Sec. 30. (a) Within forty-five (45) days after receipt of the information described in section 29 of this chapter, the designating body may determine whether the property owner has substantially complied with the statement of benefits filed under sections 6 and 18 of this chapter.

(b) If the designating body determines that the property owner has not substantially complied with the statement of benefits and that the failure to substantially comply was not caused by factors beyond the control of the property owner (such as declines in demand for the property owner's products or services), the designating body shall mail a written notice to the property owner. The written notice must include the following provisions:

(1) An explanation of the reasons for the designating body's determination.

(2) The date, time, and place of a hearing to be conducted by the designating body for the purpose of further considering the property owner's compliance with the statement of benefits. The date of the hearing may not be more than thirty (30) days after the date on which the notice is mailed.

If a notice mailed to a property owner concerns a statement of benefits approved for personal property under section 24 of this chapter, the designating body shall also mail a copy of the notice to the department of local government finance.

(c) On the date specified in the notice described in subsection (b)(2), the designating body shall conduct a hearing for the purpose of further considering the property owner's compliance with the statement of benefits. Based on the information presented at the hearing by the property owner and other interested parties, the designating body shall again determine whether the property owner has made reasonable efforts to substantially comply with the statement of benefits and whether any failure to substantially comply was caused by factors beyond the control of the property owner. If the designating body determines that the property owner has not made reasonable efforts to comply with the statement of benefits, the designating body shall adopt a resolution terminating the property owner's deduction under section 24 of this chapter. If the designating body adopts such a resolution, the deduction does not apply to the next installment of property taxes owed by the property owner or to any subsequent installment of property taxes.

(d) If the designating body adopts a resolution terminating a deduction under subsection (c), the designating body shall immediately mail a certified copy of the resolution to:

(1) the property owner;

(2) the county auditor; and

(3) the department of local government finance if the deduction was granted for personal property under section 24 of this chapter.

The county auditor shall remove the deduction from the tax duplicate and shall notify the county treasurer of the termination of the deduction. If the designating body's resolution is adopted after the county treasurer has mailed the statement required by IC 6-1.1-22-8.1, the county treasurer shall immediately mail the property owner a revised statement that reflects the termination of the deduction.

(e) A property owner whose deduction is terminated by the designating body under this section may appeal the designating body's decision by filing a complaint in the office of the clerk of the circuit or superior court together with a bond conditioned to pay the costs of the appeal if the appeal is determined against the property owner. An appeal under this subsection shall be promptly heard by the court without a jury and determined within thirty (30) days after the time of the filing of the appeal. The court shall hear evidence on the appeal and may confirm the action of the designating body or sustain the appeal. The judgment of the court is final and conclusive unless an appeal is taken as in other civil actions.

(f) If an appeal under subsection (e) is pending, the taxes resulting from the termination of the deduction are not due until after the appeal is finally adjudicated and the termination of the deduction is finally determined.

As added by P.L.59-1997, SEC.1. Amended by P.L.253-1997(ss), SEC.6; P.L.2-1998, SEC.28; P.L.119-1999, SEC.10; P.L.90-2002, SEC.286; P.L.3-2008, SEC.59.