Section 35 ILCS 1010/1-50 - Pleadings(a) A taxpayer may commence a proceeding in the Tax Tribunal by filing a petition protesting the Department's determination imposing a liability for tax, penalty, or interest, or denying a claim for refund or credit applicationThe petition shall be filed within the time permitted by statute for filing a protest.(b) The Department shall file its answer in the Tax Tribunal no later than 30 days after its receipt of the Tax Tribunal's notification that the taxpayer has filed a petition in the proper form or within such additional time as the Tax Tribunal may specify. The Department shall serve a copy of its answer on the taxpayer's representative or, if the taxpayer is not represented, on the taxpayer, and shall file proof of such service with the answer. Material facts alleged in the petition, if not expressly admitted or denied in the answer, shall be deemed admitted.(c) Either party may amend a pleading once without leave at any time before the period for responding to it expires. After such time, a pleading may be amended only with the written consent of the adverse party or with the permission of the Tax Tribunal. The Tax Tribunal shall freely grant consent to amend upon such terms as may be just. Except as otherwise ordered by the Tax Tribunal, there shall be an answer to an amended pleading if an answer is required to the pleading being amended. Filing of the answer, or, if the answer has already been filed, the amended answer shall be made no later than 30 days after the filing of the amended petition. The taxpayer may not amend a petition after expiration of the time for filing a petition, if such amendment would have the effect of conferring jurisdiction on the Tax Tribunal over a matter that would otherwise not come within its jurisdiction. An amendment of a pleading shall relate back to the time of filing of the original pleading only as prescribed by Section 2-616 of the Code of Civil Procedure.Added by P.A. 097-1129,§ 1-50, eff. 8/28/2012.