For Immediate Release
Date: January 22, 2008
Contact: David Griffith
Phone: (573) 751-8222

Revenue Department's Increased Enforcement of Tax Compliance Brings in More Revenue

        JEFFERSON CITY – The Missouri Department of Revenue (department) today announced that over the past three years the Tax Compliance System (TCS) has recovered over $31 Million.  The department uses this high tech database to identify taxpayers who have not filed their returns or paid less than they owe. The program has continued to be successful and last year contributed to a doubling of the number of taxpayers who came forward to settle up voluntarily through the department's Voluntary Disclosure Program.

        “Those who fail to pay their taxes cheat Missouri's classrooms and vital services like public safety and our roads.  That is why my administration is using technology to increase compliance including a new Internet site listing businesses who have failed to pay their taxes,” Gov. Matt Blunt said.  “Meanwhile we are reducing the tax burden on Missouri families.  Last year we enacted three major tax cuts for Missouri manufacturing jobs, health care, and seniors.  This year we have a plan to cut taxes for veterans and to provide property tax relief for Missourians."

        “Answering Gov. Blunt’s call to make state government responsible to Missouri taxpayers, the Tax Compliance System has brought accountability to everyone and helped generate significant revenue to the state that may have otherwise been lost,” said Director of Revenue Omar Davis.  "One indicator of how well the program is working is the number of companies who have come forward on their own through the Voluntary Disclosure Program to properly file and pay before the department finds them. The number of companies who came forward to voluntarily comply increased from 61 in 2006 to 142 in 2007."

        Tax preparers have taken the lead in bringing their clients forward to begin the process of paying past taxes. Voluntary compliance has gained momentum because of continued increases in state of the art collection practices by the department.  The Voluntary Disclosure Program is an excellent vehicle to bring those taxpayers forward who might otherwise not know how to begin the process of paying taxes that they owe to the state of Missouri.

        The department urges Missourians and corporations who may fall into this category to contact their accountant or visit our Internet site at www.dor.mo.gov/tax/pros/ to learn more about the options available to bring them into compliance and reminds taxpayers that the first step to correcting non-compliance is to file the needed returns and start a dialog with the department.

        Missourians can also visit www.whoisnotpaying.mo.gov to find out which Missouri businesses have failed to comply with state tax law.

###