Corpus

MCA Chapter 3

MCA Chapter 3
in effect

Miss. Code Ann. § 27-3-1 Department of Revenue created; Commissioner of Revenue; term; qualifications; bond; removal from office.

There is hereby created a Department of Revenue, the head of which shall be the Commissioner of Revenue, who shall be appointed by the Governor, with the advice and consent of the Senate. Each term of office of the Commissioner of Revenue shall be for six (6) years, or until his successor shall be appointed and qualified. The Governor shall include in his appointment, the expiration date of the appointment. Vacancies shall be filled by the Governor for the unexpired portion of the term in which the vacancy occurs. The Commissioner of Revenue shall be a qualified elector, shall have at least a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university, and shall possess a special knowledge of taxation and revenue as pertaining to the State of Mississippi. The Commissioner of Revenue shall be full time and shall not be actively engaged in any other business or occupation. The Commissioner of Revenue shall, before entering upon the discharge of the duties of his office, take and subscribe to the oath of office prescribed by the Constitution, shall file the oath in the Office of the Secretary of State, and shall execute a bond in some surety company authorized to do business in the state, to be approved by the Governor, and filed in the Office of the Secretary of State in the penal sum of Two Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($250,000.00), conditioned for the faithful and impartial discharge of the duties of his office. The premium on the bond shall be paid as provided by law out of funds appropriated to the Department of Revenue. The Commissioner of Revenue is not subject to removal from office other than by impeachment or by removal from office as provided for under Section 25-5-1, except that in addition to impeachment and removal, the Commissioner of Revenue may also be removed from office for a criminal conviction for violating the Internal Revenue Code.

Miss. Code Ann. § 27-3-2 Name of proposed commissioner to be submitted to senate for advice and consent; chairman of State Tax Commission to serve as Commissioner of Revenue until person appointed by governor has been appointed and qualified.

No person appointed by the Governor as Commissioner of Revenue under the terms of Section 27-3-1 shall be eligible to take office unless his name shall have been submitted to the Mississippi Senate for its advice and consent at least thirty (30) days prior to the scheduled adjournment of the regular session of the Legislature being held in the calendar year in which the term of the office of the incumbent shall expire. As to the appointment of the Commissioner of Revenue under Section 27-3-1 for the term that begins on July 1, 2010, and expires on June 30, 2016, for purposes of subsection (1) of this section, the Chairman of the State Tax Commission whose term expires on June 30, 2010, shall be deemed to be the incumbent of this position and shall serve as the Commissioner of Revenue until the person appointed by the Governor to fill this term has been appointed and qualified. If for any reason an appointment by the Governor under Section 27-3-1 is not given the advice and consent of the Mississippi Senate prior to the adjournment of such regular session, the Governor may submit another appointment at any time to the Mississippi Senate for its advice and consent at a regular or extraordinary session of the Legislature. The prohibition contained in subsection (1) of this section shall not apply when a vacancy shall occur by death or resignation of the incumbent.

Miss. Code Ann. § 27-3-3 Commissioner of Revenue of Department of Revenue to be executive officer.

The Commissioner of Revenue of the Department of Revenue shall be the executive officer of the Department of Revenue. He shall have the power and authority to perform all duties and powers prescribed by the laws of this state to be performed by the Chairman of the State Tax Commission, the Commissioner of Revenue, the State Tax Commission or the Department of Revenue. The commissioner shall have the power and authority to enforce all rules and regulations promulgated by him, the Chairman of the State Tax Commission or the State Tax Commission.

Miss. Code Ann. § 27-3-4 Transfer of powers, duties and functions of State Tax Commission and Chairman of the State Tax Commission to Commissioner of Revenue acting through the Department of Revenue.

