When lubricating oil is lost or destroyed in quantities of two hundred fifty (250) gallons or more through explosion, fire, collision, storage tank wreckage, wreckage of loading or unloading facilities or other acts of Providence, only while in storage in this state or while being transported in this state, the owner of the lubricating oil shall be entitled to a refund of the tax paid thereon.
The department shall be notified by the owner of lubricating oil lost or destroyed within five (5) days after the loss or destruction is discovered. The department shall make an investigation of the facts and circumstances surrounding the loss or destruction as may be reasonably necessary for the effective administration of this section.
The claim shall be made in the name of the owner of the lubricating oil lost or destroyed, and shall be signed by the owner or his authorized agent and filed within three (3) years after the date of the loss. All claims must be accompanied by proof satisfactory to the department that the lubricating oil for which credit is claimed was destroyed as herein provided. In all cases where lubricating oil alleged to have been destroyed was covered by insurance, the department shall not approve such claim unless and until the insurer has acknowledged and actually paid the loss.
Upon the receipt of the claim, the department shall determine the amount of refund or tax credit due to the claimant and in the case of refund the amount shall be refunded to the claimant as provided in Section 27-55-19. The refund shall be paid from current lubricating oil tax collections.
If the department determines that any refund claim shall not be paid or any tax credit allowed, it shall notify the claimant at the earliest possible date after it determines the claim cannot be allowed stating the reason or reasons why the claim is rejected.
A claimant may, within sixty (60) days from the date of the rejection of his claim, appeal to the board of review as provided by law.