1.    On or before July fifteenth of each year, the tax commissioner shall review the report under section 57-34-02 and compute the total tax to be assessed against each telecommunications carrier in this state at a rate of two and one-half percent of adjusted gross receipts. If the tax commissioner’s computation of the total tax differs from the amount computed by a telecommunications carrier, the tax commissioner shall give notice of the change by mail to that telecommunications carrier on or before July fifteenth. The state board of equalization shall assess the tax under this section after consideration of any contest presented.

2.    A telecommunications carrier’s retail customer in this state is entitled to a refund equal to two and one-half percent of the amount of telecommunications service charges paid to telecommunications carriers by that customer in excess of eight hundred thousand dollars in a calendar year. A refund claim under this subsection must be filed with the tax commissioner before December thirty-first of the year following the calendar year for which the refund is claimed. A claim for refund must be made in the manner prescribed by the tax commissioner. The tax commissioner shall verify that the telecommunications carrier to which the retail customer paid telecommunications service charges has paid the telecommunications gross receipts tax for the year for which the refund is claimed before a refund may be paid. Refunds under this subsection must be paid by the tax commissioner and are appropriated from the state general fund as a standing and continuing appropriation to the tax commissioner for that purpose.