Except for the duties and powers devolved upon the Board of Tax Appeals by Section 27-4-3, the Commissioner of Revenue acting through the Department of Revenue shall on and after July 1, 2010, exercise those powers, duties and functions heretofore vested in the Mississippi State Tax Commission, the State Tax Commission, the Tax Commission, the Commissioner of Revenue, the Chairman of the Mississippi State Tax Commission, the Chairman of the State Tax Commission and/or the Chairman of the Tax Commission. Except for those minutes, orders and records of the three-member State Tax Commission which are in the possession of the Secretary of the State Tax Commission and any other property which is transferred from the State Tax Commission to the Board of Tax Appeals, all files, documents, records, property, tangible and intangible, data and funds belonging to and/or in the possession of the State Tax Commission immediately prior to July 1, 2010 shall pass to the Department of Revenue on July 1, 2010, without the need of the execution of any documents. In regard to such files, documents, records, property, data and funds, the creation of the Department of Revenue on July 1, 2010, shall be treated as only a change in the name of the entity owning or possessing such files, documents, records, property, data and funds from that of the State Tax Commission to the Commissioner of Revenue of the Department of Revenue with ownership, possession and custody remaining in the same entity. In regard to any action taken by the Chairman of the State Tax Commission and/or by the State Tax Commission prior to July 1, 2010, the creation of the Department of Revenue and the transfer of powers, duties and functions to the Commissioner of Revenue of the Department of Revenue from the Chairman of the State Tax Commission and from the State Tax Commission as set out in subsection (1) of this section shall be treated as only a change in the name of the entity taking such action from the Chairman of the State Tax Commission to the Commissioner of Revenue of the Department of Revenue or from the State Tax Commission to the Department of Revenue, and the Commissioner of Revenue acting through the Department of Revenue shall succeed to any right, duty or obligation as the result of such action and shall be treated as the same entity that took such action without the execution and/or filing of any document. Any action taken by the Commissioner of Revenue, including those taken by and through the Department of Revenue, after July 1, 2010, in regard to any interest, right, duty or obligation arising from the actions of the Chairman of the State Tax Commission and/or the State Tax Commission prior to July 1, 2010, shall be taken in the name of the Commissioner of Revenue of the Department of Revenue or in the name of the Department of Revenue and be treated as an action by the official or entity which originally took the action that gave rise to such interest, right, duty or obligation, including, but not limited to, any interest, right or obligation arising from the execution or performance of a contract or agreement, the issuance of a tax assessment, the issuance of a tax lien, the issuance and execution of a distress warrant and the issuance of a notice to extend the time period for issuing a tax assessment. In regard to the promulgation and adoption of any rule or regulation by the State Tax Commission and/or the Chairman of the State Tax Commission prior to July 1, 2010, the creation of the Department of Revenue and the transfer of powers, duties and functions to the Commissioner of Revenue of the Department of Revenue from the State Tax Commission and Chairman of the State Tax Commission as set out in subsection (1) of this section shall be treated as only a change in the name of the official or agency that adopted and promulgated such rules and regulations from the Chairman of the State Tax Commission or the State Tax Commission to the Commissioner of Revenue of the Department of Revenue, and after July 1, 2010, the Commissioner of Revenue of the Department of Revenue is authorized and empowered to enforce such rules or regulations as the official or agency that originally adopted and promulgated such rules and regulations without having to readopt or re-promulgate such rules and regulations. In such rules and regulations, after July 1, 2010, any reference to Mississippi State Tax Commission, the State Tax Commission, the Tax Commission and/or commission shall mean Department of Revenue and any reference to the Commissioner of Revenue, the Chairman of the Mississippi State Tax Commission, the Chairman of the State Tax Commission, the Chairman of the Tax Commission and/or chairman shall mean Commissioner of Revenue of the Department of Revenue. The terms “Mississippi State Tax Commission,” “State Tax Commission,” “Tax Commission” and “commission” appearing in the laws of this state in connection with the performance of the duties and functions by the Mississippi State Tax Commission, the State Tax Commission or Tax Commission shall mean the Department of Revenue, and, more particularly, such words or terms shall mean the Department of Revenue whenever they appear in Sections 7-5-25, 7-7-49, 9-21-51, 11-51-77, 13-3-157, 13-3-169, 17-17-53, 17-17-219, 17-17-327, 17-17-415, 17-17-423, 19-2-11, 19-5-357, 19-9-151, 21-29-229, 21-29-233, 21-33-3, 21-33-5, 21-33-9, 21-33-13, 21-33-43, 21-33-45, 21-33-47, 21-33-205, 21-33-207, 21-33-209, 21-45-21, 25-1-73, 25-1-87, 25-3-1, 25-3-3, 25-3-15, 25-15-9, 25-17-9, 25-53-151, 25-55-15, 25-58-21, 25-60-1, 25-65-5, 25-65-7, 27-5-101, 27-5-103, 27-5-155, 27-5-159, 27-7-901, 27-7-903, 27-8-19, 27-17-423, 27-19-11, 27-19-27, 27-19-31, 27-19-39, 27-19-40, 27-19-41, 27-21-7, 27-21-19, 27-31-1, 27-31-31, 27-31-37, 27-31-38, 27-31-87, 27-31-101, 27-31-107, 27-31-109, 27-31-113, 27-35-15, 27-35-17, 27-35-19, 27-35-23, 27-35-25, 27-35-35, 27-35-50, 27-35-55, 27-35-75, 27-35-77, 27-35-81, 27-35-97, 27-35-111, 27-35-119, 27-35-123, 27-35-127, 27-35-131, 27-35-133, 27-35-135, 27-35-141, 27-35-143, 27-35-145, 27-35-147, 27-35-165, 27-35-167, 27-35-301, 27-35-303, 27-35-305, 27-35-307, 27-35-310, 27-35-313, 27-35-321, 27-35-327, 27-35-337, 27-35-509, 27-35-511, 27-35-513, 27-35-515, 27-35-519, 27-35-525, 27-35-527, 27-35-531, 27-37-19, 27-37-21, 27-37-23, 27-37-27, 27-37-29, 27-37-31, 27-37-301, 27-37-303, 27-38-5, 27-38-7, 27-39-317, 27-39-319, 27-39-325, 27-39-329, 27-41-21, 27-41-37, 27-41-101, 27-45-21, 27-51-13, 27-51-15, 27-51-17, 27-51-21, 27-71-501, 27-71-503, 27-71-507, 27-73-9, 27-75-16, 27-103-209, 27-103-211, 27-104-13, 27-104-17, 27-107-75, 27-107-95, 27-107-115, 27-107-135, 27-107-157, 27-107-205, 27-107-321, 29-1-125, 29-1-127, 29-1-129, 29-5-77, 31-1-1, 31-3-21, 31-17-3, 31-19-29, 31-25-27, 31-25-28, 31-31-11, 37-7-301, 37-107-3, 41-3-16, 41-29-177, 41-29-181, 43-1-23, 43-13-121, 43-13-145, 43-13-303, 43-19-46, 45-3-21, 45-11-5, 49-7-251, 49-7-255, 49-15-36, 49-15-64, 49-15-201, 49-15-205, 49-17-65, 49-17-67, 49-17-69, 49-17-70, 49-17-83, 49-17-87, 49-17-407, 49-31-5, 51-15-129, 57-1-257, 57-1-363, 57-4-13, 57-10-409, 57-10-411, 57-10-413, 57-13-23, 57-26-3, 57-28-3, 57-30-3, 57-39-205, 57-43-11, 57-61-15, 57-62-3, 57-62-9, 57-62-11, 57-62-13, 57-62-15, 57-67-17, 57-73-21, 57-73-23, 57-73-25, 57-73-27, 57-75-17, 57-80-9, 57-89-7, 57-91-9, 57-99-3, 57-99-7, 57-99-9, 57-101-1, 57-101-3, 57-105-1, 61-15-1, 61-15-7, 61-15-9, 61-15-13, 63-2-5, 63-5-34, 63-5-39, 63-7-61, 63-7-87, 63-7-311, 63-11-51, 63-11-53, 63-17-76, 63-23-7, 63-25-9, 65-1-46, 65-26-23, 65-26-17, 65-26-19, 65-39-35, 67-9-1, 69-9-13, 69-10-13, 69-29-1, 69-44-11, 69-48-13, 71-5-359, 71-5-389, 71-11-3, 75-24-209, 75-57-119, 75-79-7, 75-85-9, 77-3-87, 77-7-47, 77-9-483, 77-9-493, 77-11-201, 79-4-14.22, 79-4-15.32, 79-11-351, 79-15-125, 79-16-23, 83-1-13, 83-1-27, 83-1-29, 83-1-31, 83-1-37, 83-1-39, 83-5-215, 83-31-45, 83-34-39, 83-47-9, 83-49-45, 91-7-283, 93-11-153, 97-3-111, 97-17-4, 97-32-5, 97-33-73, 97-43-11, 99-27-39 and 99-27-41. The terms “Chairman of the Mississippi State Tax Commission,” “Chairman of the State Tax Commission,” “Chairman of the Tax Commission” and “chairman” appearing in the laws of this state in connection with the performance of the duties and functions by the Chairman of the Mississippi State Tax Commission, the Chairman of the State Tax Commission or the Chairman of the Tax Commission shall mean the Commissioner of Revenue of the Department of Revenue, and, more particularly, such words or terms shall mean the Commissioner of Revenue of the Department of Revenue whenever they appear in Sections 7-5-25, 13-3-157, 13-3-169, 21-33-205, 21-33-207, 21-33-209, 25-53-151, 25-60-1, 27-31-31, 27-41-69, 27-75-16, 31-17-3, 31-19-29, 57-62-9, 57-73-21, 65-1-46 and 75-57-2.

Miss. Code Ann. § 27-3-5 and 27-3-7. Repealed.

Repealed by Laws, 1980, ch. 561, § 42, eff from and after July 2, 1980. §§ 27-3-5 and 27-3-7 . [Codes, 1942, § 9198; Laws, 1932, ch. 119; Laws, 1938, ch. 150.] Editor’s Notes — Former §§ 27-3-5 and 27-3-7 pertained to the powers and duties of an ad valorem commissioner, and an excise commissioner, respectively.

Miss. Code Ann. § 27-3-9 Compensation of Commissioner of Revenue.

The Commissioner of Revenue shall receive an annual salary fixed by the State Personnel Board. The actual traveling expenses of the commissioners and of the employees of the Department of Revenue incurred in the performance of their official duties shall be allowed, and such salaries and expenses shall be payable out of funds appropriated for the expenses of the Department of Revenue.

Miss. Code Ann. § 27-3-11 Repealed.

Repealed by Laws, 2009, ch. 492, § 143, effective from and after July 1, 2010. § 27-3-11 . [Codes, 1942, § 9199; Laws, 1932, ch. 119; Laws, 1938, ch. 150.] Editor’s Notes — Former § 27-3-11 provided for a secretary of the tax commission.

Miss. Code Ann. § 27-3-13 Employees.

The Commissioner of Revenue is empowered to employ such accountants, appraisers, information systems programmers, information systems technicians, information systems managers, clerical help, stenographers, and such other assistants and/or attorneys as he may deem necessary to the proper discharge of the duties of the Department of Revenue, to prescribe their duties and to fix the compensation of each employee within the rules, regulations and guidelines of the State Personnel Board. Such employees may be used interchangeably in the administration of the various duties imposed by law upon the commissioner in the several offices of the Department of Revenue. Further, the Commissioner of Revenue may designate any ten (10) employees of the commission to be law enforcement officers, as defined in Section 45-6-3, with police powers to enforce any laws administered by the Department of Revenue. Temporary employees may be employed as hereinabove, when in the opinion of the commissioner a seasonal press of business requires, except that such temporary employees shall be retained no longer than is necessary to the discharge of the duties imposed by law upon the department. The Commissioner of Revenue may require any employee with access to federal tax information to be fingerprinted and the commissioner may request a background check regarding such employee from any state or federal agency.

Miss. Code Ann. § 27-3-14 Repealed.

Repealed by Laws of 1992, ch. 496, § 25, eff from and after July 1, 1992. [Laws, 1981, ch. 366, § 10, eff from and after November 1, 1981].

