Posted on 07/30/2009 8:21:23 AM PDT by Cheap_Hessian
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.
In Suriani’s case, it may have been a bookkeeping error that landed him in the three-hour line. Suriani says he paid his taxes in full — albeit a little late –– and had copies of the cancelled checks from the state showing he had indeed turned over the sales taxes he collected.
But that didn’t keep taxation officials from appearing at his door Tuesday demanding that he close up shop.
“Yes, the rules state that we have a responsibility to pay our bills every quarter. But when your customers come in and they don’t pay you for a month, and then another month, and another month, businesses have no choice [in] the eyes of the state but to close up and get out,” Suriani said.
(Excerpt) Read more at projo.com ...
Yep. Use the Obama approach and “get in their face”.
Good point...let’s just hope it isn’t Haven Brothers.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
RESISTOR
Swear allegiance to the flag, whatever flag they offer;
Never hint at what you really feel.
Teach the children quietly for, someday, sons and daughters
Will rise up and fight while we stood still.
Der Elite Møøsënspåånkængrüppen ØberKømmändø (EMØØK)
This islike the old concept of debtors prison. Obama is anti-business, pure and simple
The situation is retrograding to the system of the Middle Ages ,where nothing was permitted with paying a tax or bribing an official.
My guess is that her attitude is “if only Obama KNEW!” Like the Soviets used to say when uncle Igor was taken away in the night: “if only Stalin knew.” Irony in both.
Why do you say that? I always thought the “Fair Tax” was the way to go.
I’m an “out law” so I tread lightly...I just let their W-2s do the talking and commiserate when they bitch about how tough it is...too bad, so sad...
I’m no economist... but if they close all the businesses won’t that decrease the state’s tax revenues?
well, that’s one way to vault ahead of Michigan in the unemployment numbers with one stroke of the pen...
“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.”
Yep. Once they lock those doors, that’ll generate lots more sales tax revenue for the state.
Way ironic - and you only hope they “wake up” before it’s too late! I love saying, “I told you so...” as much as the next person but things will be too horrible for words by then...
And the pathetic part is, in the big picture far more money could be saved if they just fired the bastards who personally have time to go around and try to squeeze nickels & dimes out of the destitute flea market & yard sale crowd. I guarantee their government salaries & the transportation costs they incur amount to much more money.
It's a bit like debtor's prison. Lock them up until they pay. It's hard to earn money to pay if you're in prison (or your business is shutdown).
They’re just starting to catch up with the PRNJ. The Jersey tax Nazis will add up everything on your table and charge you the full tax on everything they see. You’re getting taxed on what you HOPE TO SELL, not what you’ve sold, and they get to make up the prices. This is nothing new, they’ve been doing it for years.
Mostly I don’t care, Because the businesses were collecting sales taxes from the customers, so they should turn it over to the state. They certainly shouldn’t keep it to help them survive, it’s not their money.
However, the one guy had a good point — if the business decides to sell on credit to customers who can’t pay, the state shouldn’t collect the sales tax until the business is paid.
This should be good for another 200 points up on the DOW.
Do they do this at Berlin & Columbus flea markets?
bookmark
ROFL
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.