Each distributor shall maintain and keep for a period of three (3) years a record of all lubricating oil purchased, received, procured, manufactured, refined, compounded, used, sold, stored or delivered within this state by such distributor, together with invoices, bills of lading, and other pertinent records and papers as may be reasonably required by the commission. All sales made by a distributor shall be evidenced in writing, signed by the seller, or their agents, shall bear the date of purchase, name and address of the purchaser, and the seller, and shall show the kind and quantity of the product purchased. Sales tickets and invoices made to cash shall not be considered as complying with the terms of this article.

It shall be the duty of every person purchasing lubricating oil from a distributor or other person for the purpose of sale or distribution to maintain and keep for a period of three (3) years a record of lubricating oil received together with delivery tickets, invoices, bills of lading and such other records as the commission shall require.

If, in the normal conduct of a distributor’s business, the records of such distributor are maintained and kept at an office outside the State of Mississippi, it shall be a sufficient compliance with this section if the records shall be made available for audit and examination by the commission at such office located outside Mississippi. If a distributor fails or refuses to permit the commission or any of its employees to check and audit his record during the usual business hours of the day, the commission shall have authority to subpoena the records and have them brought to the office of the commission within ten (10) days after the subpoena is served on the distributor.

The commission may, after an audit and examination of the records of a distributor, authorize the disposal of such records, such authorization to be in writing by the commission after a request by the distributor.

All actions by the state for the recovery of additional amounts claimed as tax due under this article must be commenced within a period of three (3) years from the date of the filing of the required report with the commission, provided, that in the case of a fraudulent or false report with intent to evade tax or of a failure to file a report, action may be commenced at any time. However, when an examination of a taxpayer’s records to verify returns made under this chapter has been initiated and the taxpayer notified thereof either by certified mail or personal delivery of a notice by an agent of the commissioner, within the thirty-six-month examination period provided herein, the determination of the correct tax liability may be made by the commission after the expiration of said thirty-six-month examination period, provided that said determination shall be made with reasonable promptness and diligence.