Miss. Code Ann. § 27-3-15 Bonds of employees.

The Commissioner of Revenue may require such of his employees as authorized by this chapter to execute bonds in some surety company authorized to do business in the State of Mississippi in such sum as it may order not to exceed for any one (1) employee the sum of Twenty-five Thousand Dollars ($25,000.00), and the premium on the bond shall be paid out of any money appropriated for the general expenses of the Department of Revenue.

Miss. Code Ann. § 27-3-17 Quarters and equipment for Department of Revenue.

It is the duty of the Department of Finance and Administration to provide suitable and adequate quarters and equipment for the Department of Revenue, for its office force and for filing its records, books, papers and assessment rolls.

Miss. Code Ann. § 27-3-19 Official seal.

The Department of Revenue shall have a seal which shall be in the form of a circle with the image of an eagle in the center and around the margin the words: “Commissioner, Mississippi Department of Revenue,” and under the image of the eagle the word: “Official.” The seal, in the discretion of the Commissioner of Revenue, may be of a raised or engraved design or printed. The Commissioner of Revenue or any employee of the Department of Revenue in the performance of duties assigned to the Commissioner of Revenue or to the Department of Revenue shall affix the seal prescribed in this section to every document where required by law, and to every certificate and other official paper executed by the Commissioner of Revenue or in his name under his authority where necessary or proper; and all documents authenticated with the seal and signed by the commissioner or issued under his name shall be received as evidence in all courts, investigations, and proceedings authorized by law, and may be recorded in the same manner and with like effect as a deed; and all copies of papers in the office of the Department of Revenue, certified by the Commissioner of Revenue and authenticated by the seal, shall be accepted in all matters equally and in like manner as the original.

Miss. Code Ann. § 27-3-21 Repealed.

Repealed by Laws of 2009, ch. 492, § 143, effective from and after July 1, 2010. § 27-3-21 . [Codes, 1942, § 9201; Laws, 1932, ch. 119.] Editor’s Notes — Former § 27-3-21 required the state tax commission to accumulate a library on revenue laws and taxation.

Miss. Code Ann. § 27-3-23 Audit of department.

The Commissioner of Revenue may forthwith have prepared a complete audit and survey of the books, records, accounts, operations and affairs of the Department of Revenue to the end of obtaining a comprehensive outline of the conditions thereof, and of securing a more economical administration of the business, duties and operations of the department. The expense incident to such audit and survey shall be paid out of the contingent fund of the department.

Miss. Code Ann. § 27-3-25 and 27-3-27. Repealed.

Repealed by Laws of 2009, ch. 492, § 143, effective from and after July 1, 2010. § 27-3-25 . [Codes, 1942, § 9204; Laws, 1932, ch. 119.] § 27-3-27 . [Codes, 1942, § 9198; Laws, 1932, ch. 119; Laws, 1938, ch. 150; Laws, 1980, ch. 561, § 9, eff from and after July 2, 1980.] Editor’s Notes — Former § 27-3-25 divided the state into tax districts. Former § 27-3-27 related to commission meetings.

Miss. Code Ann. § 27-3-29 Repealed.

Repealed by Laws, 2005, ch. 499, § 36 effective from and after July 1, 2005. § 27-3-29 . [Codes, 1942, § 9198; Laws, 1932, ch. 119; Laws, 1938, ch. 150; Laws, 1980, ch. 561, § 10; Laws, 1986, ch. 391, eff from and after July 1, 1986.] Editor’s Notes — Former § 27-3-29 provided for hearings and appeals from certain actions of the State Tax Commission.

Miss. Code Ann. § 27-3-31 Specific duties and powers.

It shall specifically be the duty of the Commissioner of Revenue, and he shall have power and authority: To adopt, amend or repeal those rules or regulations necessary and proper to effectively administer the Department of Revenue and implement the duties assigned to the commissioner in this section and in any other statute as well as any duties assigned to the Department of Revenue. To develop, implement and decide questions of policy as it relates to the operation of the Department of Revenue and/or any law which the commissioner or the Department of Revenue is required to administer. To supervise and direct all administrative and technical activities of the Department of Revenue. To organize the offices, bureaus and divisions of the Department of Revenue. To coordinate the activities of the various offices, bureaus and divisions of the Department of Revenue. To delegate such administrative functions, duties or powers as he deems necessary to carry out the efficient operation of the Department of Revenue. To make, execute and effectuate any and all agreements or contracts, including contracts for the purchase of goods and services, as are necessary. To enter into long-term or multiyear leases of real property with other state agencies. To appeal any decision of the Board of Tax Appeals that he determines should be appealed. To defend, pursue and/or appeal any suit or appeal brought by or against the Department of Revenue and/or by or against the Commissioner of Revenue in his official capacity. To confer with and advise assessing officers, boards of supervisors and other county officers as to their duties relative to ad valorem taxation under the law; and to advise them in the collection, filing and preservation of data relative to matters of assessment. To become familiar with property values and general conditions in the counties of the state and to direct the collection and preservation of data and information pertaining to the quantity and value of property in each county in the state, subject to assessment, necessary to enable the commissioner to determine the assessed value of classes of property and whether assessments comply with acceptable performance standards as required by Section 27-35-113. To direct the collection, preparation and preservation of data and information pertaining to the quantity, value and location of property belonging to railroads, persons, corporations and associations which is required to be assessed by the commissioner. To supervise and direct the preparation of forms for the assessment of property of railroads and public service corporations assessed by the commissioner, and the filing of their rolls or schedules of assessment. To determine the location of all property subject to assessment by the commissioner in the various counties of the state, the municipalities and taxing districts therein, and to ascertain and report as far as practicable the value and ownership of all such property. To keep informed of the work of the assessors and supervisors of the various counties of the state as required by Section 27-3-51, and to have charge of the details necessary to the equalization by the commissioner of assessments among the various counties pursuant to Section 27-35-113. To prepare all forms for tax lists, assessment rolls and perform other duties relating thereto. To prepare data and statistics relating to property assessments which are deemed advisable for publication or which may be required by the Legislature. To confer with assessors, supervisors and other local taxing officials who may have business with the Department of Revenue. To consider and approve or disapprove all orders of boards of supervisors granting homestead exemptions. To administer and enforce the “Local Option Alcoholic Beverage Control Law,” being Section 67-1-1 et seq. To adopt and enforce rules and regulations prescribing the manner and method by which tax returns and documents may be filed with the Department of Revenue as provided under Section 27-3-83. The Commissioner of Revenue and any agent duly authorized by the commissioner are empowered to administer and certify oaths.

Miss. Code Ann. § 27-3-32 Repealed.

Repealed by Laws of 2009, ch. 492, § 143, effective from and after July 1, 2010. § 27-3-32 . [Laws, 2007, ch. 580, § 17, eff from and after passage (approved Apr. 21, 2007.)] Editor’s Notes — Former § 27-3-32 was entitled: Authority to enter into certain leases of real property with other state agencies.

Miss. Code Ann. § 27-3-33 Prosecutions, actions, proceedings, and suits; levy on compensation owing to delinquent taxpayer.

