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270B.03 Disclosure to data subject.

Subdivision 1. Who may inspect. Returns and return information must, on written request, be made open to inspection by or disclosure to the data subject. For purposes of this chapter, the following are the data subject:

(1) in the case of an individual return, that individual;

(2) in the case of an income tax return filed jointly, either of the individuals with respect to whom the return is filed;

(3) in the case of a partnership return, any person who was a member of the partnership during any part of the period covered by the return;

(4) in the case of the return of a corporation or its subsidiary:

(i) any person designated by resolution of the board of directors or other similar governing body;

(ii) any officer or employee of the corporation upon written request signed by any officer and attested to by the secretary or another officer;

(iii) any bona fide shareholder of record owning one percent or more of the outstanding stock of the corporation;

(iv) if the corporation is a corporation that has made an election under section 1362 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended through December 31, 1988, any person who was a shareholder during any part of the period covered by the return during which an election was in effect; or

(v) if the corporation has been dissolved, any person authorized by state law to act for the corporation or any person who would have been authorized if the corporation had not been dissolved;

(5) in the case of an estate return:

(i) the personal representative or trustee of the estate; and

(ii) any beneficiary of the estate as shown on the federal estate tax return;

(6) in the case of a trust return:

(i) the trustee or trustees, jointly or separately; and

(ii) any beneficiary of the trust as shown in the trust instrument;

(7) if liability has been assessed to a transferee under section 289A.31, subdivision 3, the transferee is the data subject with regard to the returns and return information relating to the assessed liability;

(8) in the case of an Indian tribal government or an Indian tribal government-owned entity,

(i) the chair of the tribal government, or

(ii) any person authorized by the tribal government; and

(9) in the case of a successor as defined in section 270.102, subdivision 1, paragraph (b), the successor is the data subject and information may be disclosed as provided by section 270.102, subdivision 4.

Subd. 2. Incapacitation. If an individual is legally incapacitated under sections 525.539 to 525.61, or similar laws of another state, that individual's return and return information is, upon written request, open to inspection by or disclosure to the guardian or conservator appointed for the individual or the individual's estate.

Subd. 3. Deceased individuals. Notwithstanding section 13.10, a return filed by or on behalf of a decedent is open to inspection by or disclosure to:

(1) the personal representative of the decedent's estate or trustee appointed under section 573.02, subdivision 3, or a similar law of another state; and

(2) a claimant under section 290A.18, subdivision 1.

Subd. 4. Title 11 of the United States Code and receivership proceedings. (a) A return is open to inspection by or disclosure to the trustee or receiver if:

(1) there is a trustee in a title 11 (United States Bankruptcy Code) case in which the debtor is the person with respect to whom the return is filed; or

(2) substantially all of the property of the person with respect to whom the return is filed is in the hands of a receiver.

(b) In an involuntary bankruptcy case of an individual, no disclosure may be made under paragraph (a) until the order for relief has been entered by the court having jurisdiction of the case, unless the court finds that disclosure is appropriate for purposes of determining whether an order for relief should be entered.

Subd. 5. Attorney in fact. Any return or return information to which this section applies is, upon written request, open to inspection by or disclosure to the attorney in fact duly authorized in a writing signed by the data subject or to the person or persons designated by the data subject in a written request for or consent to the disclosure.

Subd. 6. Investigative data. Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, the disclosure of investigative data collected or created by the department of revenue in order to prepare a case against a person, whether known or unknown, for the commission of a crime is governed by section 13.82, subdivision 5, during an investigation. When the investigation becomes inactive, as defined in section 13.82, subdivision 5, the previous classifications become effective.

Subd. 7. Requests. The commissioner may prescribe a form to be completed by the data subject requesting or authorizing inspection or disclosure of returns and return information.

Subd. 8. Access to data. Section 13.03, subdivision 3, applies to requests for access to data under this section.

HIST: 1989 c 184 art 1 s 3; 1991 c 199 art 2 s 1; 1994 c 510 art 3 s 4; 1995 c 259 art 1 s 43; 1995 c 264 art 19 s 2; 1Sp1997 c 3 s 31-33

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