Newest Online List Of Delinquent Delaware Taxpayers

Statewide – Delaware Division of Revenue Director Patrick Carter announced today the posting of another list of top 100 delinquent individual and business taxpayers at on the Delinquent Taxpayers website.

Since the Delaware Delinquent Taxpayers website went live in February 2007, the state has collected more than $8,600,000 in back taxes from taxpayers whose names were posted or were advised they qualified to have their name posted. With the posting of this round of Delaware’s delinquent taxpayers Carter says he expects Delaware to see even more money in the weeks to come.

The Delaware Delinquent Taxpayers website posts for public view the names of people and businesses who owe unpaid taxes to the state. By legislative order, larger balances were targeted first for publication. Each quarter the next 100 business taxpayers and 100 personal taxpayers who have balances over $1,000 are posted to the site.

“This site is extremely successful,” Carter says. “People don’t want their names posted online for not paying taxes. Delaware is collecting outstanding debt that might otherwise require the State to raise revenue.”

Rep. Deborah Hudson, who proposed the program and sponsored the legislation that established the posting requirements for Delaware’s delinquent taxpayers, agrees that the Delaware Delinquent Taxpayers site is a genuine success.

“When you consider the challenges facing the people of Delaware, I am proud to have successfully proposed and sponsored programs like this that, without raising taxes, collect amounts that are due to the State and help out in these trying fiscal times.”

Since its inception in February 2007, the Delinquent Taxpayers webpage has encouraged Delaware taxpayers to resolve their unpaid tax bills. The new lists will name individuals and businesses that, combined, owe over $3.6 million to the State.

To meet the criteria for posting to the Delaware Delinquent Taxpayers site, individuals and businesses must have already received a judgment for unpaid taxes. They are then notified by mail that their names may be posted online and given 60 days to respond. The names of those who enter into a payment agreement with the Division of Revenue or pay their balance in full are either not published or will be removed from the Delinquent Taxpayers list, depending on when the agreement takes place. Taxpayers who have filed for bankruptcy protection or have incurred a liability that is being appealed are excluded from the published list until their case has been resolved.

“A large percentage of outstanding taxpayers resolve their liabilities to avoid having their names posted online,” Carter says. “However, others wait until their names are actually posted and then resolve their accounts. Ultimately, this site provides the motivation some people need to finally pay their tax debt.”

Delaware is one of over 20 states and the District of Columbia to publish delinquent taxpayers’ names online.

Contact:
Valerie Watson
Delaware Department of Finance
Valerie.watson@delaware.gov