§ 26-18-705 - Arkansas Statutes

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Understanding the Arkansas Offer in Compromise Procedures

26-18-705. Settlement or compromise of liability controversies.

(a) The director may enter into an agreement to compound, settle, or compromise any controversy relating to a state tax or any admitted or established tax liability as to any tax collectible under any state law when:

(1) The controversy is over the amount of tax due; or

(2) The inability to pay results from the insolvency of the taxpayer.

(b) The director may waive or remit the interest or penalty, or any portion of the interest or penalty, ordinarily accruing because of a taxpayer's failure to pay a state tax within the statutory period allowed for its payment:

(1) If the taxpayer's failure to pay the tax is satisfactorily explained to the director;

(2) If the failure results from a mistake by the taxpayer of either the law or the facts subjecting him or her to such tax; or

(3) If the inability to pay the interest or penalty results from the insolvency or bankruptcy of the taxpayer.

(c) (1) In settling or compromising any controversy relating to the liability of a person for any state tax for any taxable period, the director may enter into a written closing agreement concerning the liability.

(2) When the closing agreement is signed by the director, it shall be final and conclusive, and except upon a showing of fraud or misrepresentation of a material fact, no additional assessment or collection shall be made by the director, and the taxpayer shall not institute any judicial proceeding to recover such liabilities as agreed to in the closing agreement.

(d) The Director of the Department of Finance and Administration shall promulgate rules and regulations establishing guidelines for determining whether a proposed offer in compromise is adequate and is acceptable to resolve a tax dispute.