Oregon Revised Statutes

Or. Rev. Stat. § 311.806 (2026)

Refund of taxes on real and personal property; credit against total tax liability account of person owed refund

✓ current as of May 2026
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      311.806 Refund of taxes on real and personal property; credit against total tax liability account of person owed refund. (1) Subject to subsections (2) and (3) of this section, the county governing body shall refund, out of the refund reserve account provided in ORS 311.807, or the unsegregated tax collections account provided in ORS 311.385, taxes on property collected by an assessor or tax collector pursuant to a levy of the assessor or of any taxing district or tax levying body or pursuant to ORS 311.255, plus interest as provided in ORS 311.812, in the following cases:

      (a) To the person described in ORS 309.100 (1) and in whose name a petition was filed, whenever a change in the value of property is ordered by a county property value appeals board and no appeal is taken or can be taken from the board’s order, or whenever ordered by the Oregon Tax Court or the Supreme Court and the order constitutes a final determination of the matter;

      (b) To the person who has sought and obtained an order from the Department of Revenue under ORS 306.115, whenever a change in the value of property is ordered by the department and no appeal is taken or can be taken from the order of the department;

      (c) To the person who meets the criteria described in ORS 305.275 and in whose name an appeal is filed under ORS 305.275, whenever ordered by the Oregon Tax Court or Supreme Court and the order constitutes a final determination of the matter;

      (d) Whenever a change in the value of property is made under ORS 309.115 upon resolution of an appeal and no separate appeal of the value of the property was taken for the year of the change:

      (A) To the person in whose name the appeal was filed, for each year after the year for which the appeal was filed in which that person was listed as the owner or an owner or the person in whose name the property was assessed; and

      (B) To the owner of record on the tax roll at the time of refund, each year thereafter;

      (e) To the owner of record on the tax roll at the time of refund, whenever taxes are collected against real or personal property not within the jurisdiction of the tax levying body;

      (f) Except as provided in ORS 310.143, to the owner of record on the tax roll at the time of refund, whenever, through excusable neglect or through an error subject to correction under ORS 311.205, other than ORS 311.205 (1)(b)(A), taxes on property are paid in excess of the amount legally chargeable, limited to the amount of money collected in excess of the amount actually due;

      (g) To the person in whose name the appeal was filed under ORS 305.275 if the officer makes a correction under ORS 311.205 (1)(b)(A) in the tax owed to which the appeal relates;

      (h) Except as provided in ORS 311.808, to the payer of the tax whenever any person pays taxes on the property of another by mistake of any kind;

      (i) To the property owner entitled to proration of taxes under ORS 308.425 resulting in an overpayment of taxes paid; or

      (j) To the purchaser of business personal property in the circumstances described in ORS 311.642 (4), upon notification of the county governing body by the tax collector who accepted the refundable compromise payment.

      (2)(a) Except as provided in paragraphs (b) and (c) of this subsection, a refund of taxes may be allowed or made for any year or years not exceeding five years prior to the last certified roll. A refund under this subsection may be paid only to the extent that a refund under subsection (5) of this section has not been paid.

      (b) A refund of taxes may be allowed or made under subsection (1)(f) to (i) of this section after the period described in paragraph (a) of this subsection if, before the expiration of the period, a written claim for refund of the taxes is filed by the taxpayer with the county governing body.

      (c) The county governing body shall order a refund of taxes to be paid as specified in subsection (1) of this section without the filing of a written claim and without regard to the period described in paragraph (a) of this subsection upon receipt of a copy of an order by the Department of Revenue, the Oregon Tax Court or the Supreme Court that constitutes a final determination that is not subject to appeal.

      (3)(a) Before refunding taxes in a case described in subsection (1)(a) to (g) or (j) of this section, or under ORS 311.465, 311.815 or 311.821, the county governing body shall credit with the amount of the refund any amount due, as determined in accordance with ORS 311.505, of the total tax liability account of the person to which the refund is owed. Any amount remaining after crediting the total tax liability account shall be paid as specified in subsection (1) of this section, paragraph (b)(B) of this subsection or ORS 311.465, 311.815 or 311.821, as applicable.

