Procedure for refund of overpayments, duplicate payments, and erroneous

payments of tax. 1. For purposes of this section, "taxpayer" means the party who has actually remitted an overpayment, duplicate payment, or erroneous payment of tax. 2. A claim for credit or refund must be made by filing an amended return with the commissioner. 3. A claim for credit or refund must be made within the applicable time period specified in North Dakota Century Code section 57-51-19. For the purpose of determining whether there has been a change in tax liability on any return by an amount in excess of twenty-five percent of the amount of tax liability reported on a return, the change in tax liability must be determined on a well or unit basis, as reported on the return. If no tax has been paid on production from a well or unit for any production month, the requirement of a change in the liability in excess of twenty-five percent is automatically met. 4. The commissioner shall notify the taxpayer as to the amount of refund or credit granted within a reasonable time of the claim. If the commissioner decides to deny the taxpayer's claim for refund or credit, in part or in full, a notice of refund change must be sent by certified mail with a return receipt requested, and it must state the reasons for the decision. 5. The notice of refund change becomes final and irrevocable unless the taxpayer files a protest and statement of grounds with the commissioner pursuant to section 81-01.1-01-06. If a taxpayer protests only a portion of the commissioner's decision, the portion which is not protested becomes finally and irrevocably fixed. The commissioner shall provide a detailed response to the statement of grounds pursuant to section 81-01.1-01-07. 6. Upon request, the commissioner may grant the taxpayer an informal conference. 7. If a protest and statement of grounds are filed, the commissioner shall reconsider the notice of refund change. This reconsideration may include further examination by the commissioner of the taxpayer's books, papers, records, or memoranda, pursuant to section 81-01.1-01-03 and North Dakota Century Code sections 57-01-02 and 57-01-07. 8. Pursuant to section 81-01.1-01-08, the commissioner shall send a notice of reconsideration to the taxpayer by certified mail with a return receipt requested stating the amount of refund or credit denied. 9. The notice of reconsideration becomes final and irrevocable unless the taxpayer seeks formal administrative review of the notice by filing a complaint and requesting an administrative hearing pursuant to sections 81-01.1-02-01 and 81-01.1-02-02.1. The complaint must be served personally or by certified mail. The provisions of North Dakota Century Code chapter 28-32 apply to and govern the filing of the complaint and the administrative hearing procedure, including an appeal from any decision rendered by the commissioner.