<?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>
<section article="gtp" article_name="Tax - Property" number="8-419" title_number="8" title_name="Valuation and Assessment" subtitle_number="4" subtitle_name="Assessment Preparation and Modification">
  <level label="a">
    <level label="1">
      <text>In this subsection, “appropriate official” means:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>except as otherwise provided in this paragraph, the Department or supervisor and the county or municipal corporation treasurer;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>in Baltimore City, the Department or supervisor and the city solicitor;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>in Montgomery County, the Department or supervisor and the director of finance; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iv">
        <text>for municipal corporations in Caroline County, the Department or supervisor and the appropriate town board.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>Notwithstanding failure to file a protest of an assessment and after the date of finality for an assessment, the appropriate official may issue an order decreasing or abating an assessment:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>to correct an erroneous assessment;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>to correct an improper assessment; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>to prevent injustice.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <text>The order shall state clearly the reasons for decreasing or abating the assessment.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="c">
    <level label="1">
      <text>The Department may audit any personal property assessment after the assessment is made.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>If, as a result of the audit, the Department determines that the assessment is:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>greater than the assessment previously made, the Department shall make an assessment of the difference; or</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>less than the assessment previously made, the Department shall abate the difference.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>If action is taken under paragraph (2) of this subsection, the Department shall send a notice of assessment to the owner by:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>mail; or</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>e–mail, if within the past 3 years the recipient has provided to the Department an e–mail address and requested to receive the notices by e–mail.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="4">
      <text>The notice may be appealed as provided by Title 14, Subtitle 5 of this article.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
</section>
