15-70-349. Examination of records. - Montana Statutes

     15-70-349. Examination of records. (1) The department or its authorized representative may examine the books, papers, records, and equipment of any special fuel distributor or any person dealing in, transporting, or storing special fuel, as defined in this part, and may investigate the character of the disposition that any person makes of the special fuel in order to ascertain and determine whether all license taxes due are being properly reported and paid. If the books, papers, records, and equipment are not maintained in this state at the time of demand, they must be furnished at the direction of the department for review either in the offices of the department or at the business location of the taxpayer.
     (2) The records, receipts, and invoices and any other pertinent papers supporting sales of each distributor or any person dealing in, transporting, or storing special fuel must be open and subject to inspection by the department or its authorized representative during business hours in order to ascertain the amount of license tax due.
     (3) The department may physically inspect terminals, dyes, dyeing equipment, storage facilities, and downstream storage facilities. A person who purposely or knowingly refuses to permit an inspection authorized by this section is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a fine not to exceed $500 upon conviction for the first offense, not to exceed $1,000 upon conviction for the second offense, and not to exceed $2,000 for each subsequent conviction. Each refusal is a separate offense.

     History: En. Sec. 30, Ch. 525, L. 1993; amd. Sec. 14, Ch. 10, Sp. L. November 1993.