OAR 150-306-0070: Property Tax Conference Procedures

This rule applies only to conferences conducted in the Property Tax Division. (1) The department will hold a conference if it determines that the written record is insufficient to make a decision. If a conference is necessary, it will be held by telephone unless the department finds it more appropriate to hold the conference in person. The department will record the conferences. (2) When the department schedules a conference, it will send written notice to the participants 30 to 90 days in advance. (a) The department may grant postponement requests for good cause. The department may require that a participant requesting a postponement obtain the approval of the other participants prior to granting a postponement. (b) The department may dismiss the petition if the petitioner or authorized representative fails to appear or be available at the time of the conference. (3) Conferences will be conducted by a conference officer who is in charge of the conference proceedings. (4) Conference participants may authorize any person to be a witness on their behalf; however, only those persons qualified under ORS 305.239 may be authorized to act as a taxpayer's representative. The department will not require any particular person to testify. The conference officer will administer an oath to all persons giving testimony. (5) The burden of proof in all conferences is on the person seeking relief. A preponderance of the evidence is sufficient to sustain the burden of proof. (6) Any evidence to be considered during the conference must have been mailed to the department and all participants at least ten business days prior to the conference, or it must have been actually received by the department and all participants at least five business days prior to the conference. (7) No information will be accepted after the conference unless the conference officer determines that more information is needed to clarify an issue raised during the conference. (8) Conference participants must not communicate privately with the conference officer concerning the substantive issue in a petition. If such a communication occurs, the conference officer will inform the other participants of the communication and give them a reasonable opportunity to respond. (9) The conference decision is an order for purposes of ORS 309.115. (a) Conference decisions may be appealed to the Oregon Tax Court within 90 days of the mailing date, as provided in ORS 305.275 and 305.280. (b) The department may correct or amend a conference decision if a written request is received within 90 days of the date the conference decision was issued. The department will not amend a conference decision that has been appealed to the Tax Court. (c) The department may issue a preliminary ruling when an intermediate decision is required prior to making the final decision. A preliminary ruling is not a final decision for purposes of appeal. (10) Participants to a conference may request a copy of the recording of the proceeding and shall pay reasonable costs. See OAR 150-192-0400. No written transcripts will be provided. (11) Any exhibit introduced at the conference may be destroyed by the department anytime after 90 days following the issuance of an order, unless, prior to the end of the 90-day period, the person who presented the exhibit makes a written request for the return of the exhibit.