Georgia Tax Relief

Around the country, federal and state tax delinquency rates are climbing.  Georgia may provide some insight regarding why.  The jobless rate in Georgia recently hit 10.1 percent for June, the highest level ever recorded. From June 2008 to June 2009, the number of people receiving regular state unemployment insurance increased 97.1 percent.

The Georgia General Assembly recently passed a budget for fiscal year 2010 that includes a substantial tax increase - eliminating a state-funded property tax relief program (HTRG). “Georgia lawmakers have sent Governor Perdue a budget that dramatically shifts the cost of funding public services away from the wealthiest Georgia taxpayers, and further burdens middle and low-income families,” said Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy (ITEP) director Matthew Gardner.

As economic conditions worsened, Georgia’s budget deficit and economic conditions followed suit.  The Georgia Department of Revenue now has additional pressure to account for and collect state tax revenue. Those with tax debts need to be aware of the fact that the Georgia Department of Revenue continues to publish personal information pertaining to delinquent tax liabilities, as authorized by Official Code of Georgia Annotated Section 48-3-29. The state makes public information concerning the taxpayers on this list when it performs tax executions (tax liens). This is an ongoing program the state adds names to regularly. Georgia is one of the few states where shame is part of the delinquent tax collection process.

Georgia has decided to “name and shame” taxpayers to apply additional force to resolve these tax debts, yet does not appear to be providing substantial opportunities for tax relief.  The time is now to reduce your tax burden and ensure that your name does not appear on this list.

The federal government does not choose this strategy but are more than effective at recovering tax debt without it.  The IRS files more than 600,000 tax liens every year and estimates that 21 percent of federal income taxes go unpaid each year.  No doubt, the IRS is busy, but not too busy to find you if you have unpaid taxes. Don’t wait for them to come looking.  Click here for a free tax relief consultation with a tax professional serving Georgia residents.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2008-04-13-Taxcover_N.htm