(e) Notice of denial. As soon as practicable after a claim for refund is filed, the Department shall examine it and either issue a notice of refund, abatement or credit to the claimant or issue a notice of denial. If the Department has failed to approve or deny the claim before the expiration of 6 months from the date the claim was filed, the claimant may nevertheless thereafter file with the Department a written protest in such form as the Department may by regulation prescribe, provided that, on or after July 1, 2013, protests concerning matters that are subject to the jurisdiction of the Illinois Independent Tax Tribunal shall be filed with the Illinois Independent Tax Tribunal and not with the Department. If the protest is subject to the jurisdiction of the Department, the Department shall consider the claim and, if the taxpayer has so requested, shall grant the taxpayer or the taxpayer's authorized representative a hearing within 6 months after the date such request is filed. On and after July 1, 2013, if the protest would otherwise be subject to the jurisdiction of the Illinois Independent Tax Tribunal, the claimant may elect to treat the Department's non-action as a denial of the claim by filing a petition to review the Department's administrative decision with the Illinois Independent Tax Tribunal, as provided by Section 910.