Each person liable for the tax under this article shall maintain and keep for a period of not less than three (3) years records of the quantities of natural gas used, of the quantities of locomotive fuel used, the total miles traveled by railroad locomotives, the miles traveled by railroad locomotives in this state and other information as may be deemed reasonably necessary for the administration of this article.

If, in the normal conduct of business the records of the permittee are maintained and kept at an office outside this state, it shall be 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 permittee fails or refuses to permit the commission or any of its employees to verify and audit its records during the usual business hours of the day, the commission shall have the 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 permittee.

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 (36) months’ examination period provided herein, the determination of the correct tax liability may be made by the commission after the expiration of the thirty-six-month examination period, provided that said determination shall be made with reasonable promptness and diligence.