Chapter 8. Taxpayers’ Suits of California Revenue And Taxation Code >> Division 2. >> Part 7. >> Chapter 8.

No injunction or writ of mandate or other legal or equitable process shall issue in any suit, action or proceeding in any court against this State or against any officer of the State to prevent or enjoin the assessment or collection under this part of any tax or any amount of tax required to be collected.

No suit or proceeding shall be maintained in any court for the recovery of any amount alleged to have been erroneously or illegally assessed or collected unless a claim for refund or credit has been duly filed in accordance with Article 2 of Chapter 7 of this part.

Within 90 days after the mailing of the notice of the board' s action upon a claim for refund or credit, the claimant may bring an action against the board on the grounds set forth in the claim in a court of competent jurisdiction in any county or city and county in the State in which the Attorney General has an office for the recovery of the whole or any part of the amount with respect to which the claim has been disallowed. The Attorney General shall defend the action.

If the board fails to mail notice of its action on a claim for refund or credit within six months after the claim is filed with the board, the claimant may, prior to mailing of notice by the board of its action on the claim, consider the claim disallowed and bring an action against the board on the grounds set forth in the claim for the recovery of the whole or any part of the amount claimed as an overpayment.

Failure to bring a suit or an action within the time specified constitutes a waiver of all demands against the State on account of an alleged overpayment.

If judgment is rendered for the plaintiff, the amount of the judgment shall first be credited on any taxes due and payable from the plaintiff. The balance of the judgment shall be refunded to the plaintiff.

In any judgment, interest shall be allowed, subject to the same limitations as are prescribed by Section 12984, at the modified adjusted rate per annum established pursuant to Section 6591.5, upon the amount found to have been illegally collected from the date of payment of the amount to the date of allowance of credit on account of the judgment or to a date preceding the date of the refund warrant by not more than 30 days, the date to be determined by the Controller.

(a) A judgment shall not be rendered in favor of the plaintiff when the action is brought by or in the name of an assignee of the insurer paying the tax, interest, or penalties, or by any person other than the insurer that has paid the tax, interest, or penalties.
  (b) This section shall become operative on July 1, 2013.