State's delinquent taxes top $1 billion
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — An estimated $1 billion dollars is owed to state government in unpaid taxes, fees and interest.
Department of Revenue figures requested by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel show the total of delinquent taxes rose 27 percent in a year, increasing from $800 million to $1 billion on July 1.
The rising tax delinquency comes at a time when Gov. Jim Doyle has proposed cutting 32 full-time Revenue Department jobs to help balance the budget.
Wisconsin Taxpayers Alliance president Todd Berry when delinquencies are climbing and tax revenue is falling, adding staff might be the better option.
Tax auditors examine the records of major companies looking for unpaid state taxes. The Legislative Fiscal Bureau says that can generate nearly $2 million per year.

Mar 5, 2009 at 3:05 p.m.
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wooo, that's a sweet site!
Thank's man.
Yep; the guy I'm talking about is on there!
Don't see an ex Brewers though.
Mar 4, 2009 at 6:51 p.m.
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http://www.revenue.wi.gov/html/delqlist.... Then on right click name or city etc'''
Mar 4, 2009 at 6:49 p.m.
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Go to wis gov site and search it gives names of people who owe. i think it is in wi revenue site.
http://www.revenue.wi.gov/delqlist/nmall...
Mar 4, 2009 at 6:35 p.m.
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JVLLIAN It also is the unpaid taxes that high paid people who file and never pay Such as posted ealier ball players and top corp. execs and so on
Mar 4, 2009 at 4:25 p.m.
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Wonder how many professional athletes in WI still owe huge back taxes? Wasn't it Rollie Fingers who owed somehing like 1/2 million in back state taxes? A friend of mine knew a guy who played for the Bucks a few years back. He was traded, no longer lives here, and had a big tax bill sent to him from this state. It was pretty much just a big joke to him, and he claimed he'd never pay it. It's not like they can do anything, unless you ever come back to the state.
Mar 4, 2009 at 3:12 p.m.
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SarahB, the Journal chart shows that half is individual income taxes. Another 30% is sales taxes. Only about 9% is corporate taxes, but the individual figure probably includes numerous small businesses that file Schedule C and are supposed to pay quarterly estimated taxes. Some 11% is withholding taxes that businesses are supposed to pay to the government at the same time that employees are paid, but frequently this and sales taxes are used as a "float" when a business has cash flow problems, with the associated penalties considered a cost of borrowing the money from the taxpayers.
http://media.journalinteractive.com/imag...
Mar 4, 2009 at 3:08 p.m.
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When Gov Dole and the state legislature raised taxes, fees, licenses and regulation, it has a negative impact on collections. When the license registration and plates raised, 50,000 vehicles are now in non compliance. Business and citizens are fed up with these socialists big gov tax & spenders.
Mar 4, 2009 at 2:54 p.m.
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Wisconsin State government and its two-party hack handlers, facilitators, and apologists will make up the Billion by raising taxes on: Cigs.; beer; license plates; land property; cars; pets; lawnmowers; bratwurst; Packer shirts; tattoos, sick people; TVs; radios; closets; stocking hats; burger grills; lawn chairs; fish frys; fishing bobbers; sidewalks; did I mention pets?; and, cheese.
Actually, they will just take your whole pay check, assuming you still have one, and just give you back a stipend allowance. By the by, if you do not have a pay check anymore, you will be taxed extra for being "unpaychecked."
How's the weather in New Mexico I wonder? If I am the last one out of here I am sure I will not need to worry about turning out the lights; I usually wait too long before I flee societal insanity; the electricity will long have been shut down by then.
Bob Keith
cooldadiomedia.com
Mar 4, 2009 at 11:55 a.m.
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Could somebody clarify something for me? Is the story stating that all of these unpaid taxes are from major companies? I don't know why, but I find that even more disgusting than individuals skipping out on their payments.
Mar 4, 2009 at 10:55 a.m.
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garyprimer, the state audits are probably less about the dollar amount collected than providing a deterrent. Thus they can be assumed to be in part responsible for 100% of taxes collected. Interestingly, it's much less lucrative than just posting the names of delinquencies online ($61 million over 3+ years). But you probably still need the stick along with the carrot (settlements).
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puffer, most people have payroll taxes withheld. The voluntary collections come from investors, royalty recipients, and business owners who are supposed to make quarterly estimated tax payments. This and late business taxes are going to be the bulk of the $1 billion. It's probably a much broader group than those immediately threatened with losing their houses.
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I'm trying to find out what the total delinquency is in a normal year. According to the Milwaukee paper, the rise over last year is 27%, so it was around $750 million then, and probably something over $500 million in a normal year. In other words, some percentage of folks are always late with their taxes and the concern is that this is going beyond the normal level.
http://www.jsonline.com/news/wisconsin/4...
Mar 4, 2009 at 10:54 a.m.
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I think this is a sign that taxes in WI are too high. Last one to leave WI turn off the lights.
Mar 4, 2009 at 10:44 a.m.
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Are these income tax or property tax?
Mar 4, 2009 at 10:08 a.m.
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I would guess that some of this has to do with the high amount of foreclosures. If people can't pay their mortgages, they probably can't pay their taxes either.
Mar 4, 2009 at 10:03 a.m.
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I like SuperDave's comment
Mar 4, 2009 at 9:26 a.m.
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$1,000,000,000.00 UNPAID?!?!?!?
Are we doing anything about this?
Who's not paying?
Maybe we should know who and not do business with them.
If WI has $1 billion, how much nationally???
This really pi$$es me off!!!
Mar 4, 2009 at 8:42 a.m.
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What is the cost of generating that nearly $2 million per year? If you get some administrative salaries, office buildings, and vehicles involved, that $2 million is not going to go very far.
Mar 4, 2009 at 8:24 a.m.
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Seems like WI should get at least one appointment to the Obama cabinet over this.
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