(a) In order to facilitate and provide a more uniform method of obtaining information for the use and benefit of assessors of property of the various political subdivisions of the state in equalizing taxes and fixing assessments, the commissioner of revenue is empowered, authorized and directed to open for inspection at any time by any official, body or commission lawfully charged with the administration of the tax laws of any political subdivision of the state, all records, reports, returns and schedules, or excerpts therefrom, filed by taxpayers with the department of revenue pursuant to present laws or those hereafter enacted.

Attorney's Note

Under the Tennessee Code, punishments for crimes depend on the classification. In the case of this section:
ClassPrisonFine
class C misdemeanorup to 30 daysup to $50
For details, see Tenn. Code § 40-35-111
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Terms Used In Tennessee Code 67-5-401

  • Property: includes both personal and real property. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
  • State: when applied to the different parts of the United States, includes the District of Columbia and the several territories of the United States. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
  • Testify: Answer questions in court.
  • written: includes printing, typewriting, engraving, lithography, and any other mode of representing words and letters. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
(b) Any information thus secured by any official, body or commission of any political subdivision may be used only for the purpose of administration of the tax laws of such political subdivision.
(c) The commissioner shall furnish, upon written request of any official, body or commission of any political subdivision, certified copies of such records, reports, returns or schedules, or excerpts therefrom, as may be requested by such official, body or commission.
(d) The commissioner may promulgate such rules and regulations for the administration of this section and fix such reasonable fees to be charged for furnishing certified copies of any records, reports, returns and schedules, or excerpts therefrom, provided for herein as is deemed necessary in order that the administration of this section may not be an expense to the state.
(e) Any officer, employee or agent of the state, or any political subdivision of the state, who divulges any information acquired through privileges granted under this section, except as authorized or required by this section, or other laws, or when called upon to testify in any judicial or administrative proceeding to which the state or any political subdivision of the state or such state or local official, body or commission, as such, is a party, commits a Class C misdemeanor.
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