The Commissioner of Revenue shall have the power, authority and duty to direct that proceedings, actions and prosecutions be instituted to enforce the laws relating to the penalties, liabilities, and punishment of all persons, officers or agents or corporations, or others required by law to make returns of taxable property, for failure or neglect to comply with such provisions of the tax law; and to cause complaints to be made against assessors, boards of supervisors, and other officers, whose duties concern assessments, in any court of competent jurisdiction for their removal for official misconduct or neglect of such duty, as provided by law in such cases. The Commissioner of Revenue shall have the power, authority and duty to proceed by suit in the chancery court of the residence of the taxpayer or, in the case of a nonresident, in the Chancery Court of the First Judicial District of Hinds County, against all persons, corporations, companies and associations of persons for all past-due and unpaid taxes, together with any penalties, damages and interest due thereon, of any kind whatever, either of the state or any county, municipality, drainage, levee, or other taxing district, or any subdivision thereof, and for all past-due obligations and indebtedness of any character due and owing to them or any of them; but not, however, including penalties for the violation of the antitrust laws; and, provided that the duty and obligation of the Commissioner of Revenue hereunder accrues only at such time as the tax collector of the county, municipality, drainage, levee, or other taxing district, or any subdivision thereof, primarily responsible for the collection of taxes for the district has exhausted all legal remedies provided by the laws of this state. All suits by the Commissioner of Revenue under the provisions of this section, or under the provisions of Section 27-3-37 or Section 27-3-39, shall be in his official capacity for the use of the state, county, municipality, levee board or other taxing district interested; and he shall not be liable for costs, and may appeal without bond. Such suits may be tried at the return term and shall take precedence over other suits. All warrants issued by the Commissioner of Revenue for the collection of any taxes imposed by statute and collected by the Department of Revenue shall be used to levy on salaries, compensation or other monies due the delinquent taxpayer. The warrants shall be served by mail or by delivery by an agent of the Department of Revenue on the person or entity responsible or liable for the payment of the monies to the delinquent taxpayer. Once served, the employer or other person owing compensation due the delinquent taxpayer shall pay the monies over to the Department of Revenue in complete or partial satisfaction of the tax liability. Except as otherwise provided in Section 85-13-3, an answer shall be made within thirty (30) days after service of the warrant in the form and manner determined satisfactory by the commissioner. Failure to pay the money over to the Department of Revenue as required by this section shall result in the served party being personally liable for the full amount of the monies owed and the levy and collection process may be issued against the party in the same manner as other taxes. Except as otherwise provided by this section, the answer, the amount payable under the warrant and the obligation of the payor to continue payment shall be governed by the garnishment laws of this state but shall be payable to the Department of Revenue.

Miss. Code Ann. § 27-3-35 Subpoena of witnesses.

In all cases of valuation or ownership of property which has escaped taxation, the Commissioner of Revenue may have subpoenaed witnesses to testify before any board of supervisors, board of mayor and aldermen, or other municipal governing authority, or before the commissioner himself, his designee or any other lawful taxing authority.

Miss. Code Ann. § 27-3-37 Negligent or defaulting official to be made party to suit.

In all suits against delinquent taxpayers under the provisions of Section 27-3-33 or Section 27-3-39, the officer charged with the duty of collecting the tax shall be made a party; and if it shall appear that the failure of the taxpayer to properly pay his taxes was caused by any willful default or negligence of the officer charged with the duty of collecting the tax, judgment shall be rendered against such officer for the amount of twenty percent (20%) of the amount of tax involved in addition to the amount of the recovery against the delinquent taxpayer, which additional twenty percent (20%) shall be paid into the general fund of the state treasury.

Miss. Code Ann. § 27-3-39 Investigations of property escaping taxation; additional assessments.

The Commissioner of Revenue shall investigate and ascertain what property, if any, is escaping taxation or assessment. After the first day of February should the Commissioner of Revenue discover that any person, corporation, property, business, occupation or calling has escaped taxation for the previous calendar year or years by reason of not being assessed by either a county or municipality, it shall be his duty to give notice to the county or municipal tax assessor in writing, and the assessor shall, within ten (10) days thereafter, make the proper assessment by way of an additional assessment and file the assessment with the clerk of the board of supervisors or the clerk of the municipality, as the case may be, who shall enter the assessment on the last approved roll or rolls in his hands, and the clerk shall give ten (10) days’ notice in writing to the person or corporation whose property is thus assessed, and all objections to the assessment shall be heard at the next meeting of the board of supervisors of the county or the governing authorities of the municipality. The board of supervisors or governing authorities of the municipality shall also be notified in writing by the assessor of the assessment, and the Commissioner of Revenue or his designee may appear at the meeting, and an appeal to the circuit court may be taken from the order of the board approving or disapproving the assessment by either party. If the assessment is approved and no appeal is taken, the clerk shall certify this to the Commissioner of Revenue and if the taxes are not paid within thirty (30) days thereafter, the property, if it is real estate, shall be ordered sold as provided for by law, and if it is personal the Commissioner of Revenue shall proceed to collect by distress or otherwise. If the tax assessor fails or refuses to make an assessment and report the assessment as required by this section, he shall be liable on his bond for the amount of taxes properly collectible and ten percent (10%) damages thereon.

Miss. Code Ann. § 27-3-41 Limitation.

The power of the Commissioner of Revenue to institute proceedings for the assessment of property which has escaped taxation by reason of not being assessed shall expire at the end of seven (7) years from the date when his right so to do first accrued, and it shall bring all suits he is authorized to bring within six (6) years after the cause of action accrues and not thereafter.

Miss. Code Ann. § 27-3-43 Certain land purchased by commissioner as successful bidder may be sold or retained in best interest of state.

When land is purchased by the Commissioner of Revenue as the successful bidder in accordance with Section 27-7-63, 27-13-37 or 27-65-65, the Commissioner of Revenue may then sell the state’s interest in the land at a public or private sale to the best interest of the state. If after such purchase, the Commissioner of Revenue determines that it is not in the best interest of the state for him to sell the state’s interest in the land, he shall, after the expiration of any applicable redemption period, render a full description of the land to the land commissioner, and after such rendering, the land shall be registered at the land office and sold as other state lands.

Miss. Code Ann. § 27-3-45 Settlements with State Treasurer’s reports to State Auditor of public accounts.

The Department of Revenue shall settle with the State Treasurer, and pay over daily to the State Treasurer all monies collected by it each day; and it shall make a report to the State Auditor at the end of the fiscal year, giving a full account of all collections by it under the provisions of Sections 27-3-33, 27-3-37, 27-3-39, 27-3-43, 27-3-47 and 27-3-71 during the preceding fiscal year and of whom and on whose account collected. For a failure to render such account and settle and pay over all collections made by it, as required by law, the Commissioner of Revenue shall be suspended from office by the Governor in the same manner as in the case of a defaulting State Treasurer.

Miss. Code Ann. § 27-3-47 Political subdivisions of state not chargeable with fees; fees not to be deducted from certain funds.

No county, municipality, drainage district, levee board, or other administrative body, shall be chargeable with any fees or expenses on account of any investigation, demand or suit made or instituted by the Commissioner of Revenue; nor shall any fees or commissions be deducted or retained from any funds collected for or belonging to the state, any county, municipality, drainage district, levee district or other political subdivision, from any state or any other subdivision or department thereof. Nothing in this section shall be construed, however, to prohibit the Commissioner of Revenue from expending funds appropriated for the support of the Department of Revenue in administering the provisions hereof, and in making investigations and demands and bringing and maintaining suits and other actions hereunder.

Miss. Code Ann. § 27-3-49 Commissioner of Revenue to investigate taxation and make recommendations to legislature.

The Commissioner of Revenue shall investigate all matters of taxation and recommend to the Legislature, at each regular session, such changes and alterations in the tax laws of the state as in his judgment he may deem best to bring about a more perfect, equitable, adequate, just and thorough system of taxation and valuation of property for state and county taxation.

Miss. Code Ann. § 27-3-51 Annual visits to each county of the state; information concerning realty transfers; requests for and verification of realty sales data.

