Each distributor of compressed gas shall maintain and keep for a period of three (3) years a record of all compressed gas received, acquired, manufactured, refined, purchased, sold or delivered within this state, together with invoices, bills of lading and other pertinent records and papers as the commission may deem reasonably necessary for the administration of this chapter.

Any person owning or operating a motor vehicle or motor vehicles, with a gross license tag weight classification exceeding ten thousand (10,000) pounds, that use or are capable of using compressed gas as a motor fuel shall maintain and keep for a period of three (3) years records from which an accurate determination of the number of miles traveled in this state and the quantity of compressed gas purchased and consumed in this state can be made.

If a distributor of compressed gas or the owner or operator fails to maintain adequate records, or if an audit of the records of the distributor or owner or operator, or any report filed by him, or any other information discloses that taxes are due and unpaid, the commission shall make assessments of taxes, damages and interest from any information available, which assessments shall be prima facie correct.

If, in the normal conduct of a distributor’s or owner’s or operator’s business, the records of the distributor, owner or operator 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 location outside Mississippi. If a distributor, owner or operator fails or refuses to permit the commission or any of its employees to check and audit his records 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, owner or operator.

All actions by the state for the recovery of additional amounts claimed as tax due under this chapter 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 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 the determination shall be made with reasonable promptness and diligence.