Sec 42-16157. Appeal of valuation or legal classification from county assessor to state board of equalization

A. Except as provided in subsection C or D of this section, if the county assessor denies all or part of a petition under section 42-16055, and if a county board of equalization is not established in the county where the property is located, the petitioner may appeal the assessor's decision to the state board of equalization by filing with the state board, within twenty-five days after the date that the assessor's decision was mailed to the petitioner, a copy of the written basis of the decision according to the instructions on the petition.

B. The department may contest any proposed valuation or classification or any proposed change in valuation or classification before the state board. If, in the director's opinion, a decision of an assessor is erroneous, the director may appeal the assessor's decision to the state board within twenty-five days after the assessor's decision was mailed to the taxpayer and the department. In such an action the taxpayer shall raise any defense the taxpayer has to liability for the tax and any additional tax sought to be imposed. If issues other than valuation or classification are raised by either party, the action shall be tried as if it were an action pursuant to section 42-11005 or 42-11052.

C. A property owner who receives a notice of valuation under section 42-15105 may appeal the valuation or legal classification to the state board as provided in subsection A of this section within twenty-five days after the date of the assessor's notice.

D. A property owner whose petition is denied, in whole or in part, pursuant to section 42-19051 may only appeal the valuation or legal classification to the state board as provided in subsection A of this section within twenty days after the date of the assessor's notice of refusal or decision.

E. The state board may contract with any county with a population of less than five hundred thousand persons according to the most recent United States decennial census to review and hold hearings and make decisions on petitions filed under section 42-16105. These hearings shall be conducted in the county in which the property of the subject hearings is located.