Relating to the payment of certain ad valorem tax refunds.

Contracts

• Tax Consultant Agreements: Review Master Services Agreements (MSAs) and Powers of Attorney (POAs) with third-party tax agents. Ensure they have specific authority to execute Comptroller-prescribed forms regarding refund redirection.
• Lease Agreements: For Triple Net (NNN) leases, clarify whether the landlord or tenant has the authority to sign this specific governmental record to prevent theft or misdirection of funds.

Hiring/Training

• Staff Training: Accounts Receivable and Tax Compliance teams must be trained to stop sending informal letters or emails for refund redirection. They must be instructed on the criminal implications (Class A Misdemeanor to Felony) of providing false information on the new form.
• Signature Authority: Establish internal protocols defining who is authorized to sign these forms, as the signatory bears personal criminal liability under Texas Penal Code Section 37.10.

Reporting & Record-Keeping

• Mandatory Filing: You must file the new form with the specific Tax Assessor-Collector *before* the refund is issued.
• Audit Trail: Maintain a copy of every filed redirection request and proof of delivery. Proof of timely filing is your primary defense if a collector inadvertently mails a check to the wrong address.
• Revocation: Establish a workflow to file a written revocation immediately if your headquarters changes or you terminate a tax agent relationship.

Fees & Costs

• Direct Costs: No new statutory filing fees are introduced.
• Indirect Costs: Minimal administrative costs associated with updating internal tax software to generate the new form.