Going to bat for taxpayers
On behalf of small-business owners in Bakersfield and California, I am grateful to Assemblywoman Shannon Grove and Board of Equalization member George Runner for their diligent efforts in rectifying a bad tax policy, which affected us and countless other California taxpayers.
The Legislature passed new rules for payment of personal state income taxes. The new procedure says -- and I paraphrase -- any payment which exceeds $20,000 must be made utilizing an electronic-fund transfer and any made by other forms of payment, including check, would be subject to a 1 percent penalty of the entire balance.
While my husband and I would have preferred to pay by electronic-fund transfer for efficiency, we utilized the tax coupon that was provided by our CPA, who was also unaware of any penalty for nonelectronic payment.
Both the penalty ($200 and up) and the principle of the matter forced us to contact Grove, who immediately navigated us through the proper channels, including working with Runner.
As a result of their help, penalties imposed upon California state tax payers for form of payment has been temporarily halted and penalty fines refunded to those who have already paid.
I would like to thank Shannon Grove and George Runner, who went to bat for taxpayers. I hope others will take note.
KAREN BROWN
Bakersfield
