Brought to you by WBIW News and Network Indiana
Last updated on Thursday, November 5, 2015
(INDIANAPOLIS) - Some 150,000 Indiana taxpayers are on the receiving end of a letter from the Department of Revenue accusing them of being possible tax cheats. But there’s a big problem.
The State of Indiana admits many of those receiving the letters don't owe a dime.
Sandra Chapman, WTHR investigative reporter, says now they're ordering a state contractor to immediately stop the mailings and apologize for the confusion.
To read the letter visit http://ftpcontent2.worldnow.com/wthr/PDF/taxamnestyletter.pdf
The letter begins:
"After a review of past tax filings, we believe you may be under reporting taxable income for the state of Indiana."
Those on the receiving end say it implies they're possible tax cheats and they're furious.
A Indiana Department of Revenue spokeswoman says the letters are simply informational and were sent out to help taxpayers catch up on their bills with no penalties, interests or collection fees before the tax amnesty program expires in two weeks.
The letters were sent to individuals and businesses flagged under certain parameters but not fully reviewed. The 150,000 letters were sent as part of a mailing list that revenue officials say the agency did not approve.
The DOR has now ordered its contractor to stop the mailings, immediately.
A spokeswoman with the Department of Revenue admits the agency did approve the language of the letter, but says the protocol for sending them was not followed. Nor was the specific selection criteria submitted and approved by the department.
The agency's contractor, Navient, has been ordered to cease mailing those letters, but will follow up with a second letter to the same taxpayers in the next couple days to clarify and apologize for "misperceptions" in the first letter.
The Department of Revenue says the 150,000 letters represents about 3.3 percent of taxpayers.
If those who received a letter did not under-report their income, the agency says they can ignore the letter or call the tax Amnesty 2015 hotline at 1-844-464-6829 for confirmation.
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