(a) Contest Final Determination. - A taxpayer who disagrees with a notice of final determination issued by the Department may contest the determination by filing a petition for a contested case hearing at the Office of Administrative Hearings in accordance with Article 3 of Chapter 150B of the General Statutes. A taxpayer may file a petition for a contested case hearing only if the taxpayer has exhausted the prehearing remedy. A taxpayer's prehearing remedy is exhausted when the Department issues a final determination after conducting a review and a conference.
(b) Contest Statute of Limitations. - A taxpayer who disagrees with a notice of denial issued by the Department pursuant to G.S. 105-241.7(c1) may contest the statute of limitations determination by filing a petition for a contested case hearing at the office of Administrative Hearings in accordance with Article 3 of Chapter 150B of the General Statutes on the sole issue of whether the statute of limitations bars the taxpayer's claim. A final decision by the administrative law judge regarding the statute of limitations is subject to judicial review under Article 4 of Chapter 150B of the General Statutes and under G.S. 105-241.16. In the event judicial review of the decision is not sought and the final decision is that the taxpayer's claim was not barred by the statute of limitations, then the administrative law judge must remand the matter to the Department for consideration of the substantive issues. In the event judicial review is sought and it is finally determined that the taxpayer's claim was not barred by the statute of limitations, then the matter shall be remanded to the Department for consideration of the substantive issues. Any remand shall be regarded as a new amended return or claim for refund timely filed within the statute of limitations under G.S. 105-241.7(c).