PROVIDENCE — State tax officials have put more than 1,200 businesses across the state on notice this week that they are out of business unless they pay their overdue sales taxes immediately.
For most, that action came in the form of a personal visit from the state Division of Taxation, ordering business owners to lock their doors at once.
By Wednesday, a line of people had queued up inside the Department of Administration building on Smith Hill, waiting their turn to plead their case to a state revenue agent. Some were angry. Others frustrated.
“I understand the state needs money, but to put pressure on the small guy or the moderate guy that’s struggling, it’s not going to do any good,” said Mike Suriani, who owns an electrical supply company in South Providence.
(snippet)
The permits expired on June 30, and the last in a series of letters sent to owners in recent months said they would not be issued new permits without straightening out their tax situation. In the interim, they were told: “You are conducting business without a permit and must cease immediately.”
A handful in line Wednesday said the process wasn’t quite that simple. Desmond Clark, who owns a small video-game store in North Providence, said he spent months trying to negotiate a payment plan with the state that would allow him to keep current on owed taxes, while staying afloat in a tough economy.
“They didn’t want to hear it. They didn’t want any payment plan whatsoever,” said Clark.
Link
Isn't this like blowing up the plumbing because you dont have water at the faucet?
ReplyDeletehere we go again
ReplyDeleteVicious circles of circular vicousness.
ReplyDeletewe are DOOMED I tell you. DOOMED!
Ok. I am a business and I charge my customer sales tax and then don't pay that sales tax to the state. I keep it for myself. Is that what this is about?
ReplyDeleteIf so, sorry, but I deserve to be shut down.
Ok, I have to say I agree with the state on this one. This isn't some sort of suprise fee that popped up out of the blue that these business are struggling to get together, this money that they collected from the public with the express purpose of handing over to the state. If I am paying sales tax to a business I expect that to go to the state, not in the business's pocket.
ReplyDeleteAnon above, since the gov't created depression began, businesses don't have the money to survive so they use the collected taxes. Whats good for the goose is good for the gander.
ReplyDeleteBullshit, this is shaddy business owners trying to scam the system.
ReplyDeleteOh right like there's 1200 business owner scammers in one town..Dumb ass..Hopefully its the beginning of a TAX REVOLT..Christ where do these posters come from, pluto?
ReplyDeleteNo not in one town, in one state moron! This is state wide!
ReplyDelete