39-13-109. Taxpayer remedies.

(a) Interpretation requests. There are no specific applicable provisions for interpretation requests for this chapter.

(b) Appeals. The following shall apply:

(i) Any person wishing to contest an assessment of his property shall file not later than thirty (30) days after the date of the assessment schedule properly sent pursuant to W.S. 39-13-103(b)(vii), a statement with the county assessor specifying the reasons why the assessment is incorrect. The county assessor shall provide a copy to the county clerk as clerk of the county board of equalization. The county assessor and the person contesting the assessment, or his agent, shall disclose witnesses and exchange information, evidence and documents relevant to the appeal, including sales information from relevant statements of consideration if requested, no later than thirty (30) days prior to the scheduled county board of equalization hearing. The assessor shall specifically identify the sales information used to determine market value of the property under appeal. A county board of equalization may receive evidence relative to any assessment and may require the person assessed or his agent or attorney to appear before it, be examined and produce any documents relating to the assessment. The appeal may be dismissed if any person willfully neglects or refuses to attend a meeting of a county board of equalization and be examined or answer any material question upon the board's request. The state board of equalization shall adopt rules to be followed by any county board of equalization when conducting appeals under this subsection. All hearings shall be conducted in accordance with the rules adopted by the state board of equalization. Each hearing shall be recorded electronically or by a court reporter or a qualified stenographer or transcriptionist. The taxpayer may present any evidence that is relevant, material or not repetitious, including expert opinion testimony, to rebut the presumption in favor of a valuation asserted by the county assessor. The county attorney or his designee may represent the county board or the assessor, but not both. The assessor may be represented by an attorney and the board may hire a hearing officer. All deliberations of the board shall be in public. The county board of equalization may affirm the assessor's valuation or find in favor of the taxpayer and remand the case back to the assessor. The board shall make specific written findings and conclusions as to the evidence presented not later than October 1 of each year;

(ii) A county assessor may appeal any decision or order of the county board of equalization to the state board of equalization;

(iii) Any person aggrieved by any final administrative decision of the department may appeal to the board. Appeals shall be made in a timely manner as provided by rules and regulations of the board by filing with the board a notice of appeal specifying the grounds therefor. A complete record of the action from which the appeal is taken shall be transmitted to the board in a timely manner as specified by board rules and regulations;

(iv) Any person including the state of Wyoming aggrieved by any order issued by the board, or any county board of equalization whose decision has been reversed or modified by the state board of equalization, may appeal the decision of the board to the district court of the county in which the property or some part thereof is situated;

(v) The board and department shall not compromise or reduce the tax liability of any person owing a tax to the state of Wyoming, except that the department for good cause, may, but is not required to, compromise and settle with the taxpayer for payment of any taxes owed to the state of Wyoming which tax liability is disputed in good faith by the taxpayer and which liability has not been settled in law. In case the department and the person owing the tax do not agree with respect to tax liability, the department shall by order, assess and levy the full amount of tax due and any person aggrieved by the assessment may appeal the decision to the board pursuant to the Wyoming Administrative Procedure Act;

(vi) Repealed by Laws 2014, Ch. 106, § 2.

(c) Refunds. The following shall apply:

(i) Within one (1) year following an illegal assessment, levy or collection of taxes an action may be filed in district court to enjoin the illegal assessment, levy or collection. The action shall be against the county assessor in the case of an illegal assessment, the governmental entity which levies an illegal levy, the county treasurer if the levy is entered on the tax list, or against the governmental entity if the taxes were collected and paid to the entity;