In order that the Commissioner of Revenue may be familiar with the character and values of the several classes of property within each of the several counties of the state and of the economic conditions therein, and throughout the state, the Commissioner of Revenue, or his designees, shall annually visit each of the several counties of the state. In the course of his visitation within each county, the Commissioner of Revenue, or his designees, shall perform the duties enumerated in Sections 27-3-39 and 27-3-53, and he shall investigate the work and methods adopted by the board of supervisors and county tax assessors and confer with such officers and other well-informed persons, ascertain wherein existing laws are defective or improperly or negligently administered and shall be authorized to exercise the authority granted under Sections 27-1-21 and 27-1-23. However, any language in Section 27-1-21 and Section 27-1-23 relative to the actual assessing or appraising of property by the county or municipal tax assessor is not granted to the Commissioner of Revenue. He shall report the results of his investigation and the facts ascertained to the Governor, from time to time, when required by him, and to each session of the Legislature. The chancery clerk shall require that the current mailing address and current business or employment telephone number, if any, and current residential telephone number, if any, of each grantor and grantee be included on all deeds as a prerequisite for the deed to be filed for record after July 1, 1987. If the residential telephone number is unlisted, the grantor or grantee shall include on the deed a telephone number where he or she can be reached during business hours. If the grantee may receive mail at the address of the property transferred, then the address of the transferred property shall be the mailing address of the grantee for the purposes of this section. The information provided by the grantor and grantee shall be true and correct and complete to the best of his or her knowledge and belief under penalty of perjury under Section 97-9-61. The chancery clerk may refuse to accept delivery of any deed for filing that does not contain on the deed the information required in this section. The fact that the information provided by the grantor or grantee may be incorrect, incomplete or false, however, shall not invalidate the deed or the filing thereof for record. The Commissioner of Revenue shall annually audit the deeds filed with the chancery clerk of each county and assess a penalty of One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) against the county for each deed filed in violation of this section, and the aggregate of such sum shall be withheld by the Commissioner of Revenue from the next installment of homestead exemption reimbursement due under Section 27-33-41. The Commissioner of Revenue or his designees are hereby authorized to verify sales data regarding the transfer of real property by obtaining such information from the grantor or grantee. The information provided by the grantor or grantee to the Commissioner of Revenue or his designee shall be true, correct and complete to the best of his or her knowledge and belief under penalty of perjury under Section 97-9-61. Any information obtained in this manner shall be shared with the county tax assessors and used only for the purpose of valuing property. The Commissioner of Revenue may request sales data of Class I and Class II property from the county tax assessors in order to develop sales ratios. If a county tax assessor fails to supply accurate information requested by the Commissioner of Revenue, the commissioner shall reject the county’s tax roll. The avails of the one (1) mill levy as provided for in Section 27-39-329(2)(b) shall not be expended until the county complies with such request.

Miss. Code Ann. § 27-3-52 Counties to have certified appraisal personnel; continuing education; increases in compensation.

The Department of Revenue shall promulgate rules and regulations setting forth the minimum requirements for which tax assessors and/or their deputy assessors or assistants, appropriate state employees, employees of planning and development districts or other persons may attain certification as an appraiser. The Department of Revenue shall establish and conduct such educational and training programs as may be appropriate to assist such persons in attaining such certification. Counties having not more than five thousand (5,000) applicants for homestead exemption shall have at least one (1) certified appraiser, and counties having more than five thousand (5,000) applicants for homestead exemption shall have at least two (2) certified appraisers; however, any county may employ any certified appraiser on a part-time basis. When any tax assessor and/or his deputies or assistants travel outside of their county to attend an appraisal school, seminar or workshop approved by the Department of Revenue, such persons shall receive as reimbursement of expenses of such travel the same mileage and actual and necessary expenses for food, lodging and travel by public carrier or private motor vehicles as is allowed under Section 25-3-41. However, mileage shall not be authorized when such travel is done by a motor vehicle owned by the county. The county board of supervisors shall reimburse the assessors, tax collectors and deputies for reasonable and necessary expenses sustained in attending annual conferences, regional conferences, schools and seminars. The Department of Revenue shall have the authority to prescribe forms and to promulgate rules and regulations necessary to implement the provisions of this section. No expenses authorized herein shall be reimbursed unless the expenses have been authorized or approved by an order of the board duly made and spread upon the minutes of such board. When any tax assessor and/or his deputies or assistants attend and successfully complete all qualifications pursuant to the Mississippi Education and Certification Program and receive the certification level of Track II, Evaluator I, they shall receive an additional Two Thousand Dollars ($2,000.00) annually beginning the next fiscal year after completion. When any tax assessor and/or his deputies or assistants attend and successfully complete all qualifications pursuant to the Mississippi Education and Certification Program and receive the certification level of Track II, Evaluator II, they shall receive an additional Two Thousand Dollars ($2,000.00) annually beginning the next fiscal year after completion. When any tax assessor and/or his deputies or assistants attend and successfully complete all qualifications pursuant to the Mississippi Education and Certification Program and receive the certification level of Mississippi Assessment Evaluator (MAE), they shall receive an additional Two Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($2,500.00) annually beginning the next fiscal year after completion. When any deputy tax assessor successfully completes all qualifications to become a licensed certified residential real estate appraiser under Sections 73-34-1 through 73-34-63, or completes all qualifications to earn the International Association of Assessing Officers’ professional designation of Residential Evaluation Specialist (RES), on the recommendation of the tax assessor, the county board of supervisors may pay, in its discretion, an additional amount not to exceed Three Thousand Dollars ($3,000.00) annually to the deputy beginning the next fiscal year after the completion of such qualifications. When any deputy tax assessor successfully completes all qualifications to become a licensed certified general real estate appraiser under Sections 73-34-1 through 73-34-63, or completes all qualifications to earn the International Association of Assessing Officers professional designation of Certified Assessment Evaluator (CAE) on the recommendation of the tax assessor, the county board of supervisors may pay, in its discretion, an additional amount not to exceed Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00) annually to the deputy beginning the next fiscal year after the completion of such qualifications. The accumulative total of all educational increases authorized under subsections (5), (6), (7), (8) and (9) of this section shall not exceed Eleven Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($11,500.00) and shall be paid out of the common county fund from proceeds of the one (1) mill ad valorem tax as provided in Section 27-39-329. In order to receive the additional annual payment or payments provided for in subsections (5), (6), (7), (8) and (9) of this section, the tax assessor or deputies or assistants who completed the Mississippi Education and Certification Program and were certified as provided herein shall be personally involved in the conduct, administration and/or supervision of the appraisal of the property of the county and in the maintenance of such appraisal.

Miss. Code Ann. § 27-3-53 Informational forms.

The Department of Revenue shall prepare and furnish forms for obtaining the information hereinafter provided for, whenever they may deem it necessary Amount of fire insurance carried on all buildings and on personal property of every description. All individuals, firms, partnerships and corporations engaged wholly or in part in mercantile, manufacturing or any other business, (except banks and insurance companies) occupation or calling, shall, on demand by the Department of Revenue in writing, furnish a sworn statement of their taxable property, as of January first of each year; and of their assets and liabilities on that date. Any person or concern failing or refusing to furnish the information required within thirty (30) days after written notice so to do from the Department of Revenue shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and on conviction shall be punished as for a misdemeanor. The information herein provided for shall be confidential, and shall not be given anyone by the Department of Revenue, except to county and municipal tax assessors. And for the illegal disclosure of any information provided for under this section, the injured party shall have a right of action against the Commissioner of Revenue or the assessor, on their or his official bond, for any actual damages sustained.

Miss. Code Ann. § 27-3-55 Repealed.

Repealed by Laws of 2009, ch. 492 § 143, effective from and after July 1, 2010. § 27-3-55 . [Codes, Hemingway’s 1921 Supp. § 7769e; 1930, § 7011; 1942, § 9211; Laws, 1918, ch. 228.] Editor’s Notes — Former § 27-3-55 was entitled: Publication of revenue laws.

Miss. Code Ann. § 27-3-57 Deposit of funds; apportionment of collections; bonding.

All funds collected by the Commissioner of Revenue and by the Department of Revenue under the provisions of any law are designated as public funds of the State of Mississippi. All such funds shall be deposited in the State Treasury on the same day in which the funds are collected, in accordance with Section 7-9-21. The State Treasurer shall transfer such monies to municipalities, counties and other special accounts, as provided by law. The Commissioner of Revenue shall determine amounts due all municipalities, counties and such special funds as provided by law and shall certify to the State Treasurer at the end of each month the amount due each municipality, county or special fund. All tax collections to be apportioned by the Department of Revenue pursuant to Sections 27-65-75, 27-19-159, 27-5-101 and 27-5-103 shall be distributed to the proper sources as provided by law by the State Treasurer upon the certification of apportionment by the Department of Revenue. The State Treasurer shall requisition monies from the Treasury in such amounts as determined and certified by the Department of Revenue. The Department of Finance and Administration shall deliver the warrant to the State Treasurer who shall transfer such funds to each municipality, county or other such special fund by warrant or by electronic funds transfer on the due date. Officers charged with the responsibility of handling such funds shall be required to provide fidelity bonds in the amount provided by law.

