Section 1.11 - Statement of Grounds; Preliminary Conference(a) Content of Statement of Grounds. The Statement of Grounds must contain the reasons the taxpayer disagrees, in whole or in part, with the agency's determination, refund denial, or other action. The taxpayer must list and number the contested items or transactions, individually, or state one or more general contentions that identify a category or categories of contested items or transactions. For each contested item, transaction, or general contention, the taxpayer must also state the factual basis and the legal grounds that the tax should not be assessed or the tax should be refunded. If the taxpayer disagrees with the agency's interpretation of the law, specific legal authority must be cited in support of the taxpayer's arguments.(b) Signature requirement. (1) The Statement of Grounds must be signed by the taxpayer or by the authorized representative of the taxpayer. The individual signing the Statement of Grounds will be the taxpayer's designated representative for notice pursuant to § 1.3 of this title (relating to Representation and Participation).(2) A Statement of Grounds that is filed by e-mail or other electronic means complies with the signature requirement under paragraph (1) of this subsection if the Statement of Grounds identifies the individual who is the taxpayer's designated representative for notice pursuant to § 1.3 of this title.(c) Defective Statement of Grounds. If the Statement of Grounds or the power of attorney authorizing an individual to sign the Statement of Grounds is defective, the agency will notify the taxpayer of the actions required to correct the defect. Defects in the Statement of Grounds include, but are not limited to, a failure to state any contested items or contentions under subsection (a) of this section, or a failure to include a signature as required by subsection (b) of this section. If the taxpayer does not correct the defect by the deadline specified by the agency, the hearing request may not be granted.(d) Contested items or contentions not included in Statement of Grounds. If an item, transaction, or contention is not listed in the Statement of Grounds or otherwise provided consistent with this subchapter, it may be excluded from the Notice of Hearing.(e) Motion to dismiss for failure to state a contested case issue in the Statement of Grounds. If the taxpayer's Statement of Grounds fails to list and number items or transactions, individually or by category, or fails to state the factual basis and legal grounds upon which relief is sought, the contested case may be dismissed for failure to state a contested case issue for which relief can be granted. For the procedures by which the AHS may move for dismissal based on a Statement of Ground's failure to state a contested case issue for which relief may be granted, see § 1.32 of this title (relating to Dismissal of Case).(f) Preliminary conference and request to provide additional information. If a taxpayer's Statement of Grounds raises issues that cannot be resolved from the material contained in the audit or Statement of Grounds, the agency may ask the taxpayer to participate in a preliminary conference or to provide additional evidence. The preliminary conference or request for additional information is intended to encourage an early resolution of the contested case before it is assigned to a Tax Hearings Attorney. A request for additional information may include a written request that resale or exemption certificates to support tax-free sales must be submitted within 90 days from the date of the request, or by the date agreed to by the comptroller and the seller. Pursuant to Tax Code, § 151.054 and § 151.104, resale or exemption certificates that are not submitted within the time limit will not be accepted as evidence to support a claim of tax-free sales by the ALJ in SOAH proceedings.(g) The Statement of Grounds may be amended up to the time that a Reply to the Position Letter is due, subject to any applicable limitations periods. The Statement of Grounds does not toll the limitations period for any additional contested items, transactions, or general contentions related to refund claims. See § 1.13 of this title (relating to Taxpayer's Acceptance or Rejection of Position Letter, and Reply to Position Letter) for more information about the Reply to the Position Letter.34 Tex. Admin. Code § 1.11
The provisions of this §1.11 adopted to be effective September 1, 1983, 8 TexReg 2810; amended to be effective February 26, 1992, 17 TexReg 1313; amended to be effective September 4, 2001, 26 TexReg 6715; amended to be effective April 18, 2007, 32 TexReg 2138; Adopted by Texas Register, Volume 43, Number 50, December 14, 2018, TexReg 8126, eff. 1/1/2019; Amended by Texas Register, Volume 47, Number 22, June 3, 2022, TexReg 3269, eff. 6/8/2022