NY Tax Commissioner Grants Broad Authority to Look at Your Taxes

Mental Recession ^ | 02/06/2012 | Rusty

[rustyweiss74]

The entire New York State Inspector General's Office has now been granted the authority to snoop into the tax returns of not only the state employee workforce, but anyone they deem to be relevant to an investigation. This level of investigative power is unprecedented, and is something even the State Attorney General has not been granted.

Let me reiterate... The entire staff of the IG's Office can now look into your taxes in New York State. If you're a state employee, look around your office right now. Now imagine, there are similar levels of riffraff in the IG office that can now view yor returns.

Here's something else to ponder - think of all the tax cheats in the current administration. They know these people owe back taxes - and they do nothing. Contrast that with New York, where secretaries now have the power to investigate tax filings.

From the Times Union:

Under a unique arrangement, the entire staff of the state Inspector General's Office quietly gained a powerful crime-fighting tool last month -— the ability to look at tax returns of state employees and, potentially, any other filers whose confidential data is considered "relevant" to an investigation.

The added muscle — something district attorneys and the attorney general cannot flex — was granted two weeks ago in a deal between Inspector General Ellen Biben, who's about to become the state's ethics commission executive director, and Tax Commissioner Thomas Mattox. At least one tax law professional says it is illegal.

The Commissioner appointed each employee specifically by name - from the Inspector General on down to the secretaries.

Legality is a question, and some lawmakers were quick to voice their concerns.

There is no legislative authority for this data exchange.

[sten]

you’re living in new york? what’s your malfunction?

move to an income tax free state... republican controlled, of course

[freebilly]

“ALL ANIMALS ARE EQUAL BUT SOME ANIMALS ARE MORE EQUAL THAN OTHERS ...”

[NoGrayZone]

"you’re living in new york? what’s your malfunction?"

I live on Long Island....nor do I have a malfunction. I was born and raised here.

I have been looking to escape, but I have no idea where to go. It's not that easy to just pick up and move. I was contemplating TX. However, now I'm thinking SC.

It's not so easy leaving your entire family and friends behind...especially to a state that dislikes and mistrusts (totally understandable) New Yorkers.

I am a fish out of the pond here.

[BobL]

Well think of what it was like for people that came here from Romania, 100 years ago. Back then you’d be lucky to get 4 letters across the pond each year, and phone service didn’t exist. Talk about a divide.

Now, you move from Long Island to Texas you don’t have to deal with any of that.

...or maybe you do. The Northeast is probably more different from Texas than Romania ever was from the US. Plus, you will have the same language problem as back then. It’s doubtful that your relatives and friends will know Spanish well enough to communicate with us here (thanks to Governor Perry).

[TheOldLady]

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