289A.38 Limitations on time for assessment of tax.
Subdivision 1. General rule. Except as otherwise provided in this section, the amount of taxes assessable must be assessed within 3-1/2 years after the date the return is filed.
Subd. 2. Filing date. For purposes of this section, a tax return filed before the last day prescribed by law for filing is considered to be filed on the last day.
Subd. 3. Estate taxes. Estate taxes must be assessed within 180 days after the return and the documents required under section 289A.10, subdivision 2, have been filed.
Subd. 4. Property tax refund. For purposes of computing the limitation under this section, the due date of the property tax refund return as provided for in chapter 290A is the due date for an income tax return covering the year in which the rent was paid or the year preceding the year in which the property taxes are payable.
Subd. 5. False or fraudulent return; no return. Notwithstanding the limitations under subdivisions 1 and 3, the tax may be assessed at any time if a false or fraudulent return is filed or when a taxpayer fails to file a return.
Subd. 6. Omission in excess of 25 percent. Additional taxes may be assessed within 6-1/2 years after the due date of the return or the date the return was filed, whichever is later, if:
(1) the taxpayer omits from gross income an amount properly includable in it that is in excess of 25 percent of the amount of gross income stated in the return;
(2) the taxpayer omits from a sales or withholding tax return an amount in excess of 25 percent of the taxes reported in the return; or
(3) the taxpayer omits from the gross estate assets in excess of 25 percent of the gross estate reported in the return.
Subd. 7. Federal tax changes. If the amount of income, items of tax preference, deductions, or credits for any year of a taxpayer as reported to the Internal Revenue Service is changed or corrected by the commissioner of Internal Revenue or other officer of the United States or other competent authority, or where a renegotiation of a contract or subcontract with the United States results in a change in income, items of tax preference, deductions, credits, or withholding tax, or, in the case of estate tax, where there are adjustments to the taxable estate resulting in a change to the credit for state death taxes, the taxpayer shall report the change or correction or renegotiation results in writing to the commissioner. The report must be submitted within 180 days after the final determination and must be in the form of either an amended Minnesota estate, withholding tax, or income tax return conceding the accuracy of the federal determination or a letter detailing how the federal determination is incorrect or does not change the Minnesota tax. An amended Minnesota income tax return must be accompanied by an amended property tax refund return, if necessary. A taxpayer filing an amended federal tax return must also file a copy of the amended return with the commissioner of revenue within 180 days after filing the amended return.
Subd. 8. Failure to report change or correction of federal return. If a taxpayer fails to make a report as required by subdivision 7, the commissioner may recompute the tax, including a refund, based on information available to the commissioner. The tax may be recomputed within six years after the report should have been filed, notwithstanding any period of limitations to the contrary.
Subd. 9. Report made of change or correction of federal return. If a taxpayer is required to make a report under subdivision 7, and does report the change or files a copy of the amended return, the commissioner may recompute and reassess the tax due, including a refund (1) within one year after the report or amended return is filed with the commissioner, notwithstanding any period of limitations to the contrary, or (2) within any other applicable period stated in this section, whichever period is longer. The period provided for the carryback of any amount of loss or credit is also extended as provided in this subdivision, notwithstanding any law to the contrary. If the commissioner has completed a field audit of the taxpayer, and, but for this subdivision, the commissioner's time period to adjust the tax has expired, the additional tax due or refund is limited to only those changes that are required to be made to the return which relate to the changes made on the federal return. This subdivision does not apply to sales and use tax.
For purposes of this subdivision and section 289A.42, subdivision 2, a "field audit" is the physical presence of examiners in the taxpayer's or taxpayer's representative's office conducting an examination of the taxpayer with the intention of issuing an assessment or notice of change in tax or which results in the issuing of an assessment or notice of change in tax. The examination may include inspecting a taxpayer's place of business, tangible personal property, equipment, computer systems and facilities, pertinent books, records, papers, vouchers, computer printouts, accounts, and documents.