      (b) Upon request of the owner or an owner of any taxable property or the person in whose name the property is assessed, or the owner of record on the tax roll at the time of refund, whichever is applicable, and with the approval of the tax collector, the county governing body may authorize:

      (A) Refunds payable under subsection (1)(h) or (i) of this section to be made by crediting with the amount of the refund the total tax liability account of the requester.

      (B) After the total tax liability account of the property on which the tax is assessed has been satisfied, refunds payable under subsection (1) of this section to be made by crediting with the remaining amount of the refund any other total tax liability account.

      (4)(a) In the case of a refund or credit payable to a single requester that results from an order constituting a final determination of a matter as described under subsection (1)(a), (b) or (c) of this section, a county governing body may elect to pay the refund or apply the credit in equal periodic installments over not more than the five-year period that begins on the date that the order is issued if the amount to be refunded or credited exceeds the lesser of $250,000 or one-quarter of one percent of the total amount of taxes on property imposed within the county within the limits of Article XI, section 11b, of the Oregon Constitution, as listed on the certificate last prepared under ORS 311.105.

      (b) If a county governing body elects to pay a refund or credit under the provisions of paragraph (a) of this subsection, and the election will result in a hardship to a requester, the requester may appeal the election to the tax court as provided in ORS 305.404 to 305.560.

      (5)(a) The tax collector shall refund taxes paid on a property value, a claim for exemption or a claim for cancellation of a property tax if:

      (A) A county property value appeals board or the Oregon Tax Court issues a decision that could result in a refund if the decision is upheld on appeal;

      (B) The final resolution is pending further appeal; and

      (C) The county governing body orders a refund of taxes paid under this subsection.

      (b) An order by a county governing body or a recommendation of an assessor or tax collector in regard to this subsection may not be considered in determining matters in controversy on appeal, including property value or tax liability.

      (c) Interest may not be paid on any refund under this subsection prior to final resolution of the appeal. If, after taking into account the amount refunded under this subsection, the final resolution of the controversy after appeal results in a refund due, interest shall be determined and paid as provided in ORS 311.812.

      (d) If, after taking into account the amount refunded under this subsection, the final resolution of the controversy after appeal results in additional taxes due on the property, the additional taxes shall be billed and collected as provided in ORS 311.513.

      (6) Immediately upon payment of the refund and any interest thereon, the tax collector shall make the necessary correcting entries in the records of the office of the tax collector. ORS 294.305 to 294.565 do not apply to refunds made out of the refund reserve account or the unsegregated tax collections account.

      (7) A refund is not required under this section for any tax year if the amount of the refund would be $10 or less. Any amount not refunded under this subsection shall be distributed to taxing districts in the same manner that other taxes are distributed.

      (8) As used in this section:

      (a) “Owner of record on the tax roll at the time of refund” means the owner or an owner of the property or the person in whose name the property is assessed on the tax roll last certified and delivered to the tax collector under ORS 311.105 and 311.115.

      (b) “Total tax liability account” means the total amount of tax that has been extended or charged against a particular property tax account as limited by Article XI, section 11b, of the Oregon Constitution. [1959 c.554 §2 (enacted in lieu of 311.805); 1961 c.533 §50; 1971 c.737 §3; 1973 c.347 §1; 1975 c.395 §3; 1979 c.702 §1; 1985 c.162 §10; 1991 c.459 §260; 1993 c.6 §3; 1993 c.270 §60; 1995 c.650 §71; 1997 c.541 §§295,296; 2003 c.38 §1; 2005 c.394 §1; 2007 c.364 §1; 2015 c.31 §1; 2015 c.444 §8; 2017 c.27 §1; 2021 c.356 §2; 2023 c.29 §36]