Miss. Code Ann. § 27-3-58 Department of Revenue authorized to retain portion of proceeds collected from tax levied under authority of local and private law.

For any tax levied and collected under the authority of a local and private law of the State of Mississippi, and collected and paid to the Department of Revenue in the same or similar manner that state sales taxes are collected and paid, the Department of Revenue may retain three percent (3%) of the proceeds of such tax for the purpose of defraying the costs incurred by the Department of Revenue in the collection of the tax.

Miss. Code Ann. § 27-3-59 Assessors’ and collectors’ conferences.

It shall be the duty of the Department of Revenue to call an annual conference of the county tax assessors and collectors. The meeting shall be held within the State of Mississippi for the purpose of giving systematic instruction in finding, listing and for the fair and just valuation and assessment of every kind of property subject to taxation under the laws of this state, and as to their practical duty in every step in connection therewith and for instruction in the administration of the Homestead Exemption Law. The conference shall continue not more than five (5) days. It shall be the duty of every county tax assessor and collector to attend and participate in the meeting and if by reason of illness or other unavoidable cause, any tax assessor or collector is unable to attend, he shall require one (1) of his deputies to attend and participate in his place. The Department of Revenue shall prepare, in advance, subjects for discussion by the conference, which shall include the revenue laws of the state, questions relating to matters of assessment of property for taxation and the duties of the tax assessors and collectors, and the Commissioner of Revenue or his designee shall preside as chairman of the conference and the secretary of the conference shall be appointed by the presiding chairman of the conference. The Department of Revenue may call regional conferences during the year for the aforesaid purposes and it shall be the duty of the tax assessors and collectors, or deputies, to attend and participate in these regional conferences and each tax assessor and collector, or his deputy, who attends and participates in these regional conferences shall be reimbursed for his expenses in the same manner as those attending the annual conference. Each tax assessor and collector attending and participating in the annual or regional conferences in person, or by deputy, shall be entitled to receive as expenses for attending the conferences, travel, meals, lodging and other necessary expenses at the rate provided for in Section 25-3-41, which expenses shall be paid from the county general fund or proceeds from the levy imposed for the maintenance of the reappraisal program in such county. The Department of Revenue shall have the authority to prescribe forms and to promulgate rules and regulations necessary to implement the provisions of this section. Forms to be used for payment and reimbursement of expenses and forms of certificate of attendance to be furnished the tax assessors and collectors by the Department of Revenue, requisition and expense vouchers to be made on the State Auditor, the entire expense to be paid from the county general fund. The requisition and voucher shall be supported by a certificate of attendance to the conferences from the Department of Revenue before any payment shall be made. A newly elected county tax assessor or collector who has not qualified and taken office shall be entitled to receive the same payment and reimbursement for expenses in attending the conferences as the retiring county tax assessor or collector is entitled to receive.

Miss. Code Ann. § 27-3-61 Filing, preservation and disposition of records; digital or electronic preservation; destruction of paper record after digital or electronic preservation.

The Department of Revenue and the Commissioner of Revenue shall file and preserve for the time specified by this section, and as required by any other laws of this state, complete and full records of their official acts with respect to the laws which the Department of Revenue and/or the Commissioner of Revenue are required to enforce and administer, including, but not limited to, copies or reproductions of such copies of the land and personal assessment rolls, and the assessment rolls of railroads and other persons, corporations and associations required to be assessed by the Commissioner of Revenue as the state assessor of railroad. The Department of Revenue and the Commissioner of Revenue shall preserve, in their office, copies or reproductions of such copies of the land assessment rolls of the counties in this state for ten (10) years, and copies or reproductions of such copies of the personal assessment rolls of the counties in this state for three (3) years, the time to begin on the first day of January of the year in which such assessment rolls were made, the assessment rolls of railroads, persons, corporations or associations assessed by the commissioner for ten (10) years, and all other records, documents and papers for three (3) years. The records and documents required by this subsection to be filed and preserved by the Department of Revenue and the Commissioner of Revenue may be preserved digitally and/or electronically. When the records, documents, rolls, or reproductions of such rolls, papers and correspondence have been preserved by the Department of Revenue and the Commissioner of Revenue for the period of time required by subsection (1) of this section, all of the records, or such parts thereof as may be considered useless, may be disposed of in accordance with approved records control schedules. No records, however, may be destroyed without the approval of the Director of the Department of Archives and History. Nothing in this subsection shall prevent the Department of Revenue and/or the Commissioner of Revenue from destroying the paper copy of any record or document after it has been preserved digitally or electronically.

Miss. Code Ann. § 27-3-63 Audit of books outside of state to determine tax liability.

When, in the judgment of the Department of Revenue, an audit, examination or inspection of the books, records, invoices, papers, memoranda or other data appears to be required or necessary to determine the assessment of a tax, or to establish a tax liability, or to verify a payment of a tax, under the income, any privilege, sales, and excise tax laws of any kind of this state, of a taxpayer doing business both within and without the state and maintaining his principal place of business outside the state; such audit, or examination, or inspection may be made at the principal place of business outside the state to the same extent and same effect as audits, examinations, or inspections are made of books, records, invoices, papers, memoranda or other data located in this state. The Department of Revenue, when directly charged with the duty of assessing and collecting any tax under any law which requires a taxpayer to keep adequate books, records, papers, invoices, memoranda or other data, at a place in this state, reflecting his liability for any tax due the state, and which taxpayer conducts his business both within and without Mississippi, and maintains his principal place of business outside this state at which his books, records, etc., are located, may elect to audit, examine or inspect all books, records, papers, invoices, memoranda or other data reflecting upon the Mississippi tax assessment and tax liability at the principal place of business of the taxpayer, rather than require the taxpayer to transport all of his books, records, papers, invoices, memoranda and other data to some place in this state.

Miss. Code Ann. § 27-3-65 Audit of books outside state to determine tax liability; designation of agents to make audit.

When the Department of Revenue in the course of directly administering any of the tax laws enumerated in Section 27-3-63 shall elect to audit, examine or inspect the books, records, papers, invoices, memoranda or other data of a taxpayer at his principal place of business outside this state, it shall designate, in writing, the agent or agents, employee or employees, to make the audit, examination or inspection at the principal place of business of the taxpayer, and shall state the kind of tax for which the audit, examination or inspection is thereby made, but for an inspection in regard to those taxes administered by the Department of Revenue there shall be no charge of any kind made against the taxpayer for the expenses of such inspection.

Miss. Code Ann. § 27-3-67 State taxing agency to have access to confidential information of other state taxing agencies.

Any agency, instrumentality or department of the State of Mississippi, which is charged by law with the collection of any taxes or fees whatsoever, shall be entitled, under the conditions hereinafter set forth, to have access to and obtain information from the books and records of any other agency, instrumentality or department of the state which is also charged by law with the collection of any taxes or fees whatsoever, if the purpose for which the information is sought or desired relates to and is connected with the statutory or constitutional duties of the agency, instrumentality or department desiring or seeking same. In order to be entitled to have access to and obtain information from the books and records of such other agency, instrumentality or department, the head of the agency, instrumentality or department desiring and seeking same shall make request therefor, in writing, to the Governor of the State of Mississippi, which request shall specify in detail the information sought and desired, and shall contain a full statement of the purpose for which such information is sought. If the Governor be of the opinion that the request relates to and is connected with the statutory or constitutional duties of the agency, instrumentality or department seeking same, and that such request is proper and reasonable and should be granted, then he shall transmit such request to the head of the agency, instrumentality or department from which the information is desired, together with his direction, in writing, that the information requested be furnished or that access to the books and records be given. The Governor shall have full and complete discretion to determine whether any request submitted to him shall be approved or disapproved, and his decision thereon shall be final; and he shall have the authority to approve same in part and disapprove same in part, and the authority to prescribe the manner in which the requested information shall be furnished and the terms and conditions under which access to the books and records shall be had. The terms and provisions of this section shall apply only to such books and records as are by statute or by their nature confidential and privileged, and shall not apply to such books and records as are declared by law to be, or are by their nature, public records, or records which are not confidential and privileged, and such records which are public records or not declared by law to be, or are not by their nature, confidential and privileged, may be inspected and information obtained therefrom as a matter of course without following the procedure herein prescribed.