Subd. 10. Incorrect determination of federal adjusted gross income. Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, if a taxpayer whose net income is determined under section 290.01, subdivision 19, omits from income an amount that will under the Internal Revenue Code extend the statute of limitations for the assessment of federal income taxes, or otherwise incorrectly determines the taxpayer's federal adjusted gross income resulting in adjustments by the Internal Revenue Service, then the period of assessment and determination of tax will be that under the Internal Revenue Code. When a change is made to federal income during the extended time provided under this subdivision, the provisions under subdivisions 7 to 9 regarding additional extensions apply.
Subd. 11. Net operating loss carryback. If a deficiency of tax is attributable to a net operating loss carryback that has been disallowed in whole or in part, the deficiency may be assessed at any time that a deficiency for the taxable year of the loss may be assessed.
Subd. 12. Request for early audit for individual income, fiduciary income, mining company, and corporate franchise taxes. (a) Tax must be assessed within 18 months after written request for an assessment has been made in the case of income received (1) during the lifetime of a decedent, (2) by the decedent's estate during the period of administration, (3) by a trustee of a terminating trust or other fiduciary who, because of custody of assets, would be liable for the payment of tax under section 289A.31, subdivision 4, or (4) by a mining company or a corporation. A proceeding in court for the collection of the tax must begin within two years after written request for the assessment (filed after the return is made and in the form the commissioner prescribes) by the personal representative or other fiduciary representing the estate of the decedent, or by the trustee of a terminating trust or other fiduciary who, because of custody of assets, would be liable for the payment of tax under section 289A.31, subdivision 4, or by the corporation. Except as provided in section 289A.42, subdivision 1, an assessment must not be made after the expiration of 3-1/2 years after the return was filed, and an action must not be brought after the expiration of four years after the return was filed.
(b) Paragraph (a) only applies in the case of a mining company or a corporation if:
(1) the written request notifies the commissioner that the corporation contemplates dissolution at or before the expiration of the 18-month period;
(2) the dissolution is begun in good faith before the expiration of the 18-month period; and
(3) the dissolution is completed within the 18-month period.
Subd. 13. Time limit for assessment and collection for transferee or fiduciary. The period of limitation for assessment and collection of any liability of a transferee or fiduciary is as follows:
(1) In the case of the liability of an initial transferee of the property of the taxpayer, the tax may be assessed within one year after the expiration of the period of limitation of assessment against the taxpayer. The tax may be collected by action brought within one year after the expiration of the period of limitation for the starting of an action against the taxpayer.
(2) In the case of the liability of the transferee of a transferee of the property of the taxpayer, the tax may be assessed within one year after the expiration of the period of limitation for assessment against the preceding transferee, but only if within 3-1/2 years after the expiration of the period of limitation for assessment against the taxpayer. The tax may be collected by action brought within one year after the expiration of the period of limitation for the starting of an action against the preceding transferee, but only if within four years after the expiration of the period of limitation for bringing an action against the taxpayer; except that if before the expiration of the period of limitation for the assessment of the liability of the transferee a court proceeding for the collection of the tax or liability has been begun against the taxpayer or last preceding transferee, liability of the transferee expires one year after the return of execution in the court proceeding and the period of limitation for collection by action will expire one year after the liability is assessed.
(3) In the case of the liability of a fiduciary, the tax may be assessed up to one year after the liability arises or not later than the expiration of the period for collection of the tax for which the liability arises, whichever is later, and may be collected by action brought within one year after assessment.
(4) For the purposes of this subdivision, if the taxpayer is deceased, or in the case of a corporation, has ended its existence, the period of limitation for assessment against the taxpayer will be the period that would be in effect had death or termination of existence not occurred.
As used in this subdivision, the term "transferee" includes heir, legatee, devisee, and distributee.
Subd. 14. Failure to timely file withholding reconciliation. If an employer fails to timely file the reconciliation required by section 289A.09, subdivision 2, paragraph (d), withholding taxes may be assessed within the period prescribed in subdivision 1, or within one year from the date the reconciliation is filed with the commissioner, whichever is later.
HIST: 1990 c 480 art 1 s 18; 1991 c 291 art 6 s 12,13,46; art 11 s 9; 1992 c 511 art 6 s 19; 1993 c 375 art 8 s 14; 1994 c 587 art 1 s 24; 1995 c 264 art 10 s 3; 1997 c 31 art 1 s 11; 1998 c 300 art 1 s 3
Official Publication of the State of Minnesota
Revisor of Statutes