Reader comments
State withholds too much due to mistake

upset | 6:22 a.m. Jan. 23, 2008

ok let's make the state of utah richer just so it wont go where it is needed.Then to say that it might be given back in "09. what is that? we need to get someone that actually knows how to take care of our taxes and not have the mistakes we keep having in the tax commission. Heck hire a tax preporation buisness to do it.

reb1097 | 6:31 a.m. Jan. 23, 2008

Only a politician would make these types of comments. The Utah State Tax Commission makes a mistake, no matter the size or impact, and it is ok because it was not intentional. Try dealing with the tax commission and find find out how they are unforgiving and ruthless. The State of Utah literally steals money from the citizens and will not give it back? Sounds as if a class action law suit is just the thing to teach the legislators and tax commission a lesson. Oh, that probably isn't feasible because they don't learn from their mistakes.

Jackie | 7:35 a.m. Jan. 23, 2008

I's funny! If they make a mistake we are supposed to be kind and understanding about it but if we make a mistake on our taxes we are not only charged the amount of the error but have to pay interest and penalities. They also demand that it be paid by a certain date and it is never a full year away. I wouldn't mind being understanding if some of that would come back to us!

Comments continue below

Concerned | 7:44 a.m. Jan. 23, 2008

What about all the interest that $9 Million will earn over the next 15 months or so?

big deal | 8:30 a.m. Jan. 23, 2008

If someone ends up going without food because of this small mistake, then maybe that person should look at their own life and decide what mistakes they made to get into such a situation. $20 - big deal. You'll get it back next year.

Oh, and I'm not a hard-hearted conservative republican -- I'm a liberal democrat that has enough money that I won't starve if $20 is temporarily misplaced.

Ken Goddard | 8:34 a.m. Jan. 23, 2008

Trust me. It's Utah. Nothing but an honest mistake.

Get out of Jail Free Card | 8:41 a.m. Jan. 23, 2008

I wanna get out of jail free card too. I am 100% with Jackie on this one. At minimum the person(s) responsible should be fired. We are treated with "no tolerance" so guess what kids, the State made the rules now they break the rules they should have to pay the consequences just like everyone else.

Kia | 9:13 a.m. Jan. 23, 2008

"big deal", it's nice that you have enough money that you won't starve. It's too bad your money isn't counterbalanced with some compassion and consideration for other people.

I remember the days of being a young, single mother of three, struggling to keep my kids and I safe from their abusive father and feed them at the same time. $20 would have made a lot of difference to me then, and I'll bet it makes a lot of difference to a lot of people now, and unfortunately those are most likely the people who don't have the resources to fight this. So.... what are they supposed to tell their kids, looking across an empty dinner table? "It's okay, kids, we'll eat next year."

Maybe, "big deal", since you have so much money, you'd like to try passing some of it around to HELP, rather than gloating about it??

Mahershalalhashbaz | 9:36 a.m. Jan. 23, 2008

I made a mistake on my taxes a few years ago and the state didn't say it's ok, don't worry about it. You give back that money-your mistake, you pay whatever it takes to make it right!

Adam | 9:45 a.m. Jan. 23, 2008

Its not the amount of money per person that is the issue here, its the utter slap in the face and disregard that the politicians who have spoken on the matter delivered to Utah's people. What a disgusting representation of "representing the people". And lets be clear here, there is no promise that it will be fixed before any more payroll cycles have run.... 9 million could double or triple before this is "fixed". I can't help but wonder if this was not a calculated and intentional "mistake".

"big deal"... the view must be self satisfying from that lofty tower.

To Ken and Big Deal | 9:46 a.m. Jan. 23, 2008

Here is the problem, when I made a tax mistake in '02, it was treated like a BIG DEAL! I was fined, threaten to do jail time, had to immediately pay the money, and I seriously made an HONEST mistake. So I am not ready to live and let live, not after the way I was treated with my HONEST mistake. You are correct $20 is not a big deal, but there has to be some accountability. I am with Get Out of Jail free the people responsible should lose their jobs. I was held very accountable for my honest mistake and I am going to hold someone accountable for their honest mistake.

Jess | 9:52 a.m. Jan. 23, 2008

AMEN TO KIA!

Anonymous | 10:55 a.m. Jan. 23, 2008

hey, Greg Curis has about $300K in his reelection war chest, maybe he can pony up some $$ to help those who this WILL impact.

When the legislature has a surplus (like they have in years past) and choose to use that money for soccer stadiums and their own private parking garage at the capitol instead of on eye care for the poor, or a vet's hospital in Ogden or anything BENEFITTING the hard working people of Utah, then I have a HUGE PROBLEM with them holding onto any of my money that they shouldn't be. I work hard, and for for me $20 bucks won't hurt, but I EARNED it, they didn't and they won't give it back!!

Numbers? | 12:00 p.m. Jan. 23, 2008

Where did Bernake get his numbers? How does he know how much money this was costing? Regardless, he got the story wrong. The state will not hold onto the money for 15 months - when companies start taking out the right amount of money they will adjust current withholding to match what should have been taken out to date. I wish this reporter would do their job and actually collect facts.

Payroll | 8:29 a.m. March 7, 2008

As a payroll service provider, I can echo the words of others. When an employer makes the slightest tax mistake, there is no mercy shown by the government no matter how good a track record the company has. When the government makes a tax mistake, we all get a collective "oopsie, at least we meant well." This mistake will cost one of our employees at least half a days work in order to ensure our software computes Utah Income Tax Withholding properly.

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