Overpayment; refunds

Upon application by a person, if the director determines that any surcharge tax, interest, or penalty has been paid more than once, or has been erroneously or illegally collected or computed, the surcharge tax, interest, or penalty shall be credited by the director on any surcharge taxes then due from the person under this chapter. The director shall refund the balance to the person or the person's successors, administrators, executors, or assigns in accordance with section 231-23(d). No credit or refund shall be allowed for any surcharge tax imposed by this chapter, unless a claim for the credit or refund is filed as follows: (1) If an annual return is timely filed, or is filed within three years after the date prescribed for filing the annual return, then the credit or refund shall be claimed within three years after the date the annual return was filed or the date prescribed for filing the annual return, whichever is later. (2) If an annual return is not filed, or is filed more than three years after the date prescribed for filing the annual return, a claim for credit or refund shall be filed within: (A) Three years after the payment of the tax; or (B) Three years after the date prescribed for the filing of the annual return, whichever is later. Paragraphs (1) and (2) are mutually exclusive. The preceding limitation shall not apply to a credit or refund pursuant to an appeal, provided for in section 251-10. As to all tax payments for which a refund or credit is not authorized by this section (including, without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing, cases of unconstitutionality), the remedies provided by appeal or by section 40-35 are exclusive.