15-24-1607. Disqualification and penalty. (1) Following certification and during the period of tax abatement, a property that is altered in a way that adversely affects those elements that qualify it as historically contributing must be disqualified from receiving the tax abatement.

(2) If a historic property that has received a tax abatement under this part is disqualified, the owner is liable for back taxes, interest, and a penalty. These assessments must be extended against the property on the next general real property tax roll, to be collected and distributed in the same manner as the currently assessed real property tax. The back taxes, interest, and penalty must equal the sum of the following:

(a) the difference in the total real property taxes due during the years the tax abatement was in effect and the total real property taxes which would have been due had the special assessment not been in effect for those years;

(b) interest on the amount calculated in subsection (2)(a) at the rate for delinquent property taxes provided for in 15-16-102; plus

(c) a penalty of 15% on the sum of subsections (2)(a) and (2)(b).

(3) Back taxes, interest, or penalty may not be imposed on a property transferred to an ownership that makes the property exempt from property taxation or if the property is destroyed by fire or an act of God.