Republican state lawmakers on Tuesday unveiled legislation requiring state tax officials to automatically notify and issue refunds when businesses overpay their taxes.
The two companion bills – one each in the state House and Senate – come after state investigators found that the Ohio Department of Taxation wrongfully held onto more than $30 million in requested business tax refunds since 1999.
The agency also had a policy not to tell business taxpayers when they overpaid their taxes, even when they contacted the department with questions. Under current Ohio law, refunds are only made on request, and if tax overpayments aren’t claimed within three to four years, the money is kept by the state.
Under the new legislation – House Bill 402 and Senate Bill 263 – the Department of Taxation would have to notify taxpayers of any overpayments within 60 days of the statute of limitations expiring.
Click here to read more of this story.
About Marion Online News
