Miss. Code Ann. § 27-7-51 (2026)

• (1) If, upon examination of a return made under the provisions of this article, it appears that the correct amount of tax is greater or less than that shown in the return, the tax shall be recomputed. Any overpayment of tax so determined shall be credited or refunded to the taxpayer. If the correct amount of tax is greater than that shown in the return of the taxpayer, the commissioner shall make his assessment of additional tax due by mail or by personal delivery of the assessment to the taxpayer, which assessment shall constitute notice and demand for payment. The taxpayer shall be given a period of sixty (60) days from the date the commissioner mailed or hand delivered the notice in which to pay the additional tax due, including penalty and interest as hereinafter provided, and if the sum is not paid within the period of sixty (60) days, the commissioner shall proceed to collect it under the provisions of Sections 27-7-55 through 27-7-67, provided that within the period of sixty (60) days the taxpayer may appeal to the Board of Review as provided by law.

• (2) In the case of an overpayment of tax, interest shall be computed under the provisions of Section 27-7-315. In the case of an underpayment of tax, interest at the rate of one percent (1%) per month, except as otherwise provided in subsection (6) of this section, from the due date of the return may be added or assessed in addition to the additional tax due as hereinabove provided in subsection (1) of this section.

• (3) In case of failure to pay any additional taxes as assessed under this section, there may be added to the additional amount assessed a penalty of one-half of one percent (1/2 of 1%) of the amount of the additional tax if the failure is for not more than one (1) month, with an additional one-half of one percent (1/2 of 1%) for each additional month or fraction thereof during which the failure continues, not to exceed twenty-five percent (25%) in the aggregate.

• (4) Where the reported net income of a taxpayer is increased by the Internal Revenue Service, and the taxpayer, without action by the commissioner, amends a return filed under this article on the basis of a change in taxable income made by the Internal Revenue Service, and pays the additional tax due within thirty (30) days after agreeing to the federal change (and has received statement of the federal changes to which agreement has been made or payment thereof), the commissioner may add interest to the additional tax at the rate of one percent (1%) per month, except as otherwise provided in subsection (6) of this section, from due date of the original return. If the additional tax, based on changes in taxable income by the Internal Revenue Service, is assessed by the commissioner under subsection (1) of this section, in addition to the interest there may be added a penalty of one-half of one percent (1/2 of 1%) of the additional tax due if the failure is for not more than one (1) month, with an additional one-half of one percent (1/2 of 1%) for each additional month or fraction thereof during which the failure to pay continues, not to exceed twenty-five percent (25%) in the aggregate, unless it is shown that the failure is due to reasonable cause and not due to willful neglect.

• (5) In the case of a taxpayer who appeals the decision of the Board of Tax Appeals and the tax assessment or a part of the assessment is upheld by the chancery court and/or the Supreme Court, the assessment may bear interest at the rate of one percent (1%) per month, except as otherwise provided in subsection (6) of this section, from the due date until paid.

• (6) For taxes assessed by the commissioner on or after January 1, 2015, the rate of any interest assessed under this section shall be:
  • (a) Nine-tenths of one percent (9/1₀ of 1%) per month for such taxes assessed on or after January 1, 2015, and before January 1, 2016;
  • (b) Eight-tenths of one percent (8/1₀ of 1%) per month for such taxes assessed on or after January 1, 2016, and before January 1, 2017;
  • (c) Seven-tenths of one percent (7/1₀ of 1%) per month for such taxes assessed on or after January 1, 2017, and before January 1, 2018;
  • (d) Six-tenths of one percent (6/1₀ of 1%) per month for such taxes assessed on or after January 1, 2018, and before January 1, 2019; and
  • (e) One-half of one percent (1/2 of 1%) per month for such taxes assessed on or after January 1, 2019.

• (7)
  • (a) Nothing in this section shall be construed as authorizing a refund of taxes for claims pursuant to the United States Supreme Court decision of Davis v. Michigan Department of Treasury, 109 S.Ct. 1500 (1989). These taxes were not incorrectly and/or erroneously collected as contemplated by this chapter.
  • (b) In the event a court of final jurisdiction determines the above provision to be void for any reason, it is hereby declared the intent of the Legislature that affected taxpayers shall be allowed a credit against future income tax liability as opposed to a tax refund.

Codes, 1942, § 9220-25.1; Laws, 1971, ch. 512, § 2; Laws, 1978, ch. 341, § 1; Laws, 1979, ch. 427, § 5; Laws, 1984, ch. 447, § 2; Laws, 1988, ch. 391, § 5; Laws, 1990, ch. 523, § 6; Laws, 1991, ch. 524, § 7; Laws, 2002, ch. 414, § 1; Laws, 2005, ch. 414, § 1; Laws, 2005, ch. 499, § 12; Laws, 2009, ch. 492, § 43, eff. 7/1/2010.

Amended by Laws, 2014, ch. 476, HB 799, 4, eff. 1/1/2015.