States Go Online To Shame Delinquent Taxpayers

NBC 30 ^

[Dbdaily]

At least 13 states have discovered a way to get delinquent taxpayers to pay up -- shame.

Actually, public humiliation isn't a new idea. In the old days, governments posted the names of debtors in town squares or newspapers.

Should states use "shame" lists online to catch tax evaders?Yes, it's effective and fair.Maybe, but only in limited cases.No, it's not appropriate.

The new twist is the Internet, with states using catchy names such as Louisiana's CyberShame and Debtor's Corner in South Carolina.

In Louisiana, the state can also list people who own more than 50 percent of a business that owes taxes.

The states say the idea works. In just two months, Georgia's list has netted more than $1 million in unpaid taxes.

A spokesman for the state's revenue department said they don't have enough assets to chase Georgia's 420,000 suspected tax evaders themselves.

But privacy advocates are worried that innocent people could show up on the lists, and that it may be hard to get names off lists after folks have paid up.

South Carolina, however, says that it tries to contact people with letters, calls and personal visits before going online.

[dfwgator]

Good! Why should I play by the rules, while others get away with it.

[Mr. Bird]

I play by the rules. I also have no personal problem with tax cheats. It's their business. They risk an awful lot, and that's their choice I guess. I'm not inclined to take the side of the government when it comes to confiscatory taxation.

[Ol' Dan Tucker]

Actually, public humiliation isn't a new idea. In the old days, governments posted the names of debtors in town squares or newspapers.

These days it seems that having one's name published on such a list would be more like a badge of honor than a scarlet letter.

Having one's name published as a child molester, wife beater or deadbeat dad is one thing, but a tax cheat?

It's too bad the zealous government functionaries don't turn their attention toward reducing the waste which raises the cost of government to the point that it causes large numbers of people to cheat on their taxes.

But then this would require honesty in government...

[Ancesthntr]

But privacy advocates are worried that innocent people could show up on the lists, and that it may be hard to get names off lists after folks have paid up.

I can't wait to see the lawsuits that result from the inevitable mistakes. Methinks that these lists will come down very shortly after they go up.

[Ol' Dan Tucker]

Good! Why should I play by the rules, while others get away with it.

Why should you care? (Like it's any of your business anyway)

Is your tax bill so high that you'd snitch on your neighbor and turn them into the IRS if you found they weren't "paying their fair share"?

[Ol' Dan Tucker]

Oops!

I meant to add, do you think that them not "playing by the rules and paying their fair share" would reduce your taxes?

Not bloody likely. It would only mean more government boondoggles.

[baltodog]

I care because I work my ass off to pay our state taxes while I see my sister-in-law (who makes more than me), and her worthless piece of dirt 6-year-old, get a free ride from the state because she suffers from "single-mother-syndrome".

[T.Smith]

"...and her worthless piece of dirt 6-year-old..."

Characterize the mother like that all you want, but, criminy, calling a 6-year-old a "worthless piece of dirt"? That's just shameful. The child is what her mother makes her. Until the child reaches an age where she can make rational decisions based on objective morality she is just a product of her mother's worthlessness.

[proxy_user]

This has nothing to do with cheating or tax evasion.

All these people basically agree they owe money, but can't pay right now.

If all debts in this country could be collected immediately, people wouldn't owe so much.

If you want to give them an incentive to pay quickly, charge interest.

[Ol' Dan Tucker]

I care because I work my ass off to pay our state taxes while I see my sister-in-law (who makes more than me), and her worthless piece of dirt 6-year-old, get a free ride from the state because she suffers from "single-mother-syndrome".

The concept of paying your fair share of taxes implies that you're carrying your share of the financial burden, doesn't it?

If so, then it shouldn't matter what other people do because you've fulfilled your social responsibility.

Having fulfilled your social responsibility, why do you care whether other people fulfill theirs?

I suspect that what you're really upset about isn't that she isn't paying her fair share. It's that she isn't paying her fair share and the system of welfare laws allows her to get away with it.

Why not join her on Easy Street. Quit your job and go on welfare. After all, you'd be making more money, have more free time, etc. Then you wouldn't care who's paying into the system because you aren't either and everything would be equal.

[baltodog]

I stand corrected...that was a terrible thing to say.

But......

This is a kid who knows the system as good as his mom: he won't get in trouble at school, and he doesn't have to take resposibility for anything because he knows we are all obligated to feel sorry for him.

My daughter babysat him once.

Once.

[baltodog]

"Why not join her on Easy Street. Quit your job and go on welfare. After all, you'd be making more money, have more free time, etc."

Let's just call it a mixture of foolish pride and personal responsibility.

And yes, I feel that responsible people have a right to criticize irresponsible people.

[EGPWS]

At least 13 states have discovered a way to get delinquent taxpayers to pay up -- shame.

Somehow I have the feeling that to a willfully delinquent taxpayer, shame isn't going to be an issue.

[Ol' Dan Tucker]

And yes, I feel that responsible people have a right to criticize irresponsible people.

It's too bad you don't criticize the people who are really responsible for allowing this to continue.

[usadave]

The concept of paying your fair share of taxes implies that you're carrying your share of the financial burden, doesn't it?

If so, then it shouldn't matter what other people do because you've fulfilled your social responsibility.

Having fulfilled your social responsibility, why do you care whether other people fulfill theirs?

State governments need a minimum amount of revenue to function and to fund state services. When I pay my fair share of taxes but other people don't, it results in the state not receiving all of the revenue that it needs to function. The result of not having enough revenue to function is for the state to either cut services or to raise taxes to make up for the lost revenue caused by those people who aren't paying their fair share of taxes.

[Ol' Dan Tucker]

State governments need a minimum amount of revenue to function and to fund state services. When I pay my fair share of taxes but other people don't, it results in the state not receiving all of the revenue that it needs to function. The result of not having enough revenue to function is for the state to either cut services or to raise taxes to make up for the lost revenue caused by those people who aren't paying their fair share of taxes.

You're basing your opinion upon the premise that our state governments are run as efficiently as possible so that we get the most bang for our bucks.

I am under no such illusions.

[baltodog]

Where are you wanting to go to with this???....

I write my congressman, leave him voice-mails, and write him emails.

The same goes for our state's senators.

And the governor.

And the president.

At least my congressman now writes me back with letters addressed to my nickname, so I know he knows who I am and am not getting a form letter.

What more do you suggest I do?