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 77 cases (3 in the last 5 years), 1967–2024 · leading case: Smith v. Multnomah Cnty. Bd. of Commissioners, 865 P.2d 356 (Or. 1994).
Smith v. Multnomah Cnty. Bd. of Commissioners, 865 P.2d 356 (Or. 1994). · cites it 21× “In this property tax case, plaintiff taxpayer sought a refund, under the general refund statute, ORS 311.806, 1 of taxes imposed and collected in excess of the limits of Article XI, section lib, of the Oregon Constitution (commonly known as “Measure 5”).”
Rosboro Lumber Co. v. Heine, 618 P.2d 960 (Or. 1980). · cites it 9× “64 "based upon ORS 311.806” 2 and stating, as the "Legal Basis for Refund”: *913 "The difference between the quantity of timber taxed and the quantity that really was on Petitioner’s land in Marion Comity represents a quantity of timber that simply did not exist within the…”
Allen v. Dep't of Revenue, 17 Or. Tax 248 (Or. T.C. 2003). “In accordance with the stipulation of the parties, that value is reduced by $2,175,000 for the EIFS damage and $530,000 for personal property resulting in a final value of $5,495,000. The county shall correct the assessment and tax rolls to reflect the above stated RMV of…”
Rosboro Lumber Co. v. Heine, 8 Or. Tax 221 (Or. T.C. 1979). · cites it 8× “When petitioner learned of the error in the cruise and the Department of Revenue had effected a correction, the petitioner applied to the County Commissioners of Marion County for a refund of the property taxes it had paid in the tax years 1971-1972 to 1975-1976, inclusive, by…”
Sch. Dist. No. 12 of Wasco Cty. v. Wasco Cnty., 529 P.2d 386 (Or. 1974). · cites it 4× “They do challenge, however, the means of implementing the refund as established by ORS 311.806 (3). Plaintiffs’ basic contention is that the challenged statute required them to contribute to refunds of taxes which were not levied or spent for their benefit.”
Seneca Sustainable Energy v. Lane Cnty. Assessor, 21 Or. Tax 366 (Or. T.C. 2014). · cites it 3× “See ORS 311.806(1). The statutes recognize that orders of this court may order that counties pay money to certain persons where money has been collected.”
Rosboro Lbr. Co. v. Heine, 618 P.2d 960 (Or. 1980). · cites it 9× “64 "based upon ORS 311.806" [2] and stating, as the "Legal Basis for Refund": *963 "The difference between the quantity of timber taxed and the quantity that really was on Petitioner's land in Marion County represents a quantity of timber that simply did not exist within the…”
Dennehy v. Dep't of Revenue, 668 P.2d 1210 (Or. 1983). · cites it 3× “First, plaintiff filed a tax refund request with Multnomah County pursuant to ORS 311.806. 2 This section *577 mandates the refund of taxes only when the county is so ordered by the department, the Oregon Tax Court or this court, and in three other situations not applicable here.”
Dennehy v. Dep't of Revenue, 781 P.2d 346 (Or. 1989). · cites it 2× “Another authority might choose to refund those overages that were specifically and timely protested, see ORS 311.806(1), but no others. Such decisions were for the taxing authority involved, the tax collector, or the Director.”
Sisters of Charity v. Washington Cnty. Bd. of Commissioners, 3 Or. Tax 106 (Or. T.C. 1967). · cites it 5× “The claims were filed pursuant to ORS 311.806 which provides that the county court shall refund property taxes to the taxpayer in certain instances.”
Pac. Power & Light Co. v. Dep't of Revenue, 7 Or. Tax 203 (Or. T.C. 1977). “The decree shall further provide that the county assessor and tax collector of each county to which property values are ascribed shall make the necessary corrections to the assessment and tax rolls for the subject years and that the county commissioners of such counties shall…”
Nat'l Metallurgical Corp. v. Dep't of Revenue, 7 Or. Tax 142 (Or. T.C. 1977). · cites it 3× “Plaintiff has also drawn analogies between the phrase "good and sufficient cause” and the terms "excusable neglect” as used in ORS 311.806 and "reasonable cause” as used in the Internal Revenue Code (1954), § 6651.”
