Title 48, Chapter 5, Section 300
( 48-5-300)
(a)(1) Except as otherwise provided in paragraph (2) of this
subsection, the county board of tax assessors may issue subpoenas
for the attendance of witnesses and may subpoena of any person any
books, papers, or documents which may contain any information
material to any question relative to the existence or liability of
property subject to taxation or to the identity of the owner of
property liable to taxation or relevant to other matters necessary
to the proper assessment of taxes lawfully due the state or
county. Such subpoenas may be issued in the name of the board,
shall be signed by any one or more members of the board or by the
secretary of the board, and shall be served upon a taxpayer or
witness or any party required to produce documents or records five
days before the day upon which any hearing by the board is
scheduled at which the attendance of the party or witness or the
production of such documents is required. (2) The authority provided for in paragraph (1) of this subsection
shall not apply to the following documents or records: (A) Any income tax records or returns; (B) Any property appraisals prior to the appeal process; (C) All insurance policies; or (D) Any individual tenant sales information. (b) If any witness subpoenaed by any county board of tax assessors
fails or refuses to appear, fails or refuses to answer questions
propounded, or fails or refuses to produce any books, papers, or
documents required to be produced by an order of the board, except
upon a legal excuse which would relieve the witness of the
obligation to attend as a witness or to produce such documents
before the superior court if lawfully required to do so, the person
so failing or refusing shall be guilty of contempt and shall be
cited by the board to appear before a judge of the superior court of
the county. The judge of the superior court of the county shall have
the same power and jurisdiction to punish the person failing or
refusing to comply with the order for contempt and to require and
compel the giving of the testimony or the production of the books
and records as in cases of contempt committed in the presence of the
court and as in cases pending in the court. |