Miss. Code Ann. § 27-3-69 Recovery of interest and penalties; apportionment.

All penalties or interest and all penalties and interest imposed or authorized to be imposed by any state law or municipal ordinance, accrued or which may accrue hereafter, shall be recoverable by the officer authorized to sue for or collect the tax in respect to which said penalties or interest are imposed or authorized to be collected as a part of the tax with respect to which they are imposed or authorized to be collected, and all such penalties and interest shall be apportioned as provided for the apportionment of the tax on which such penalties or interest are collected.

Miss. Code Ann. § 27-3-71 Transfer of other powers and duties.

Any other duties and powers heretofore vested in the office of the State Tax Collector not specifically transferred to the State Tax Commission or specifically repealed by Chapter 588, Laws of 1962, are transferred to and vested in the State Tax Commission, and any and all fees, commissions or other remuneration heretofore authorized to be retained by the state tax collector out of any moneys collected by said office shall be paid into the State Treasury or to the proper officer of the political subdivision entitled thereto, as the case may be. The powers formerly vested in the office of the State Tax Collector which have been transferred to and vested in the State Tax Commission shall be deemed to be cumulative and supplemental to all other powers conferred by law upon said State Tax Commission and the members thereof and shall not be construed so as to supersede, repeal or annul any other power or authority conferred upon the State Tax Commission or any member thereof by virtue of any other statute.

Miss. Code Ann. § 27-3-73 Secrecy of tax returns; release of certain information about individuals who are delinquent in payment of child support or under investigation for fraud or abuse of state or federal program.

Except in accordance with proper judicial order or as otherwise provided in this section or as authorized in Section 27-4-3, it shall be unlawful for the Commissioner of Revenue, or any deputy, agent, clerk or other officer or employee of the Department of Revenue, to divulge or make known in any manner the amount of income or any particulars set forth or disclosed in any report or return required on any taxes collected by reports received by the Department of Revenue. This provision relates to all taxes collected by the Department of Revenue and not referred to in Sections 27-7-83, 27-13-57 and 27-65-81, requiring confidentiality of income tax, franchise tax and sales tax returns. All system edits, thresholds, and any other automated system calculations used by the Department of Revenue in the processing of returns or statistics or used to determine the correct tax due for all taxes administered by the department shall be considered confidential information and may not be divulged or made known. Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit the publication of statistics, so classified as to prevent the identification of particular reports or returns and the items thereof, or the inspection by the Attorney General, or any other attorney representing the state, of the report or return of any taxpayer who shall bring action to set aside the tax thereon, or against whom an action or proceeding has been instituted to recover any tax or penalty imposed. Additionally, nothing in this section shall prohibit the Commissioner of Revenue from making available information necessary to recover taxes owing the state pursuant to the authority granted in Section 27-75-16. The term “proper judicial order” as used in this section shall not include subpoenas or subpoenas duces tecum but shall include only those orders entered by a court of record in this state after furnishing notice and a hearing to the taxpayer and the Department of Revenue. The court shall not authorize the furnishing of such information unless it is satisfied that the information is needed to pursue pending litigation wherein the return itself is in issue, or the judge is satisfied that the need for furnishing the information outweighs the rights of the taxpayer to have such information secreted. However, information relating to possible tax liability to other states or the federal government may be furnished to the revenue departments of those states or the federal government when the states or federal government grant a like comity to Mississippi. The State Auditor and the employees of his office shall have the right to examine only such tax returns as are necessary for auditing the Department of Revenue, and the same prohibitions against disclosure which apply to the Department of Revenue shall apply to the State Auditor and his office. Officers and employees of the Mississippi Development Authority who execute a confidentiality agreement with the Department of Revenue shall be authorized to discuss and examine information to which this section applies at the offices of the Mississippi Department of Revenue. This disclosure is limited to information necessary to properly administer the programs under the jurisdiction of the Mississippi Development Authority. The Department of Revenue is authorized to disclose to officers and employees of the Mississippi Development Authority who execute a confidentiality agreement the information necessary under the circumstances. The same prohibitions against disclosure which apply to the Department of Revenue shall apply to the officers or employees of the Mississippi Development Authority. Information required by the University Research Center to prepare the analyses required by Sections 57-13-101 through 57-13-109 shall be furnished to the University Research Center upon request. It shall be unlawful for any officer or employee of the University Research Center to divulge or make known in any manner the amount of income or any particulars set forth or disclosed in any information received by the center from the Department of Revenue other than as may be required by Sections 57-13-101 through 57-13-109 in an analysis prepared pursuant to Sections 57-13-101 through 57-13-109. Information required by the Mississippi Development Authority to prepare the reports required by Section 57-1-12.2 shall be furnished to the Mississippi Development Authority upon request. It shall be unlawful for any officer or employee of the Mississippi Development Authority to divulge or make known in any manner the amount of income or any particulars set forth or disclosed in any information received by the Mississippi Development Authority from the Department of Revenue other than as may be required by Section 57-1-12.2 in a report prepared pursuant to Section 57-1-12.2. Information necessary to comply with Chapter 13, Title 85 may be furnished to financial institutions. It shall be unlawful for any officer or employee of the financial institution to divulge or make known in any manner the amount of income or any particulars set forth or disclosed in any information received by the financial institution from the Department of Revenue other than as may be authorized by Chapter 13, Title 85. Any person who violates the provisions of this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and, on conviction thereof, shall be fined not more than One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00) or imprisoned not more than six (6) months in the county jail, or both. The Commissioner of Revenue and the Department of Revenue are authorized to disclose to the Child Support Unit and to the Fraud Investigation Unit of the Department of Human Services without the need for a subpoena or proper judicial order the name, address, social security number, amount of income, amount of sales tax, source of income, assets and other relevant information, records and tax forms for individuals who are delinquent in the payment of any child support as defined in Section 93-11-101 or who are under investigation for fraud or abuse of any state or federal program or statute as provided in Section 43-1-23.

Miss. Code Ann. § 27-3-75 Repealed.

Repealed by Laws of 2009, ch. 492, § 143, effective from and after July 1, 2010. § 27-3-75 . [Laws, 1980, ch 505, § 13; Laws, 1984, ch. 488, § 176, eff from and after July 1, 1984.] Editor’s Notes — Former § 27-3-75 authorized the state tax commission to contract for aerial photography in order to effectuate statewide reappraisal of property.

Miss. Code Ann. § 27-3-77 Certain individual tax records exempt from public access requirement.

Records in the possession of a public body, as defined by paragraph (a) of Section 25-61-3 which would disclose information about a person’s individual tax payment or status, shall be exempt from the provisions of the Mississippi Public Records Act of 1983.

Miss. Code Ann. § 27-3-79 Penalties for tax evasion; statute of limitations for tax evasion.

