2006 Minnesota Statutes

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, use, or withholding tax return an amount of taxes 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, corporate franchise 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 270C.58, subdivision 2, 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 270C.58, subdivision 2, 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.[Repealed, 2005 c 151 art 1 s 117]
    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.
    Subd. 15. Purchaser filed refund claims. If a purchaser refund claim is filed under section
289A.50, subdivision 2a, and the basis for the claim is that the purchaser was improperly charged
tax on an improvement to real property or on the purchase of nontaxable services, sales or use
tax may be assessed for the cost of materials used to make the real property improvement or to
perform the nontaxable service. The assessment may be made against the person making the
improvement to real property or the sale of nontaxable services, within the period prescribed in
subdivision 1, or within one year after the date of the refund order, whichever is later.
    Subd. 16. Reportable transactions. (a) If a taxpayer fails to include on any return or
statement for any taxable year any information with respect to a reportable transaction, as
required by federal law and under section 289A.121, the commissioner may recompute the tax,
including a refund, within the later of:
(1) six years after the return is filed with respect to the taxable year in which the taxpayer
participated in the reportable transaction; or
(2) for a listed transaction, as defined in section 289A.121, for which the taxpayer fails to
include on any return or statement for any taxable year any information that is required under
section 289A.121, one year after the earlier of:
(i) the date the taxpayer furnishes the required information to the commissioner; or
(ii) the date that a material advisor, as defined in section 289A.121, meets the requirements
of section 289A.121, relating to the transaction with respect to the taxpayer.
(b) If tax is assessable solely because of this section, the assessable deficiency is limited to
the items that were not disclosed as required under section 289A.121.
History: 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; 2005 c 151 art 2 s 17; art 6 s 5; art 7 s 1,2; 1Sp2005 c 3 art 8 s 3