(1) The Commissioner of Revenue may specify by rule or regulation the manner and method, either manually or electronically, by which tax returns, supporting schedules, information returns, applications for permits, licenses or titles, powers of attorney, review board appeal petitions, and other documents and information may be filed with the Department of Revenue. The commissioner may require certain taxpayers to submit any or all tax returns, schedules or other documents and information electronically; however, the commissioner shall not require the submission of returns, schedules or other documents and information electronically by taxpayers that do not have the capability to make the submissions electronically.

(2) The Commissioner of Revenue may specify by rule or regulation alternative forms of electronic signature that may be allowed or required on tax returns and other documents. Such an electronic signature shall have the same legal effect as that of a manual signature.

(3) An electronic or paper reproduction of a form or document, or the reproduction of the information placed on computer storage devices by electronic means, shall be deemed to be an original of the form or document for all purposes and is admissible in evidence without further foundation in all courts and administrative hearings if the following certification by the Commissioner of Revenue, along with his official seal, is affixed to the reproduction:

The Commissioner of Revenue, official custodian of all records of the Department of Revenue, hereby certifies this document is a true reproduction of the information contained in the official records of this agency.

(4) If a person fails to comply with the rules and regulations promulgated by the commissioner under the provisions of subsection (1) or (2) of this section; fails to comply with any electronic filing mandate; fails to complete any return, supporting schedule, information return or other document or fails to remit any required schedule or additional information, the commissioner may impose a penalty of Twenty-five Dollars ($25.00) for the first instance of noncompliance and Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00) for each additional instance of noncompliance. Any penalty imposed under this section shall be collected in the same manner as that set forth for the collection of penalties under the Mississippi Sales Tax Law, being Section 27-65-1 et seq.

(5) By manually signing or affixing an electronic signature to a document that may be filed with the department, the person signing the document or affixing the electronic signature to the document is swearing under oath that all information contained in the document is true and correct and that he or she has the same authority to sign the document or affix the electronic signature to the document as the person filing the document or as the duly authorized representative of the person or entity for whom the document is being filed. Should the person signing or affixing an electronic signature to a document filed with the Department of Revenue knowingly submit information in the document that is false or sign or affix an electronic signature to the document on the behalf of another person or entity without the authority to do so, he or she shall be guilty of perjury and, upon conviction, shall be punished by imprisonment in the State Penitentiary for a term not exceeding ten (10) years.

(6) Notwithstanding the confidentiality of the information and documents in its possession, the Department of Revenue may release any information or a copy of any document in its possession and custody to any person designated to receive the information or document in a power of attorney or other document authorizing the release of the information or document which has been properly executed by the person or the duly authorized representative of the entity to whom the information or document pertains and where the authorization has not expired, been revoked, cancelled or otherwise rendered ineffective by death or other circumstances. The Department of Revenue may require the prepayment of the cost of the production of such information or records. The Department of Revenue retains the right to deny the release of information and documents for good cause, including, but not limited to, interference with its operation or with an ongoing tax, criminal, permit or regulatory investigation or prosecution, and the possible violation of any federal law, state law or exchange agreement with the Internal Revenue Service, other federal agency, another state agency or the revenue department of another state.