Today, the story breaks that OTR is sending out "mistaken" tax refund checks to people who owed taxes. WTOP has some details:
D.C.'s Office of Tax and Revenue has mistakenly sent refund checks to residents who actually owe taxes. In one case, a resident received a check for $2,886 -- the exact amount he owed.Now I'm not even sure what sort of "processing error" could result in a check being cut and sent out for the same amount of a tax bill that was already paid.
The resident, who wishes to remain anonymous, received the check in early June and returned it with a letter alerting the chief financial officer to the error.
"The amount represents my total tax liability for 2008, which I have paid, not the amount due me in refund."
Natalie Wilson, a spokesperson for the Office of Tax and Revenue, says there was a "processing error" which is now being investigated.
"We don't believe this is widespread."
But D.C. Councilmember David Catania (I-At-Large) isn't so sure, considering one of the checks was sent to his home.
I've heard a good deal of stories about dealing with OTR, with tax payments being applied to the incorrect tax year, resulting in the IRS withholding federal refunds, etc. Not to mention it's a horrific experience attempting to speak to anyone from OTR about these matters. God help the poor person here who tried to return that check. I can only imagine how that will screw up their 2009 taxes.
I imagine Marion Barry received a hefty "mistake" check from OTR as well.
The entire DCRA is deplorable. Everyone is hostile to getting you processed and on your way. It is a stime suck, corrupt, and they can't even be bother to be helpful.
ReplyDeleteI agree with everything that has been said here. I am not a resident of DC, and did some work there during 2008. It is December now and I am still fighting with the Office of Tax and Revenue to try and get my refund. I have never dealt with such incompetent people. They are absolutely terrible. Everytime I call in they ask for a new form to be mailed or faxed in. And this has been going on ALL year. It has been a horrific experience. Absolutely TERRIBLE!
ReplyDelete17 yrs old involved in stealing $48 million? Very disgusting for Washington.
ReplyDeleteI am a CPA tax preparer and have dealt with numerous administrative tax errors with DC. As mentioned by other commenters, their service is highly incompetent, slow, and ill-mannered. Resolving the issue almost requires breaking an arm. This is a very common occurrence for taxpayers in DC (I would estimate something goes wrong in 1 out of 5 DC clients we have). Worst state for tax administration, ever.
ReplyDelete- JASON LEE, CPA
DCRO have sent me a bill for 30,000 in taxes they claim I owed. I sent them the returns proving I have paid those taxes but it still did not matter. They sent my recs over to the IRS to garnish my tax refunds. These people are out of control. When I call they are hostile beyond belief. It's the lunatics running the asylum. Why doesn't the Mayor's office(or even better congress) do something. These folks can't even run as a shadow state let alone a real one. What is all this statehood nonsense ??
ReplyDeleteI someone ran just to fix taxes in DC I bet they would win whatever office they are running for.
ReplyDeleteDCRO is telling me I lived in DC in 2005 when I did not. 2005!!!!! I sent all of the documentations but no response, or if I get someone on the call they say they have 24 hours to respond. Someone needs to do something. Is the money really going toward improving the city? looking at it not, probably in someone's pocket.
ReplyDeleteI own 2 small businesses in the District, if I could just uproot them and move across the border, I would. I will never open another business in this city, the level of incompetence is staggering!
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