— Or. Rev. Stat. § 311.806(1) — 6 cases
Smith v. Multnomah Cnty. Bd. of Commissioners, 865 P.2d 356 (Or. 1994). “In this property tax case, plaintiff taxpayer sought a refund, under the general refund statute, ORS 311.806, 1 of taxes imposed and collected in excess of the limits of Article XI, section lib, of the Oregon Constitution (commonly known as “Measure 5”).”
Seneca Sustainable Energy v. Lane Cnty. Assessor, 21 Or. Tax 366 (Or. T.C. 2014). “See ORS 311.806(1). The statutes recognize that orders of this court may order that counties pay money to certain persons where money has been collected.”
Rosboro Lumber Co. v. Heine, 618 P.2d 960 (Or. 1980). “64 "based upon ORS 311.806” 2 and stating, as the "Legal Basis for Refund”: *913 "The difference between the quantity of timber taxed and the quantity that really was on Petitioner’s land in Marion Comity represents a quantity of timber that simply did not exist within the…”
Dennehy v. Dep't of Revenue, 781 P.2d 346 (Or. 1989). “Another authority might choose to refund those overages that were specifically and timely protested, see ORS 311.806(1), but no others. Such decisions were for the taxing authority involved, the tax collector, or the Director.”
Rosboro Lbr. Co. v. Heine, 618 P.2d 960 (Or. 1980). “64 "based upon ORS 311.806" [2] and stating, as the "Legal Basis for Refund": *963 "The difference between the quantity of timber taxed and the quantity that really was on Petitioner's land in Marion County represents a quantity of timber that simply did not exist within the…”
— Or. Rev. Stat. § 311.806(1)(a) — 3 cases
Seneca Sustainable Energy v. Lane Cnty. Assessor, 21 Or. Tax 366 (Or. T.C. 2014). “See ORS 311.806(1). The statutes recognize that orders of this court may order that counties pay money to certain persons where money has been collected.”
Dept. of Rev. v. Rainsweet, Inc. (TC 5206), 21 Or. Tax 494 (Or. T.C. 2014).
Dept. of Rev. v. Rainsweet, Inc. (TC 5205), 21 Or. Tax 488 (Or. T.C. 2014).
— Or. Rev. Stat. § 311.806(1)(b) — 1 case
Rosboro Lbr. Co. v. Heine, 618 P.2d 960 (Or. 1980). “64 "based upon ORS 311.806" [2] and stating, as the "Legal Basis for Refund": *963 "The difference between the quantity of timber taxed and the quantity that really was on Petitioner's land in Marion County represents a quantity of timber that simply did not exist within the…”
— Or. Rev. Stat. § 311.806(1)(c) — 3 cases
Smith v. Multnomah Cnty. Bd. of Commissioners, 865 P.2d 356 (Or. 1994). “In this property tax case, plaintiff taxpayer sought a refund, under the general refund statute, ORS 311.806, 1 of taxes imposed and collected in excess of the limits of Article XI, section lib, of the Oregon Constitution (commonly known as “Measure 5”).”
Rosboro Lbr. Co. v. Heine, 618 P.2d 960 (Or. 1980). “64 "based upon ORS 311.806" [2] and stating, as the "Legal Basis for Refund": *963 "The difference between the quantity of timber taxed and the quantity that really was on Petitioner's land in Marion County represents a quantity of timber that simply did not exist within the…”
— Or. Rev. Stat. § 311.806(1)(d) — 1 case
Portland Gen. Elec. Co. v. Dep't of Revenue, 12 Or. Tax 311 (Or. T.C. 1992).
— Or. Rev. Stat. § 311.806(1)(e) — 1 case
State ex rel City of Happy Valley v. Dept. of Rev., 23 Or. Tax 193 (Or. T.C. 2018).
— Or. Rev. Stat. § 311.806(1)(g) — 1 case
Shevtsov v. Dept. of Rev. (Or. T.C. 2024).
— Or. Rev. Stat. § 311.806(1)(h) — 1 case
— Or. Rev. Stat. § 311.806(2) — 2 cases
Dennehy v. Dep't of Revenue, 781 P.2d 346 (Or. 1989). “Another authority might choose to refund those overages that were specifically and timely protested, see ORS 311.806(1), but no others. Such decisions were for the taxing authority involved, the tax collector, or the Director.”
Fournier v. Dep't of Revenue, 9 Or. Tax 462 (Or. T.C. 1984).
— Or. Rev. Stat. § 311.806(2)(a) — 1 case
— Or. Rev. Stat. § 311.806(6) — 1 case
— Or. Rev. Stat. § 311.806(b) — 2 cases