The State Tax Commission shall develop and implement a tax amnesty program in accordance with the provisions of this section. The program shall begin on September 1, 2004, and end on December 31, 2004. The program shall apply to all taxes that are required to be collected by the State Tax Commission or commissioner and that were first due and payable for the year 1999 and after. Tax amnesty shall be available to any individuals or corporations who are liable for those taxes and who have failed to pay all or any portion of their taxes, failed to file returns or filed inaccurate returns; however, tax amnesty shall not be available to individuals or corporations subject to tax-related criminal investigations or prosecution, or where the taxes have been previously assessed by the commission, or to estimated tax payments required to be made under Section 27-7-319. All civil and criminal penalties for nonpayment of taxes, including the penalties set forth in subsection (2) of this section, shall be waived for any eligible individual or corporation who, during the tax amnesty period, makes total payment of the taxes due. The State Tax Commission is authorized to do all things necessary to carry out the tax amnesty programs that are not inconsistent with this section. Any person eligible for the tax amnesty program and who fails to make total payment of the taxes due during the tax amnesty period, or any person who willfully attempts in any manner to evade or defeat any tax imposed by the State Tax Commission or the Department of Revenue, or assists in the evading of that tax or the payment thereof, including violations determined under Section 27-3-80, shall, in addition to other penalties provided by law, be guilty of a felony and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined not more than One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000.00) and, in the case of a corporation, not more than Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($500,000.00), or imprisoned not more than five (5) years, or both. Any prosecutions for tax evasion as described in this section shall be begun within six (6) years next after the statutory due date for the taxes in issue.

Miss. Code Ann. § 27-3-80 Creation of task force to facilitate investigation and prosecution of drug trafficking kingpins regarding tax evasion and other crimes; reporting and determination of possible violations of law; employment of criminal investigator; confidentiality of information; definitions.

The Attorney General, the Department of Revenue, the Department of Public Safety and the Bureau of Narcotics shall create a task force to facilitate the transfer of information from law enforcement agencies to the Attorney General indicating that an individual is a drug trafficking kingpin, is laundering money received from drug trafficking and is likely evading the income reporting requirements of state law. The Attorney General shall examine all relevant information to determine the probability that such violations of law exist. The Attorney General may enlist the aid of any other law enforcement agency in the state in an investigation under this section. If the Attorney General determines that tax evasion is probably occurring, he shall forward the information to the Department of Revenue with a request that the Department of Revenue perform a criminal tax evasion investigation. The Department of Revenue shall report its preliminary findings to the Attorney General within one hundred twenty (120) days after receiving the information. If the report of the Department of Revenue to the Attorney General indicates that the individual who is the subject of the investigation has failed to report income as required by law and such failure constitutes a criminal violation, the Attorney General is authorized to prosecute the individual for criminal tax violations. The Attorney General is authorized to file an ex parte petition for release of tax information to the Bureau of Narcotics for presentation to appropriate state or federal prosecutors for the prosecution of federal tax offenses or other applicable offenses. Subject to available funding, the Department of Revenue is authorized to employ a criminal investigator to carry out the investigative and reporting requirements of this section. Any information received by the Attorney General, the Department of Revenue, the Bureau of Narcotics or other law enforcement agency shall be confidential except to the extent that disclosure is necessary to pursue tax evasion or other criminal tax charges or unless a proper judicial order is obtained. Information received under this section is exempt from the Mississippi Public Records Act of 1983. As used in this section: “Drug trafficking kingpin” means an individual who directs or participates in directing the illegal activities of a kingpin organization. “Kingpin organization” means a group of individuals, operating as a group either formally or informally, who sell, transport, manufacture and/or deliver controlled substances in felony violation of the Uniform Controlled Substances Law. To qualify as a kingpin organization, the group would either have to distribute major quantities of controlled substances, or their trafficking activities would have to occur in or affect more than one (1) circuit court district.

Miss. Code Ann. § 27-3-81 Required payment of taxes, when liability exceeds certain sum, by wire transfer or other means making funds immediately available; penalty and interest.

The Department of Revenue may require, consistent with the cash management policies of the State Treasurer, that any person owing Twenty Thousand Dollars ($20,000.00) or more in connection with any return, report or other document to be filed with the Department of Revenue shall pay any such tax liability to the state no later than the date such payment is required by law to be made in funds which are immediately available to the state on the date of payment. Payment in immediately available funds may be made by wire transfers of funds through the Federal Reserve System or by any other means established by the Department of Revenue, with the approval of the State Treasurer, which ensures availability of such funds to the state on the date of payment. Evidence of such payment shall be furnished to the Department of Revenue on or before the due date of the tax as established by law. Failure to timely make such payment in immediately available funds or failure to provide such evidence of payment in a timely manner shall subject the taxpayer to penalty and interest as provided by law for delinquent or deficient tax payments. If payment is timely made in other than immediately available funds, penalty and interest shall be added to the amount of tax due from the due date of the tax payment to the date that the funds for the tax payment become available to the state.

Miss. Code Ann. § 27-3-83 Regulation of manner and method of filing of tax returns and other tax documents and information submitted to Department of Revenue; electronic filing mandate for certain taxpayers; exception; alternative forms of signature; effect of electronic or paper reproduction of form or document; penalties for violations of regulations; signing document filed with department is swearing under oath that all information provided is true and correct; release of information to authorized individuals.

The Commissioner of Revenue may specify by rule or regulation the manner and method, either manually or electronically, by which tax returns, supporting schedules, information returns, applications for permits, licenses or titles, powers of attorney, review board appeal petitions, and other documents and information may be filed with the Department of Revenue. The commissioner may require certain taxpayers to submit any or all tax returns, schedules or other documents and information electronically; however, the commissioner shall not require the submission of returns, schedules or other documents and information electronically by taxpayers that do not have the capability to make the submissions electronically. The Commissioner of Revenue may specify by rule or regulation alternative forms of electronic signature that may be allowed or required on tax returns and other documents. Such an electronic signature shall have the same legal effect as that of a manual signature. An electronic or paper reproduction of a form or document, or the reproduction of the information placed on computer storage devices by electronic means, shall be deemed to be an original of the form or document for all purposes and is admissible in evidence without further foundation in all courts and administrative hearings if the following certification by the Commissioner of Revenue, along with his official seal, is affixed to the reproduction: The Commissioner of Revenue, official custodian of all records of the Department of Revenue, hereby certifies this document is a true reproduction of the information contained in the official records of this agency. If a person fails to comply with the rules and regulations promulgated by the commissioner under the provisions of subsection (1) or (2) of this section; fails to comply with any electronic filing mandate; fails to complete any return, supporting schedule, information return or other document or fails to remit any required schedule or additional information, the commissioner may impose a penalty of Twenty-five Dollars ($25.00) for the first instance of noncompliance and Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00) for each additional instance of noncompliance. Any penalty imposed under this section shall be collected in the same manner as that set forth for the collection of penalties under the Mississippi Sales Tax Law, being Section 27-65-1 et seq. By manually signing or affixing an electronic signature to a document that may be filed with the department, the person signing the document or affixing the electronic signature to the document is swearing under oath that all information contained in the document is true and correct and that he or she has the same authority to sign the document or affix the electronic signature to the document as the person filing the document or as the duly authorized representative of the person or entity for whom the document is being filed. Should the person signing or affixing an electronic signature to a document filed with the Department of Revenue knowingly submit information in the document that is false or sign or affix an electronic signature to the document on the behalf of another person or entity without the authority to do so, he or she shall be guilty of perjury and, upon conviction, shall be punished by imprisonment in the State Penitentiary for a term not exceeding ten (10) years. Notwithstanding the confidentiality of the information and documents in its possession, the Department of Revenue may release any information or a copy of any document in its possession and custody to any person designated to receive the information or document in a power of attorney or other document authorizing the release of the information or document which has been properly executed by the person or the duly authorized representative of the entity to whom the information or document pertains and where the authorization has not expired, been revoked, cancelled or otherwise rendered ineffective by death or other circumstances. The Department of Revenue may require the prepayment of the cost of the production of such information or records. The Department of Revenue retains the right to deny the release of information and documents for good cause, including, but not limited to, interference with its operation or with an ongoing tax, criminal, permit or regulatory investigation or prosecution, and the possible violation of any federal law, state law or exchange agreement with the Internal Revenue Service, other federal agency, another state agency or the revenue department of another state.