Sales and use tax; return; Tax Commissioner; deficiency determination; penalty; deficiency; notice; hearing; order
(1) If the Tax Commissioner is not satisfied with the return or returns of the tax or the amount of tax required to be paid to the state by any person, he or she may compute and determine the amount required to be paid upon the basis of the facts contained in the return or returns or upon the basis of any information within his or her possession or which may come into his or her possession. One or more deficiency determinations of the amount due for one or more than one period may be made. To the amount of the deficiency determination for each period shall be added a penalty equal to ten percent thereof or twenty-five dollars, whichever is greater. In making a determination, the Tax Commissioner may offset overpayments for a period or periods, together with interest on the overpayments, against underpayments for other period or periods, against penalties, and against the interest on the underpayments. The interest on underpayments and overpayments shall be computed in the manner set forth hereinafter.
(2) If any person fails to make a return, the Tax Commissioner shall make an estimate of the amount of the gross receipts of the person or, as the case may be, of the amount of the total sales, rent, or lease price of property sold, rented, or leased or purchased, by the person, the storage, use, or consumption of which in this state is subject to the use tax. The estimate shall be made for the period or periods in respect to which the person failed to make a return and shall be based upon any information which is in the Tax Commissioner's possession or may come into his or her possession. Upon the basis of this estimate, the Tax Commissioner shall compute and determine the amount required to be paid to the state, adding to the sum thus arrived at a penalty equal to ten percent thereof or twenty-five dollars, whichever is greater. One or more determinations may be made for one or more than one period.
(3) The amount of the determination of any deficiency exclusive of penalties shall bear interest at the rate specified in section 45-104.02 , as such rate may from time to time be adjusted, from the twentieth of the month following the period for which the amount should have been returned until the date of payment.
(4) If any part of a deficiency for which a deficiency determination is made is the result of fraud or an intent to evade the Nebraska Revenue Act of 1967 or authorized rules and regulations, a penalty of twenty-five percent of the amount of the determination or fifty dollars, whichever is greater, shall be added thereto.
(5)(a) Promptly after making his or her determination, the Tax Commissioner shall give to the person written notice of his or her determination.