Rosboro Lumber Co. v. Heine, 618 P.2d 960 (Or. 1980). “64 "based upon ORS 311.806” 2 and stating, as the "Legal Basis for Refund”: *913 "The difference between the quantity of timber taxed and the quantity that really was on Petitioner’s land in Marion Comity represents a quantity of timber that simply did not exist within the…”
Rosboro Lbr. Co. v. Heine, 618 P.2d 960 (Or. 1980). “64 "based upon ORS 311.806" [2] and stating, as the "Legal Basis for Refund": *963 "The difference between the quantity of timber taxed and the quantity that really was on Petitioner's land in Marion County represents a quantity of timber that simply did not exist within the…”
— Or. Rev. Stat. § 311.806(c) — 2 cases
Rosboro Lumber Co. v. Heine, 618 P.2d 960 (Or. 1980). “64 "based upon ORS 311.806” 2 and stating, as the "Legal Basis for Refund”: *913 "The difference between the quantity of timber taxed and the quantity that really was on Petitioner’s land in Marion Comity represents a quantity of timber that simply did not exist within the…”
Rosboro Lbr. Co. v. Heine, 618 P.2d 960 (Or. 1980). “64 "based upon ORS 311.806" [2] and stating, as the "Legal Basis for Refund": *963 "The difference between the quantity of timber taxed and the quantity that really was on Petitioner's land in Marion County represents a quantity of timber that simply did not exist within the…”
— Or. Rev. Stat. § 311.806(f) — 1 case
— Or. Rev. Stat. § 311.806(l)(a) — 2 cases
Sharps v. Dep't of Revenue, 173 P.3d 1223 (Or. 2007).
Coos Cnty. v. Dep't of Revenue, 705 P.2d 731 (Or. 1985).
— Or. Rev. Stat. § 311.806(l)(b) — 2 cases
Rosboro Lumber Co. v. Heine, 618 P.2d 960 (Or. 1980). “64 "based upon ORS 311.806” 2 and stating, as the "Legal Basis for Refund”: *913 "The difference between the quantity of timber taxed and the quantity that really was on Petitioner’s land in Marion Comity represents a quantity of timber that simply did not exist within the…”
Rosboro Lumber Co. v. Heine, 8 Or. Tax 221 (Or. T.C. 1979). “When petitioner learned of the error in the cruise and the Department of Revenue had effected a correction, the petitioner applied to the County Commissioners of Marion County for a refund of the property taxes it had paid in the tax years 1971-1972 to 1975-1976, inclusive, by…”
— Or. Rev. Stat. § 311.806(l)(c) — 3 cases
Smith v. Multnomah Cnty. Bd. of Commissioners, 865 P.2d 356 (Or. 1994). “In this property tax case, plaintiff taxpayer sought a refund, under the general refund statute, ORS 311.806, 1 of taxes imposed and collected in excess of the limits of Article XI, section lib, of the Oregon Constitution (commonly known as “Measure 5”).”
Dennehy v. Dep't of Revenue, 668 P.2d 1210 (Or. 1983). “First, plaintiff filed a tax refund request with Multnomah County pursuant to ORS 311.806. 2 This section *577 mandates the refund of taxes only when the county is so ordered by the department, the Oregon Tax Court or this court, and in three other situations not applicable here.”
Rosboro Lumber Co. v. Heine, 618 P.2d 960 (Or. 1980). “64 "based upon ORS 311.806” 2 and stating, as the "Legal Basis for Refund”: *913 "The difference between the quantity of timber taxed and the quantity that really was on Petitioner’s land in Marion Comity represents a quantity of timber that simply did not exist within the…”
— Or. Rev. Stat. § 311.806(l)(d) — 1 case
— Or. Rev. Stat. § 311.806(l)(e) — 1 case
Smith v. Multnomah Cnty. Bd. of Commissioners, 865 P.2d 356 (Or. 1994). “In this property tax case, plaintiff taxpayer sought a refund, under the general refund statute, ORS 311.806, 1 of taxes imposed and collected in excess of the limits of Article XI, section lib, of the Oregon Constitution (commonly known as “Measure 5”).”
— Or. Rev. Stat. § 311.806(l)(f) — 1 case
Sharps v. Dep't of Revenue, 173 P.3d 1223 (Or. 2007).
Annotations are extracted automatically from the opinions in the Syfert caselaw corpus and ranked by authority, recency, and treatment. Dots show Syfertize treatment of the citing case itself.