Section 57-01-02 - Powers and dutiesThe tax commissioner:
1. Shall perform all the duties imposed upon the tax commissioner by law.2. Shall exercise general supervision over all assessors of general property or other taxes, over township, county, and city boards of equalization and over all other assessing officers, in the performance of their duties, to the end that all assessments of property be made relatively just and equal in compliance with the laws of the state.3. Shall direct actions and prosecutions to be instituted to enforce the laws relating to the penalties, liabilities, and punishments of persons, officers of corporations, limited liability companies, public officers, and others, for failure or neglect to comply with the provisions of law governing the returns, assessments, and taxation of property, income, or other objects of taxation, cause complaints to be made against officers for neglect or refusal to comply with the law, and generally shall enforce all tax proceedings and revenue laws of the state in the proper courts.4. May require state's attorneys of the several counties to assist in the commencement and prosecution of actions and proceedings for the violation of any laws in respect to assessment or taxation.5. May require township, city, county, and other public officers to report information as to the assessment and collection of property and other taxes, receipts from licenses and other sources, the expenditure of public funds for all purposes, and such other information as may be needful in the administration of the tax laws, in such form and upon such blanks as the tax commissioner may prescribe.6. May summon witnesses to appear and give testimony and produce books, records, papers, and documents relating to any matter which the tax commissioner or the state board of equalization may have authority to investigate or determine, and may cause the depositions of witnesses residing within or without the state, or temporarily absent therefrom, to be taken, upon notice to the interested parties, if any, in like manner as depositions of witnesses are taken in civil actions in the district court.7. May require a new assessment of property in any county to be made in accordance with chapter 57-14, whenever that is deemed necessary, or may require county auditors to place on the assessment rolls property which may be discovered and which has not been taxed according to law. For purposes of this subsection, "new assessment" means a new assessment as defined in section 57-14-08.8. Shall examine carefully all cases in which evasions or violations of the laws of assessment and taxation of property or other objects or subjects of taxation are alleged, complained of, or discovered, and shall ascertain wherein existing laws are defective or are administered improperly or negligently.9. Shall submit a biennial report to the governor and the secretary of state in accordance with section 54-06-04. The report must contain the biennial report of the state board of equalization.10. Shall visit other states and confer with taxing officials and attend tax or other economic conferences or conventions, in person or by the tax commissioner's authorized agent.11. Shall certify all levies, assessments, equalizations, or valuations made by the tax commissioner or the state board of equalization, not more than thirty days after the same have been made, or at periods otherwise provided by law.12. May execute reciprocal agreements with the appropriate officials of any other state under which the tax commissioner may waive all or any part of the requirements imposed by the laws or statutes of this state upon those who use or consume in this state gasoline, other motor vehicle fuel, or special fuel upon which the tax has been paid to that other state; provided, that the officials of that other state grant the equivalent privileges with respect to gasoline, other motor vehicle fuel, or special fuel used in that other state upon which the tax has been paid to this state.13. May maintain an accounting system that includes a special category of accounts designated as noncurrent accounts. The noncurrent accounts must be those accounts that are uncollectible as a matter of law or those accounts in which all reasonable collection efforts over a period of six years have produced no results. After examination by the state auditor, and upon the state auditor's recommendation for cause, specific accounts may be removed by the commissioner from noncurrent status and all records pertaining thereto immediately destroyed.14. May waive, upon a showing of good cause, any and all tax due. A lien must have been filed against the debtor's property prior to the request for a waiver. The attorney general shall approve the waiver. Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, if a debtor and the internal revenue service enter into an offer in compromise pursuant to section 7122 of the Internal Revenue Code [ 26 U.S.C. 7122 ], as amended, the tax commissioner may reduce a debtor's individual income tax liability. However, if the federal offer in compromise, for any reason, is subsequently declared void by the internal revenue service, the debtor is liable for the original amount of tax due.15.a. May allow a taxpayer to elect to pay the tax liability to the state no later than the date the payment is required by law to be made in funds which are immediately available to the state on the date of payment. An election to pay the tax under this subdivision is binding until the taxpayer applies to the tax commissioner to rescind the election. Payment in immediately available funds may be made by wire transfer of funds through the federal reserve system or by any other means established by the commissioner which ensures the availability of the funds to the state on the date of payment. Evidence of the payment must be furnished to the commissioner on or before the due date of the tax as established by law. Failure to timely make the payment in immediately available funds or failure to provide evidence of payment in a timely manner subjects the taxpayer to penalty and interest as provided by law for delinquent or deficient tax payments.b. May establish by rule periodic filing and payment dates that are subsequent to the dates otherwise established by law for any taxes collected by the commissioner in those instances in which the commissioner deems it to be in the best interest of the state, provided that the alternative date may not be later than the last day of the month in which the tax was otherwise due.c. May adopt rules necessary for the administration of this subsection.16. May participate in the treasury offset program administered by the United States department of treasury as prescribed by federal law and regulation. An amount equal to the amount of fees for participation in this program and any repayment of refunds erroneously received is appropriated as a standing and continuing appropriation to the tax commissioner for payment of fees due under this program and any required repayments.17. Upon receipt of a written request from the chairman of the legislative management or the chairman of a standing committee of the legislative assembly, the tax commissioner shall disclose the amount of any tax deduction or credit that was claimed or earned by a taxpayer. This subsection does not authorize disclosure of the taxpayer's name or any other information prohibited from disclosure under title 57. The tax commissioner shall provide notice to taxpayers of possible disclosure under this subsection, in a manner as prescribed by the tax commissioner.Amended by S.L. 2017, ch. 398 (HB 1354),§ 1, eff. 8/1/2017.Amended by S.L. 2011, ch. 441 (SB 2294),§ 1, eff. 8/1/2011.