§1671. Authority to sign certain documents; validity; conclusive presumption

A. Any return, statement, declaration, waiver, agreement, form, or other document required or permitted to be made or written, relative to matters subject to the jurisdiction of the Department of Revenue, shall be signed by the individual, person, or persons having the authority to sign such document, in accordance with forms or regulations prescribed by the secretary of the Department of Revenue. The provisions of this Section shall apply to all signatures, including signatures in digital or other electronic form.

B. Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, the fact that an individual's name is signed to a return, statement, declaration, waiver, agreement to suspend prescription, installment agreement, settlement agreement, collateral agreement, offer in compromise, form, or any other document filed, entered into, or executed with the secretary, for the assessment, collection, administration, and enforcement of taxes, fees, licenses, penalties, interest, and other charges due the state that have been delegated to the secretary of the Department of Revenue, shall create a conclusive presumption that the document was actually signed by the individual. The word "individual" means a natural person.

C.(1) Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, any return, statement, declaration, waiver, agreement to suspend prescription, installment agreement, settlement agreement, collateral agreement, offer in compromise, or any other document filed, or executed or entered into with the secretary and signed by a representative of a legal entity, for the assessment, collection, administration, and enforcement of taxes, fees, licenses, penalties, interest, and other charges due the state that have been delegated to the secretary of the Department of Revenue, shall create a conclusive presumption that such representative is authorized to sign on behalf of such legal entity. This conclusive presumption shall not be invalidated as to the legal entity by any lack of authority, power, or capacity of the signing representative. The fact that the name of the representative is signed on the document by such representative shall have the same force and effect as the act of the legal entity and shall be binding upon such legal entity.

(2) The term "legal entity" shall include but is not limited to a corporation, partnership, limited partnership, partnership in commendam, limited liability partnership, member-managed limited liability company, manager-managed limited liability company, sole proprietorship, deceased taxpayer's estate, or succession of a deceased taxpayer.

(3) The term "representative" shall include but is not limited to president, vice president, chief executive officer, chief financial officer, secretary, treasurer, comptroller, controller, tax officer, tax manager, partner, general partner, member, fiduciary, attorney, certified public accountant, executor, receiver, administrator, trustee, tutor, or any other legal representative.

D. Any legal entity may designate a person, referred to as a "designated tax matters person", who is also authorized to sign any of the documents described in this Section on behalf of such legal entity or any other member of the same affiliated group, as that term is defined in Section 1504 of the Internal Revenue Code. The procedure for making this designation shall be promulgated by the secretary of the Department of Revenue in accordance with regulations to be adopted by the secretary.

E. The provisions of this Section shall also apply to Chapter 2-D of this Subtitle.

Acts 2008, No. 750, §1, eff. July 6, 2008.