A. If the county assessor denies all or part of a petition under section 42-16055, and if a county board of equalization has been established in the county, the petitioner may appeal the assessor’s decision to the county board by filing with the clerk of the county board, within twenty-five days after the date that the assessor’s decision was mailed to the petitioner, a copy of the written basis of the decision according to the instructions on the petition.

B. The department may contest any proposed valuation or classification or any proposed change in valuation or classification before the county board. If, in the director‘s opinion, a decision of an assessor is erroneous, the director may appeal the assessor’s decision to the county board within twenty-five days after the assessor’s decision was mailed to the taxpayer and the department. In such an action the taxpayer shall raise any defense the taxpayer has to liability for the tax and any additional tax sought to be imposed. If issues other than valuation or classification are raised by either party, the action shall be tried as if it were an action pursuant to section 42-11005 or 42-11052.

C. A property owner that receives a notice of valuation under section 42-15105 may appeal the valuation or legal classification to the county board as provided in subsection A of this section within twenty-five days after the date of the assessor’s notice.