5739.07 Vendor or consumer refunds. - Ohio Statutes

5739.07 Vendor or consumer refunds.

(A) When, pursuant to this chapter, a vendor has paid taxes to the treasurer of state or the treasurer of state’s agent, or to the tax commissioner or the commissioner’s agent, the commissioner shall refund to the vendor the amount of taxes paid if the vendor has refunded to the consumer the full amount of taxes the consumer paid illegally or erroneously or if the vendor has illegally or erroneously billed the consumer but has not collected the taxes from the consumer.

(B) When, pursuant to this chapter, a consumer has paid taxes directly to the treasurer of state or the treasurer of state’s agent, or to the tax commissioner or the commissioner’s agent, and the payment or assessment was illegal or erroneous, the commissioner shall refund to the consumer the full amount of illegal or erroneous taxes paid.

(C) The commissioner shall refund to the consumer taxes paid illegally or erroneously to a vendor only if:

(1) The commissioner has not refunded the tax to the vendor and the vendor has not refunded the tax to the consumer; or

(2) The consumer has received a refund from a manufacturer or other person, other than the vendor, of the full purchase price, but not the tax, paid to the vendor in settlement of a complaint by the consumer about the property or service purchased.

The commissioner may require the consumer to obtain or the vendor to provide a written statement confirming that the vendor has not refunded the tax to the consumer and has not filed an application for refund of the tax with the commissioner.

(D) An application for refund shall be filed with the tax commissioner on the form prescribed by the commissioner within four years from the date of the illegal or erroneous payment of the tax, unless the vendor or consumer waives the time limitation under division (A)(3) of section 5739.16 of the Revised Code. If the time limitation is waived, the refund application period shall be extended for the same period as the waiver.

(E) On the filing of an application for a refund, the commissioner shall determine the amount of refund to which the applicant is entitled. If the amount is not less than that claimed, the commissioner shall certify that amount to the director of budget and management and the treasurer of state for payment from the tax refund fund created by section 5703.052 of the Revised Code. If the amount is less than that claimed, the commissioner shall proceed in accordance with section 5703.70 of the Revised Code.

(F) When a refund is granted under this section, it shall include interest thereon as provided by section 5739.132 of the Revised Code.

Effective Date: 09-06-2002