Mont. Code Ann. § 15-6-415 — Homestead And Rental Property Reduced Tax Rates -- Improper Approval -- Penalty For False Or Fraudulent Application

15-6-415 .  (Effective January 1, 2026) Homestead and rental property reduced tax rates -- improper approval -- penalty for false or fraudulent application. (1) Except as provided in subsection (2), if the department determines that an application for a homestead reduced tax rate or a rental property reduced tax rate was improperly approved or that the property no longer qualifies for the reduced rate, the department shall revise the assessment for each year the homestead reduced tax rate or the rental property reduced tax rate was improperly granted subject to the assessment revision procedure established in 15-8-601 .
(2) A person who files a false or fraudulent application for a homestead reduced tax rate provided for in 15-6-405 or for a rental property reduced tax rate provided for in 15-6-411 is subject to criminal prosecution under the provisions of 45-7-202 .
(3) (a) If a person is determined to have filed a false or fraudulent application, the department shall revise the assessment of the property subject to the assessment revision procedure established in this section and 15-8-601 and assess a penalty as provided in this subsection (3). The penalty is equal to three times the base penalty amount calculated under subsection (3)(b) plus interest at the rate provided in 15-16-102 calculated from the original due date of the taxes, until paid.
(b) The base penalty amount is equal to the property tax due for each year the homestead reduced tax rate or the rental property reduced tax rate was improperly received, determined using the tax rate provided for in 15-6-134 (3)(a), the appraised value, and the mill levies in effect for the year, less the actual property taxes paid in the year.
(c) The revised assessment and penalty must be assessed against a person who filed a false or fraudulent application even if the person no longer owns the property.
(4) If the person who filed a false or fraudulent application no longer owns the property associated with the false or fraudulent application, the penalty plus interest provided for in subsection (3) may be recovered as any other tax owed the state. If the penalty plus interest becomes due and owing, the department may issue a warrant for distraint as provided in Title 15, chapter 1, part 7.
(5) Except as provided in subsection (4), if the department determines that a false or fraudulent application was made, the department shall send the revised assessment with the additional penalty amount as determined under subsection (3) to the county treasurer in the county where the property is located.
(6) The county treasurer shall distribute property taxes, penalty, and interest collected under this section proportionally to the affected taxing jurisdictions.
(7) A revised assessment made under this section must be made within 10 years after the end of the calendar year in which the original application was made.