(a) The Director of Taxation, or any authorized employee, is hereby authorized to examine the books, papers, records and Federal Income Tax returns of any employer, any person, any taxpayer, or any taxpayer the Director of Taxation believes is subject to the tax provided for in this Chapter for the purpose of verifying the accuracy of any return made or, if no return was made, ascertaining the tax due under this Chapter. Each such person shall furnish, upon the written request of the Director of Taxation or his duly authorized agent or employee, the means, facilities and opportunity for making the examinations and investigations authorized herein.
(b) The Director of Taxation is hereby authorized to order any person, presumed to have knowledge of the facts, to appear in his office and to examine such person, under oath, concerning any income which was or should have been returned for taxation or any transaction tending to affect such income. For such purposes, the Director of Taxation may compel the production of books, papers, records, and Federal Income Tax returns and the attendance of any person before him, whether as a party or a witness, whenever he believes that such person has knowledge of such income or information pertinent to such inquiry.
(c) The refusal to produce such books, papers, records or Federal Income Tax returns or to submit to such examination by any employer or person subject or presumed to be subject to the tax, or by any officer, agent or employee of any person subject to the tax or required to withhold the tax, or the failure of any person to comply with the provisions of this section or with any order or subpoena of the Director of Taxation authorized herein, shall be deemed a violation of this Chapter, punishable as provided in section 880.99.
(d) Any information gained as the result of any return, investigation, hearing or verification required or authorized by this Chapter shall be confidential, except for official purposes or in accordance with proper judicial order. No person shall divulge such information. The Director of Taxation may furnish copies of returns filed under this Chapter to the Internal Revenue Service and to the State Tax Commissioner. Any individual divulging such information in violation of this section shall be subject to the provisions set forth in the Rules and Regulations.