In a new effort to collect unpaid state taxes, the state Department of Revenue released the names of 75 people and businesses that are delinquent in sales and use taxes.
"The vast majority of Pennsylvanians pay their taxes on time and in full," Fajt said. "Today we are shining a spotlight on the small minority who do not. Each of these delinquent taxpayers has been given many opportunities to pay. Each has been warned that failure to pay will result in public disclosure.
"They have ignored those warnings and, therefore, have earned a place on our inaugural tax delinquents list."
Fajt said other states have found that the threat of public exposure can be a powerful tax collection incentive. Seventeen other states, including Maryland, New Jersey and the District of Columbia use Internet tax delinquent lists to help collect unpaid taxes.
Fajt said Revenue Department collections personnel have been telling delinquent taxpayers about the inaugural Pennsylvania tax delinquent list for several months. He said the prospect of appearing on the list has helped convince delinquent taxpayers to pay $3.9 million and enter into deferred payment plans for an additional $4.3 million in previously unpaid taxes.
All of the information on the Web site is public as a result of a lien filed by the Revenue Department. The liens are recorded in a county prothonotary's office where the person resides or does business. The amounts listed on the Web site are the amounts of the original liens. The current amount of tax due may differ from the amount listed on the site because of partial payments and/or the accrual of additional interest since the tax lien was filed.
The state Revenue Department is starting with recently liened sales and use tax accounts and is working to add more tax types and more delinquent taxpayers to the list. Delinquent taxpayers who appear on the list should contact the Revenue Department at the telephone number listed on the letter they received or call the nearest Revenue district office to make payment arrangements. The Web site will be updated monthly. Delinquent taxpayers who resolve their tax liabilities will be removed from the site at that time.
The complete PA Tax Delinquent List is available online.
