, upon motion of the Tax Commission in court, and after thirty (30) d ays’ notice thereof, in writing, be amerced in the amount for which any such warrant was issued by the Tax Commission, together with all penalties and costs and with an additional penalty of ten percent (10%) thereon, to and f or the use of the State of Oklahoma. Every surety of any sheriff or officer shall be made a party to the judgment rendered as aforesaid against the sheriff or other officer. H. The Tax Commission may expend funds from the Oklahoma Tax Commission Fund in the State Treasury to reimburs e the sheriff for travel and administrative costs actually and necessarily incurred while performing duties required by this section. Such costs shall be assessed against the delinquent taxpayer, shall be added to the amount necessary to satisfy the tax w arrant, and upon collection thereof shall be deposited in the Oklahoma Tax Commission Fund. I. A tax warrant issued and filed under authority of this section shall: 1. Constitute and be evidence and notice of the state ’s lien upon real property; and Req. No. 254 Page 18 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 2. Not be subject to the provisions of any dormancy statute which would limit the enforceability, effect , or operation of the lien, except as otherwise provided in this section. J. After July 1, 1993, the Tax Commission shall no t issue any certificates of indebtedness pursuant to the provisions of Section 230 of this title. K. When a tax warrant has been issued and filed as provided in this section, the Tax Commission shall have all of the remedies and may take all of the procee dings thereon for the collectio n thereof which may be had or taken upon a judgment of the district court. SECTION 5. This act shall become effective November 1, 2023. 59-1-254 QD 1/17/2023 7:13:15 PM