(ii) If any person pays any tax, or portion thereof, found to have been erroneous or illegal, the board of county commissioners shall direct the county treasurer to refund the erroneous or illegal payment to the taxpayer. When an increase in the value of any product is subject to the approval of any agency of the United States of America or the state of Wyoming, or of any court, the increased value shall be subject to property taxation. In the event the increase in value is disapproved, either in whole or in part, then the amount of tax which has been paid on the disapproved part of the value shall be considered excess tax. Within one (1) year following the final determination of value, any person who has paid any such excess tax may apply for a refund, and the board of county commissioners shall refund the amount of excess tax paid. Any refund may, at the discretion of the board of county commissioners, be made in the form of credit against future tax payments for a period not to exceed five (5) years. Unless otherwise agreed to by the taxpayer, refunds in the form of credit against future tax payments shall be made in no less than equal annual amounts. The board of county commissioners shall not provide a credit for interest on the excess tax paid unless the taxes are paid under protest due to an appeal pending before the state board of equalization and the taxpayer prevails in the appeal;

(iii) Repealed effective January 1, 2008.

(iv) Repealed by Laws 2008, ch. 101, § 1.

(v) The following shall apply to the property tax refund program:

(A) On or before the first Monday in June, upon the filing of an affidavit demonstrating an adequate showing that he is qualified under subparagraph (B) or (C) of this paragraph, any person may apply to the county treasurer or department of revenue for a property tax refund from property taxes paid with any applicable interest and penalties on or before the first Monday in June for the preceding calendar year upon his principal residence including the land upon which the residence is located. An applicant shall have been a resident of this state for not less than five (5) years prior to applying for a refund under this paragraph. Subject to legislative appropriation, the affidavit shall include information as required by rule and regulation on a form approved by the department of revenue. The tax refund granted shall be as provided by subparagraph (C) of this paragraph;

(B) Gross income as used in this subparagraph shall be defined by the department through rules and regulations. Such gross income shall be verified by federal income tax returns which shall accompany the application for refund, if federal income tax returns were required and filed, or whatever other means necessary as determined by the department through rules and regulations. The tax refund for qualifying persons shall be in the form of a refund of any ad valorem tax due and timely paid upon the person's principal residence for the preceding calendar year in the amount specified in this paragraph. The department shall issue all refunds due under this paragraph on or before September 30 of the year in which application is made for the refund. Any person shall qualify for a refund in the amount specified under this paragraph if the person's gross income including the total household income of which the person is a member does not exceed the greater of three-fourths (3/4) of the median gross household income for the applicant's county of residence or the state, as determined annually by the economic analysis division of the department of administration and information. Additionally, no person shall qualify for a refund under this paragraph unless the person has total household assets as defined by the department of revenue through rules and regulations of not to exceed one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000.00) per adult member of the household as adjusted annually by the statewide average Wyoming cost-of-living index published by the economic analysis division of the department of administration and information, excluding the following:

(I) The value of the home for which the taxpayer is seeking a tax refund;

(II) One (1) personal motor vehicle per adult in the household;

(III) Household furnishings and personal property;

(IV) Assets held in an individual retirement account (IRA) or other bona fide pension plan;

(V) The cash value of any life insurance policies held;

(VI) Assets held in a medical savings account.

(C) A refund granted under this paragraph shall not exceed one-half (1/2) of the applicant's prior year's property tax, but in no instance shall the amount of refund exceed one-half (1/2) of the median residential property tax liability for the applicant's county of residence as determined annually by the department of revenue;

(D) Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to prohibit or affect requirements for property to be listed, valued and assessed by the county assessor pursuant to law. Each year the county shall publicize in a manner reasonably designed to notify all residents of the county the provisions of this paragraph and the method by which eligible persons may obtain a refund;

(E) The department shall promulgate rules and regulations necessary to implement this paragraph.

