2019 Oregon Revised Statutes
Volume : 08 - Revenue and Taxation
Chapter 320 - Miscellaneous Taxes
Section 320.450 - Liability for taxes; amounts held in trust; warrants for collection; conference; appeal.

(2) If a seller of taxable vehicles fails to remit any amount of transportation project taxes, whether collected or not, the department may enforce collection by the issuance of a distraint warrant for the collection of the delinquent amount and all penalties, interest and collection charges accrued on the delinquent amount. The warrant shall be issued and proceeded upon in the same manner and shall have the same force and effect as is prescribed with respect to warrants for the collection of delinquent income taxes.

(3)(a) In the case of a seller that is assessed under the provisions of ORS 305.265 (12) and 314.407 (1), the department may issue a notice of liability to any officer, employee or member of the seller at any time within three years after the assessment. Within 30 days after the date on which the notice of liability is mailed to the officer, employee or member, the officer, employee or member shall pay the assessment, plus penalties and interest, or advise the department in writing of objections to the liability and, if desired, request a conference. A conference shall be governed by the provisions of ORS 305.265 pertaining to a conference requested from a notice of deficiency.

(b) After a conference or, if no conference is requested, a determination of the issues raised in the written objections, the department shall mail the officer, employee or member a conference letter affirming, canceling or adjusting the notice of liability. Within 90 days after the date on which the conference letter is mailed to the officer, employee or member, the officer, employee or member shall pay the assessment, plus penalties and interest, or appeal to the tax court in the manner provided for an appeal from a notice of assessment.

(c) If the department does not receive payment or written objection to the notice of liability within 30 days after the notice of liability was mailed, the notice of liability becomes final. The officer, employee or member may appeal the notice of liability to the tax court within 90 days after the notice became final in the manner provided for an appeal from a notice of assessment.

(4)(a) In the case of a seller that fails to file a return on the due date, in addition to any action described in the provisions of ORS 305.265 (10) and 314.400, the department may issue a notice of determination and assessment to any officer, employee or member of the seller at any time within three years after the assessment. The time of assessment against the officer, employee or member is 30 days after the date on which the notice of determination and assessment is mailed. Within 30 days after the date on which the notice of determination and assessment is mailed to the officer, employee or member, the officer, employee or member shall pay the assessment, plus penalties and interest, or advise the department in writing of objections to the assessment and, if desired, request a conference. A conference shall be governed by the provisions of ORS 305.265 pertaining to a conference requested from a notice of deficiency.

(b) After a conference or, if no conference is requested, a determination of the issues raised in the written objections, the department shall mail the officer, employee or member a conference letter affirming, canceling or adjusting the notice of determination and assessment. Within 90 days after the date on which the conference letter is mailed to the officer, employee or member, the officer, employee or member shall pay the assessment, plus penalties and interest, or appeal to the tax court in the manner provided for an appeal from a notice of assessment.

(c) If the department does not receive payment or written objection to the notice of determination and assessment within 30 days after the notice of determination and assessment was mailed, the notice of determination and assessment becomes final. The officer, employee or member may appeal the notice of determination and assessment to the tax court within 90 days after the notice became final in the manner provided for an appeal from a notice of assessment.

(5)(a) More than one officer or employee of a corporation may be held jointly and severally liable for payment of transportation project taxes.

(b) Notwithstanding the confidentiality provisions of ORS 320.475, if the department determines that more than one officer or employee of a corporation may be held jointly and severally liable for payment of the transportation project taxes, the department may require any or all of the officers or employees to appear before the department for a joint determination of liability. The department shall notify each officer or employee of the time and place set for the determination of liability.

(c) Each individual notified of a joint determination under this subsection must appear and present such information as is necessary to establish the individual’s liability or nonliability for payment of the taxes to the department. If an individual who was notified fails to appear, the department shall make the determination on the basis of all the information and evidence presented. The department’s determination is binding on all individuals notified and required to appear under this subsection.

(d)(A) If any individual determined to be liable for unpaid transportation project taxes under this subsection appeals the determination to the Oregon Tax Court under ORS 320.470, the individual plaintiff shall implead all individuals required to appear with the plaintiff before the department under this subsection. The department may implead any officer or employee who may be held jointly and severally liable for the payment of the transportation project taxes. Each individual impleaded under this paragraph shall be made a party to the action before the tax court and shall make available to the tax court the information that was presented before the department, as well as other information that may be presented to the tax court.

(B) The tax court may determine that one or more individuals impleaded under this paragraph are liable for unpaid transportation project taxes without regard to any earlier determination by the department that an impleaded individual was not liable for the unpaid taxes.

(C) If an individual required to appear before the tax court under this subsection fails or refuses to appear or bring such information in part or in whole, or is outside the jurisdiction of the tax court, the tax court shall make its determination on the basis of all the evidence introduced. Notwithstanding ORS 320.475, the evidence introduced in the tax court constitutes a public record and shall be available to the parties and the tax court. The determination of the tax court is binding on all individuals made parties to the action under this subsection.

(e) This subsection may not be construed to preclude a determination by the department or the tax court that more than one officer or employee is jointly and severally liable for unpaid transportation project taxes. [2017 c.750 §99]