(a) Where any taxpayer in the payment of taxes or payments of licenses which are paid directly to the commissioner and where by a mistake of fact or law has paid an amount in excess of the amount due or has made an erroneous payment, the Comptroller is authorized to draw his warrant on the Treasurer in favor of such taxpayer and the Treasurer is authorized to pay such warrant for the amount of such overpayment or erroneous payment.

(b) Before any refund under this section can be made the taxpayer, his heirs, successors or assigns shall file, in duplicate, a petition directed to the commissioner, setting up the fact relied on to procure the refunding of the money erroneously paid. Such application must be made within three years from the date of such payment.

(c) The commissioner shall examine said petition and the records of the Department of Insurance, and if the facts set forth in the petition are such as to entitle the petitioner to the refunding of the money as requested and the commissioner, upon the evidence adduced is satisfied that the petitioner is entitled to the refund as requested, he shall so certify to the Comptroller, stating the amount to be refunded by the state, the particular fund on which such warrant shall be drawn, including both the special revolving fund and the General Fund, and he shall forward to the Comptroller a copy of the petition with the certificate attached. If the Comptroller shall be satisfied that the petition is in form required by law, he shall draw his warrant on the Treasurer as provided in this section for the amount certified to him by the commissioner.