Authority Of Assessor — Duty Of Assessor

TITLE 63 REVENUE AND TAXATION CHAPTER 14 ENFORCEMENT — PENALTIES 63-1401. Authority of assessor — Duty of assessor. (1) The assessor is hereby authorized to administer oaths to all persons who may be required to swear, and he may examine under oath any person who is required under the provisions of this chapter to list property for appraisal, assessment or taxation, concerning the amount and value of such property, and he may examine under oath any person whom he may suppose to have knowledge of the amount or value of the property of any person refusing to list such property or to verify such list, or whenever the assessor shall be of the opinion that the person listing property for himself or for any other person has not made a complete list of such property. If any person shall refuse to answer under oath any question asked of him by the assessor concerning the amount and value of the property required to be listed by him, the assessor may list and assess such property according to his best judgment and information, but, if any property is willfully concealed, removed, transferred, misrepresented or not listed by the person required to do so, such property, upon discovery, must be appraised, assessed and taxed at two (2) times its value for each year such property has escaped taxation. The county board of equalization may excuse the liability for such penalty upon a proper showing that by good and sufficient cause the requirement to list such property need not be complied with. Any person making a false list, schedule or statement under oath shall be guilty of perjury. (2)  The assessor shall note, at the time of appraisal, all cases where the owner, agent or other person required by this title to list property: refused or failed to make the sworn taxpayer’s declaration required of him; refused to answer any question asked of him by the assessor in reference to the appraisal of property; was absent or willfully concealed, removed, transferred, misrepresented or failed to list such property.