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469.328 REPAYMENT OF TAX BENEFITS.

Subdivision 1.Repayment obligation.

A person must repay the amount of the tax reduction received under section 469.324, subdivision 1, clauses (1) to (5), or credit received under section 469.327, during the two years immediately before it ceased to operate in the zone as a qualified business, if the person ceased to operate its facility located within the zone, ceased to be in compliance with the terms of the business subsidy agreement, or otherwise ceases to be or is not a qualified business.

Subd. 2.Disposition of repayment.

The repayment must be paid to the state to the extent it represents a state tax reduction and to the county to the extent it represents a property tax reduction. Any amount repaid to the state must be deposited in the general fund. Any amount repaid to the county for the property tax exemption must be distributed to the local governments with authority to levy taxes in the zone in the same manner provided for distribution of payment of delinquent property taxes. Any repayment of local sales or use taxes must be repaid to the jurisdiction imposing the local sales or use tax.

Subd. 3.Repayment procedures.

(a) For the repayment of taxes imposed under chapter 290 or 297A or local taxes collected pursuant to section 297A.99, a person must file an amended return with the commissioner of revenue and pay any taxes required to be repaid within 30 days after ceasing to be a qualified business. The amount required to be repaid is determined by calculating the tax for the period for which repayment is required without regard to the tax reductions and credits allowed under section 469.324.

(b) For the repayment of property taxes, the county auditor shall prepare a tax statement for the person, applying the applicable tax extension rates for each payable year and provide a copy to the business. The person must pay the taxes to the county treasurer within 30 days after receipt of the tax statement. The taxpayer may appeal the valuation and determination of the property tax to the tax court within 30 days after receipt of the tax statement.

(c) The provisions of chapters 270C and 289A relating to the commissioner of revenue's authority to audit, assess, and collect the tax and to hear appeals are applicable to the repayment required under paragraphs (a) and (b). The commissioner may impose civil penalties as provided in chapter 289A, and the additional tax and penalties are subject to interest at the rate provided in section 270C.40, from 30 days after ceasing to do business in the zone until the date the tax is paid.

(d) If a property tax is not repaid under paragraph (c), the county treasurer shall add the amount required to be repaid to the property taxes assessed against the property for payment in the year following the year in which the treasurer discovers that the person ceased to operate in the international economic development zone.

(e) For determining the tax required to be repaid, a tax reduction is deemed to have been received on the date that the tax would have been due if the person had not been entitled to the tax reduction.

(f) The commissioner of revenue may assess the repayment of taxes under paragraph (d) at any time within two years after the person ceases to be a qualified business, or within any period of limitations for the assessment of tax under section 289A.38, whichever is later.

Subd. 4.Waiver authority.

The commissioner of revenue may waive all or part of a repayment, if, in consultation with the foreign trade zone authority and appropriate officials from the state and local government units, including the commissioner of employment and economic development, determines that requiring repayment of the tax is not in the best interest of the state or local government and the business ceased operating as a result of circumstances beyond its control, including, but not limited to:

(1) a natural disaster;

(2) unforeseen industry trends; or

(3) loss of a major supplier or customer.

Official Publication of the State of Minnesota
Revisor of Statutes