<?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>
<regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".07" citation="COMAR 03.01.05.07" title_num="03" subtitle_num="01" chapter_num="05" heading="Status of Private Letter Rulings.">
  <paragraph num="A.">
    <text>Effect and Non-Appealability.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>A private letter ruling becomes binding on the Comptroller on the date it is issued.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>A private letter ruling is binding on the Comptroller for 7 years from the date it is issued, unless the private letter ruling is void or is modified or revoked under this regulation.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>A private letter ruling may not be appealed to the Comptroller’s Hearings and Appeals Division, the Maryland Tax Court, any other administrative agency or tribunal, or any State or federal court.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="B.">
    <text>Void Private Letter Rulings.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>A private letter ruling is void and of no effect from the date it is issued if:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>The petition contains a misstatement or omission of material facts in the petition; or</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>The facts are determined to be materially different from the representations on which the void private letter ruling was based.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>A void private letter ruling is not binding on the Comptroller.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>Penalty and interest shall be applied to any tax owed but not remitted in reliance on a private letter ruling that is void, and it shall not be a defense to the assessment of any tax, interest, or penalty that the petitioner relied on the private letter ruling in not paying the tax.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(4)">
      <text>The Comptroller may consider a misstatement, omission, or misrepresentation of material facts, whether made by the petitioner or the petitioner’s authorized representative, that voids a private letter ruling to indicate fraud.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="C.">
    <text>Modification or Revocation of Private Letter Rulings</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>A private letter ruling is of no force or effect, and no longer binds the Comptroller, automatically upon a material change in fact, or as of the effective date of a change in any statute, regulation or rule, or the issuance of a final decision in a contested case on which the private letter ruling relies.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>A petitioner may request a written modification or revocation of a private letter ruling. A request for modification or revocation of a private letter ruling shall:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Be submitted in writing;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Include a detailed description of the basis for the modification or revocation request; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>Conform to the requirements of Regulation .03 of this chapter.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>The Comptroller may modify or revoke a private letter ruling if the Comptroller determines that a material change in facts or a change in law, regulations, rules, or a final decision in a contested case affects the validity of the private letter ruling. When modifying a private letter ruling, the Comptroller shall notify the petitioner in writing of the modified private letter ruling.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(4)">
      <text>A modified or revoked private letter ruling does not apply to any period that predates the date the material change in facts occurred, or that predates the date of the change in law, regulations, rules, or final decision in a contested case that resulted in the modification or revocation of the private letter ruling.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="D.">
    <text>Renewal of Private Letter Ruling.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>A petitioner may request a renewal of a private letter ruling no earlier than 6 months before the expiration of the private letter ruling.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>A request for renewal of a private letter ruling shall:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Be submitted in writing;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Include a detailed description of the basis for the renewal, including:</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>A statement that no material facts have changed; and</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>A statement that no law, regulation, rule, or decision in a contested case affects the validity of the private letter ruling.</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>The Comptroller may deny a request for renewal of a private letter ruling:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>If the Comptroller, in its sole discretion, determines that:</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>Material facts have changed; or</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>There has been a change in law, regulation, rule, or final decision in a contested case that affects the validity of the private letter ruling; or</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>For any of the reasons listed in Regulation .05B of this chapter.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="E.">
    <text>Expiration of Private Letter Ruling.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Unless renewed, a private letter ruling automatically expires as to the petitioner 7 years from the date the private letter ruling is issued.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>An expired private letter ruling is not binding on the Comptroller.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>An expired private letter ruling may be used as evidence of petitioner’s knowledge or intent in a subsequent proceeding.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
</regulation>