(1) Upon the Department of Revenue’s own motion, or upon request of the State Department of Energy, the Department of Revenue may initiate proceedings for the forfeiture of a tax credit allowed under ORS 316.116 or 317.115 if:
(a) The verification was fraudulent because of a misrepresentation by the taxpayer or investor owned utility;
(b) The verification was fraudulent because of a misrepresentation by the contractor;
(c) In the case of an alternative energy device other than an alternative fuel vehicle or related equipment, the alternative energy device has not been constructed, installed or operated in substantial compliance with the requirements of ORS 469.160 to 469.180; or
(d) The taxpayer or investor owned utility failed to consent to an inspection of the constructed or installed alternative energy device by the State Department of Energy after a reasonable, written request for such an inspection by the State Department of Energy. This paragraph does not apply to an alternative fuel vehicle or to related equipment.
(2) Pursuant to the procedures for a contested case under ORS chapter 183, the Director of the State Department of Energy may order the revocation of a contractor certificate issued under ORS 469.170 if the director finds that:
(a) The contractor certificate was obtained by fraud or misrepresentation by the contractor certificate holder;
(b) The contractor’s performance for the alternative energy device for which the contractor is issued a certificate under ORS 469.170 does not meet industry standards; or
(c) The contractor has misrepresented to the customer either the tax credit program or the nature or quality of the alternative energy device.
(3) If the tax credit allowed under ORS 316.116 or 317.115 for the purchase, construction or installation of an alternative energy device is ordered forfeited due to an action of the taxpayer or investor owned utility under subsection (1)(a), (c) or (d) of this section, all prior tax relief provided to the taxpayer or investor owned utility shall be forfeited and the Department of Revenue shall proceed to collect those taxes not paid by the taxpayer or utility as a result of the tax credit relief under ORS 316.116 or 317.115.
(4) If the tax credit for the construction or installation of an alternative energy device is ordered forfeited due to an action of the contractor under subsection (1)(b) of this section, the Department of Revenue shall proceed to collect, from the contractor, an amount equivalent to those taxes not paid by the taxpayer or investor owned utility as a result of the tax credit relief under ORS 316.116 or 317.115. As long as the forfeiture is due to an action of the contractor and not to an action of the taxpayer or utility, the assessment of such taxes shall be levied on the contractor and not on the taxpayer or utility. Notwithstanding ORS 314.835, the Department of Revenue may disclose information from income tax returns or reports to the extent such disclosure is necessary to collect amounts from contractors under this subsection.
(5) In order to obtain information necessary to verify eligibility and amount of the tax credit, the State Department of Energy or its representative may inspect an alternative energy device that has been purchased, constructed or installed. The inspection shall be made only with the consent of the owner of the dwelling. Failure to consent to the inspection is grounds for the forfeiture of any tax credit relief under ORS 316.116 or 317.115. The Department of Revenue shall proceed to collect any taxes due according to subsection (4) of this section. For electrical generating alternative energy devices, the State Department of Energy may obtain energy consumption records for the dwelling the device serves, for a 12-month period, in order to verify eligibility and amount of the tax credit. [1977 c.196 §6; 1979 c.670 §6; 1981 c.894 §7; 1983 c.346 §4; 1987 c.492 §5; 1989 c.880 §8; 1993 c.684 §1; 1997 c.534 §10; 2003 c.186 §22; 2005 c.832 §11; 2007 c.843 §34]
Note: See note under 469.160.
Section: Previous 469.160 469.165 469.170 469.171 469.172 469.175 469.176 469.180 469.185 469.190 469.195 469.197 469.200 469.205 469.206 NextLast modified: August 7, 2008