(d) Credits. The following shall apply:

(i) The following shall apply to the home owner's tax credit:

(A) Subject to subparagraph (G) of this paragraph, a person who occupies a specified homestead as his home and principal residence is entitled to a property tax credit in the amount provided by subparagraph (D) or (E) of this paragraph. No more than one (1) home owner's tax credit shall be allowed on the same piece of property during any year;

(B) A person who wishes to claim a home owner's tax credit shall file a claim under penalties of perjury with the county assessor on or before the fourth Monday in May on forms provided by the department of revenue. The forms may be mailed to property owners and may be published in a newspaper by county assessors and the mailed or published form may be filled out and returned by mail or in person to county assessors. The applicant shall list the property claimed to be subject to the tax credit, state that the property is the principal place of residence of the applicant and state that no other home owner's claims have been or will be submitted by the applicant during the remainder of the calendar year. False claims are punishable as provided by W.S. 6-5-303;

(C) In completing the assessment roll of the county the county assessor shall indicate the assessed value used as a base for computation of the home owner's tax credit and the county treasurer shall collect from the property owner the amount of tax due minus the amount of tax credit allowed. On or before September 1, county assessors shall certify the credits granted pursuant to this section to the department. On or before October 1 the state treasurer out of funds appropriated for that purpose shall reimburse each county treasurer for the amount of taxes which would have been collected if the property tax credit had not been granted. The county treasurer shall distribute to each governmental entity the actual amount of revenue lost due to the tax credit;

(D) The tax credit under subparagraph (A) of this paragraph is one thousand four hundred sixty dollars ($1,460.00) times the mill levy to be applied against the property if the dwelling and land, not to exceed two (2) acres on which the dwelling is located, have a combined assessed value of less than three thousand nine hundred dollars ($3,900.00), or five hundred ninety dollars ($590.00) times the mill levy to be applied against the property if the dwelling and land, not to exceed two (2) acres on which the dwelling is located, have a combined assessed value of at least three thousand nine hundred dollars ($3,900.00) but less than five thousand eight hundred fifty dollars ($5,850.00) and if:

(I) The dwelling and land on which the dwelling is located are owned by the same person or entity; and

(II) The dwelling has been occupied in Wyoming since the beginning of the calendar year by the applicant.

(E) The tax credit under subparagraph (A) of this paragraph is five hundred ninety dollars ($590.00) times the mill levy to be applied against the property if:

(I) The dwelling has an assessed value of less than five thousand eight hundred fifty dollars ($5,850.00); and

(II) The land on which the dwelling is located is not owned by the same person or entity owning the dwelling; and

(III) The dwelling has been occupied in Wyoming since the beginning of the calendar year by the applicant.

(F) As used in this paragraph:

(I) "Applicant" means:

(1) A person who occupies and owns a homestead either solely or jointly with his spouse;

(2) A person who occupies a homestead as a vendee in possession under a contract of sale;

(3) A person who occupies a homestead owned by a corporation primarily formed for the purpose of farming or ranching if the person is a shareholder or is related to a shareholder of the corporation; or

(4) A person who occupies a homestead owned by a partnership primarily formed for the purpose of farming or ranching if the person is a partner or is related to a partner in the partnership.

(1) The purchaser presents a coupon, certificate or other documentation to the seller to claim a price reduction or discount where the coupon certificate or documentation is authorized, distributed or granted by a third party with the understanding that the third party will reimburse any seller to whom the coupon, certificate or documentation is presented;

(2) The purchaser identifies himself to the seller as a member of a group or organization entitled to a price reduction or discount. A preferred customer card that is available to any patron shall not constitute membership in such a group; or

(3) The price reduction or discount is identified as a third party price reduction or discount on the invoice received by the purchaser or on a coupon, certificate or other documentation presented by the purchaser.

(II) "Dwelling" means a house, trailer house, mobile home, transportable home or other dwelling place.

(G) Every person or entity holding an escrow for the payment of taxes on property owned by another shall notify the owner of the property of the amount of home owner's tax credit allowed to the owner under this paragraph annually on or before October 1;

(H) The home owner's tax credit authorized by this paragraph is allowed during a fiscal year only if the legislature has appropriated monies that the department determines to be necessary to reimburse all local governments for tax losses created by this paragraph during that fiscal year. When it appears to the state treasurer that the monies appropriated are insufficient to reimburse the counties as provided herein, the money available shall be prorated among the counties at an amount less than one hundred percent (100%);

