| If the State Tax Assessor determines, upon written application by |
a taxpayer or during the course of an audit, that any tax under |
this chapter has been paid more than once or has been erroneously |
or illegally computed, the assessor shall certify to the State |
Controller the amount paid in excess of that legally due. That |
amount must be credited by the assessor on any taxes then due from |
the taxpayer and the balance refunded to the taxpayer or its |
successor in interest, but no such credit or refund may be allowed |
unless within 3 years from the date of overpayment either a written |
petition stating the grounds upon which the refund or credit is |
claimed is filed with the assessor or the overpayment is discovered |
on audit. Interest at the rate determined pursuant to section 186 |
must be paid on any balance refunded pursuant to this chapter from |
the date the return listing the overpayment was filed or the date |
the payment was made, whichever is later, except that in cases of |
excessive or erroneous collections interest must be paid in |
accordance with section 4949, subsection 3. At the election of the |
assessor, unless the taxpayer specifically requests a cash refund, |
the refund may be credited to the taxpayer's meals and rentals tax |
account, but in the case of a credit no further interest may accrue |
from the date of that election. The taxpayer may not apply for a |
refund of any amount assessed when administrative and judicial |
review under section 151 has been completed. |