Eighty-three of the 226 businesses that have appeared on the tax delinquent list since it was posted last April have been removed from the site because they either paid their taxes in full or committed to a deferred payment plan. The list now includes a total of 238 businesses that owe sales and/or employer withholding taxes that were collected from customers and employees, but were never remitted to the state.
"The businesses that were removed fulfilled their responsibilities and either paid the delinquent taxes in full or entered into a payment plan agreement with the state," Fajt said. "The other tax delinquents will remain on the list until they do the same."
In an effort to collect unpaid state taxes, the state Department of Revenue last year began publicizing the names of people and businesses that owe delinquent taxes. The prospect of appearing on the list has helped convince delinquent taxpayers to pay $19.6 million and enter into deferred payment plans for an additional $16 million in previously unpaid taxes.
Other states have found that the threat of public exposure can be a powerful tax collection incentive. At least 20 other states, including Maryland, New Jersey and Virginia use Internet tax delinquent lists to help collect unpaid taxes.
"Everyone on the list has been given many opportunities to resolve their tax debt prior to appearing on the Web site," said Fajt. "They appear on the list because they have ignored our repeated attempts to collect the taxes owed."
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.