(J) The purpose of this paragraph is to provide general property tax relief for certain persons who own their residences through a system of tax credits and general fund appropriations. The relief provided is to offset in part the general tax burden. Thus, the tax relief provided is determined by reference to property tax assessment and collection mechanisms but is not limited to property tax relief nor formulated upon legislative power to relieve such taxes. It is for the general relief of taxes and grounded upon general legislative power. In adopting this method of reimbursement of property taxes and providing that no local government shall incur any loss of property tax revenue under subparagraph (H) of this paragraph, any bond issues or other matters relying upon the assessed value of a local government for computation shall be predicated upon the assessed value of the local government before computation of tax credits under this paragraph.

(e) Redemption. The following shall apply:

(i) Real property sold for delinquent taxes may be redeemed by the legal owner after the date of sale but before a valid tax deed application has been filed and accepted by the county treasurer pursuant to W.S. 39-13-108(e)(v)(A), by paying to the county treasurer to be held subject to order of the holder of the certificate of purchase, the amounts provided by paragraph (iv) or (v) of this subsection. The county treasurer, if satisfied the person has a right to redeem the property, shall issue to the legal owner or his assigns a certificate of redemption stating the facts of the sale substantially as contained in the certificate of purchase, the date of redemption, the amount paid and the name of the person redeeming the property. The county treasurer shall note the redemption in his records and notify the holder of the certificate of purchase;

(ii) A mortgagee of real property, or a purchaser of real property at a mortgage foreclosure sale, shall have the right to partially redeem a certificate of purchase as to that portion of real property in which the mortgagee or purchaser holds an interest. The procedure for partial redemption of certificates of purchase shall be the same as provided in paragraph (i) of this subsection, except that the certificate of redemption shall state the appropriate facts of the partial redemption. A partial redemption under this subsection shall not affect the legal status of a certificate of purchase to the extent of any real property remaining unredeemed;

(iii) An amount not to exceed twenty dollars ($20.00) shall be collected by the county treasurer to be credited to the county treasury for the issuance of a certificate of redemption;

(iv) A person redeeming real property from a person holding a certificate of purchase shall pay the following amounts, excluding attorney's fees, before being entitled to a certificate of redemption:

(A) The amount for which the property was sold at the tax sale, or in the case of a partial redemption, the amount allocated by the county assessor to the portion being redeemed, including the charges provided by W.S. 39-13-108(e)(ix)(A) and (B) plus:

(I) Three percent (3%); plus

(II) Interest at eight percent (8%) per annum since the date of sale except fifteen percent (15%) per annum on all property sold at date of 1982 tax sale and thereafter.

(B) The amount of taxes accruing since the date of sale plus eight percent (8%) per annum if the subsequent taxes were paid by the holder of the certificate of purchase dated before 1982 tax sale. Commencing at date of 1982 tax sale, interest on subsequent taxes if paid by the holder of the certificate of purchase shall be fifteen percent (15%) per annum;

(C) Actual expenses, not to exceed two hundred fifty dollars ($250.00) incurred by the holder of the certificate of purchase if redemption occurs after the holder has given notice of his intent to apply for a treasurer's deed, upon filing a sworn statement of the expense with the county treasurer.

(v) A person redeeming real property from a county holding a certificate of purchase shall pay the amounts provided by subdivision (iv)(A)(II) and subparagraph (iv)(B) of this subsection before being entitled to a certificate of redemption.

(f) Escrow. If taxes are paid under protest to the extent of and due to an appeal pending before the state board of equalization or any court of competent jurisdiction, the county treasurer shall deposit that protested amount under appeal in an interest bearing escrow account and withhold distribution under W.S. 39-13-111 until a final decision on the appeal has been rendered. To the extent the taxpayer prevails in the appeal, the county treasurer shall refund that amount under appeal, plus interest earned thereon, to the taxpayer within thirty (30) days from the day the final decision is rendered. If the taxpayer pays to the county an amount in excess of the protested amount under appeal, the excess shall be distributed as provided under W.S. 39-13-111.