State Comptroller Releases List of “Top Tax Evaders”

Maryland Comptroller Peter Franchot is serious about retrieving unpaid taxes.

On April 9, Franchot announced the names of 20 businesses and 20 people who he says collectively owe more than $13 million in unpaid taxes, penalties and interest to the state of Maryland.

“This is our last resort. … We don’t really want to do this,” said Michelle Byrnie-Parker, deputy director of the Comptroller of Maryland Office of Communications.

Seven people on the list, among them businesses and individuals, are from Montgomery County.

Byrnie-Parker said before the list goes out, taxpayers receive a certified letter that notified their name will be included prior to the list’s post.

The program called “Caught in the Web” started in 2000, and according to a press release has collected more than $31.5 million from taxpayers whose names appeared on one of the agency’s lists.

“The Caught in the Web program underscores a small number of Marylanders who make a conscious effort to not pay their taxes. These are not people simply down on their luck and unable to pay. These are people who have chosen to take advantage of the benefits of this great state — individuals and business owners who knowingly thumb their noses at the vast majority of Maryland taxpayers who fulfill their legal obligations to the state,” Franchot said.

Byrnie-Parker added the Comptroller of Maryland expects two-thirds of people in the current list to resolve their cases with the agency.

According to a news release, if the taxpayer fails to pay, enters into a payment plan, or provides a qualifying reason for having not yet paid, the Comptroller’s Office may then:

• File a lien,
• Garnish wages,
• Prevent renewal of state business license,
• Prevent renewal of professional and occupational licenses,
• Prevent renewal of driver licenses and vehicle registration,
• Attach assets (including bank accounts),
• Intercept state and federal tax refunds,
• File an estimated assessment for taxes due in unreported periods,
• Issue a summons to appear at a hearing to revoke a sales tax license or initiate other
legal processes,
• Suspend state payments if the taxpayer does business with the state,
• Suspend federal payments if the taxpayer does business with the federal government.

You can view the list below.

About Aline Barros

Aline Barros is a multimedia reporter and community engagement specialist with Montgomery Community Media. She can be reached at Abarros@mymcmedia.org and on Twitter at @AlineBarros2.

View all posts by Aline Barros