Ensuring a smooth transition, she said, is “absolutely of the utmost importance” to maintaining efficient revenue collection and funding state operations.
Lierman urged lawmakers and the governor’s office to avoid passing significant new tax measures until the system is fully operational, warning her office has “almost no capacity” to make requested changes.
“If folks put in bills that call for big changes in personal taxes, please expect to see a letter that says we have no comment on the policy. But please, can you push this out in a year or two? … There is no room for error here. We are all aware of that, and we are working diligently towards a successful rollout,” she said.
The state collected more than $36 billion in taxes and fees in the most recent fiscal year, largely from personal income, sales and corporate income taxes, according to the comptroller’s office. Revenue performance has generally met expectations so far this year, Chief Deputy Comptroller Andy Shuper said, though federal job cuts and recent state and federal tax changes have increased uncertainty in revenue forecasting.
The agency is requesting 25 additional personnel in fiscal year 2027, after receiving only a fraction of the staff it sought last year, as well as funding from Gov. Wes Moore’s budget for technology upgrades, cybersecurity improvements and expanded tax compliance efforts.
Lierman cited rising demand for taxpayer services and said recent investments in compliance and modernization are already yielding results, with expanded auditing and collections expected to generate tens of millions of dollars in additional revenue over the coming years.
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