103 KAR 1:010. Protests and appeals

      Section 1. Protest - Assessments. (1) Taxpayers will be notified of additional tax assessments by mail. Payment including interest from the original due date, in the absence of protest, must be made within forty-five (45) days from the date of the notice of tax due.

      (2) A written protest may be filed by the taxpayer, or other persons representing the taxpayer, against additional assessments. The protest shall be filed with the Revenue Cabinet within forty-five (45) days from the date of notice.

      (3) A hearing may also be requested. The taxpayer may appear in person or by representative. If a taxpayer is not present in person, or if a corporation is not represented by an authorized officer, the cabinet may require the taxpayer's representative to furnish evidence of his authority to act for the taxpayer. Consideration will be given to additional information presented in the protest and at hearings and the additional assessment may be adjusted accordingly.

      (4) As provided in KRS 131.081, a taxpayer may make an audio recording of any conference with or hearing by the Revenue Cabinet. However, the Revenue Cabinet may make such a recording only if the taxpayer is given prior written notice. If the conference or hearing is recorded by the Revenue Cabinet, the taxpayer may obtain a copy or transcript thereof as provided in KRS 61.874.

 

      Section 2. Protests - Refund or Credit Denials. (1) Taxpayers will also be notified by mail of disallowance or partial disallowance of any refund or credit claim including a refund or credit requested upon any return.

      (2) A taxpayer may protest such disallowance or partial disallowance by written protest filed with the Revenue Cabinet, within forty-five (45) days of the disallowance. Procedures governing protests and hearings for refunds and credits are the same as for assessments.

 

      Section 3. Final Ruling. If the taxpayer's protest of an assessment or refund or credit denial cannot be resolved through correspondence and/or conferences with officials of the Revenue Cabinet and he desires to exercise his rights of further appeal, the taxpayer may request in writing a final ruling at any time after the filing of a timely protest and supporting statements. The final ruling shall be given to the taxpayer within thirty (30) days from the date the request is received by the cabinet.

 

      Section 4. Appeal - Kentucky Board of Tax Appeals. (The following procedure is prescribed by rules and administrative regulations of the board):

      (1) If a taxpayer desires to appeal a final ruling of the cabinet he may, within thirty (30) days from the date of such ruling, apply for a hearing before the Kentucky Board of Tax Appeals. The appeal:

      (a) Must be filed in quintuplicate;

      (b) Must contain a brief statement of the law and facts in issue;

      (c) Must state the petitioner's position regarding the law, facts, or both; and

      (d) Must contain a copy of the final ruling of the cabinet.

      (2) The board will set a date for a formal hearing. The hearing procedure before the board will be in accordance with the board's rules.

      (3) On the basis of the hearing, briefs, and other documents, the board will issue a written order which will affirm, reverse, modify or remand the final ruling, and will forward a copy of the order to the taxpayer and the cabinet. Assessments upheld by the board shall be due and payable thirty (30) days after the date of the board's order. In the absence of appeal, penalties for failure to pay tax when due apply if payment is not made within thirty (30) days after the date of the board's order.

      (4) Interest from the original due date of the return until the tax is paid shall be added to the additional assessments.

      (5) As provided in KRS 131.355, all hearings before the board are required to be officially reported and all records of proceedings shall be public records except in the case of appeals of unmined minerals assessments in which, under specified circumstances, the statute prohibits disclosure of records or any recorded or transcribed testimony concerning such records. In such cases, a protective order is required to be entered and remain in effect during the entire appeals process, including appeals to the courts, and thereafter, preventing the parties, their agents and representatives, except the taxpayer, from disclosing the confidential records or testimony concerning them outside the appeals proceedings.

 

      Section 5. Appeal - Circuit Court. Any party aggrieved by a final order of the Kentucky Board of Tax Appeals may, within thirty (30) days after such order becomes final, file a notice of appeal with the Kentucky Board of Tax Appeals and shall serve a copy of said notice upon all other parties to the appeal. A statement of appeal must then be filed within (30) days after the date on which the notice of appeal was filed with the appropriate circuit court, with a copy of the ruling made before the Kentucky Board of Tax Appeals. The statement of appeal must conform to that required to be filed in the Kentucky Supreme Court. Pursuant to KRS 131.370, if the appeal is from an order sustaining a tax assessment, collection of the tax may be stayed by the filing of a supersedeas bond in the manner directed by the Rules of Civil Procedure, or by payment of the tax as provided in KRS 134.580(1).

 

      Section 6. Appeal - Kentucky Court of Appeals and Kentucky Supreme Court. Any party may appeal to the Kentucky Court of Appeals and to the Kentucky Supreme Court under rules provided by those courts. (GA-1; 1 Ky.R. 137; Am. 324; eff. 12-11-74; 3 Ky.R. 381; eff. 12-1-76; 9 Ky.R. 1150; eff. 5-4-83; 17 Ky.R. 1126; eff. 11-21-90.)

Notation

      RELATES TO: KRS 131.081, 131.110, 131.340, 131.345, 131.360, 131.370, 139.760, 139.980(4)

      STATUTORY AUTHORITY: KRS Chapter 13A, 131.130

      NECESSITY, FUNCTION, AND CONFORMITY: This administrative regulation summarizes significant portions of the statutes dealing with taxpayer protest and appeal rights and outlines procedures to facilitate the filing, processing and disposition of such protests and appeal.