CHANGE MY LOCATION
Excuses vary for missing tax deadline
SEE THE LATEST ON THIS STORY
Related Topics: WASHINGTON
WASHINGTON (Map, News) - More than 1,700 people and businesses had stuck Montgomery County with unpaid property taxes as of last week, accounting for $6.5 million in money promised for textbooks, patrol cars, road repairs and thousands of other county necessities. Some of the delinquents have stronger excuses than others.
- Delinquent: Maryland Economic Development Corporation
Property: A Rockville “business incubator” for state grant recipients
Amount due: $43,815.69 (currently being paid)
Reason: “This is an administrative mix-up,” said Bob Brennan, the state corporation’s executive director, explaining the public facility is not required to pay property tax. “The county had told us it was taken care of — I didn’t even know it was past due. This is bizarre.”
- Delinquent: Federal Republic of Nigeria
Property: A Potomac residence for an embassy official assessed at $2.2 million
Amount due: $27,664.51
Reason: “The embassy doesn’t pay property taxes,” said administrator Abi Akpata. “I’m quite sure that when the property was bought, the taxes were sorted out.” Akpata is right, according to State Department guidelines. This back payment seems to be the result of a lapse in paperwork.
- Delinquent: Janet Ballantyne
Property: A Silver Spring condominium
Amount due: $2,527.99 (currently being paid)
Reason: Ballantyne’s mortgage includes tax payments, but a bank oversight is to blame. “I spoke to Wells Fargo. ... Apparently it ‘forgot’ to make the December tax payment,” Ballantyne said. “This despite the fact that I have never missed a mortgage payment.” Interest fees will be paid from bank resources, she added.
- Delinquent: Kamran Hanif
Property: A Potomac residence assessed at $3.6 million
Amount due: $36,825.59
Reason: Hanif, whom past records list as the chief executive officer of a mortgage company, has been hit hard by the crashing housing market. “The whole nation is suffering,” Hanif said.
- Delinquent: Joan Awung
Property: A Silver Spring residence
Amount due: $2,051.10
Reason: “From out of nowhere I got this bill! This is my third house, and the prior mortgages have included taxes. I thought it was tied to the mortgage, and I’m getting this taken care of.”
Comments from Examiner Readers
8:22 PM MST on Tue., Apr. 15, 2008 re: "Post offices stay open late for tax procrastinators"
Report as inappropriate
5:30 PM MST on Tue., Apr. 15, 2008
re: "Post offices stay open late for tax procrastinators"
Report as inappropriate
4:39 AM MST on Mon., Mar. 31, 2008
re: "Tax pros: Don’t forget deductions for education, savings, contributions"
Report as inappropriate
5:22 AM MST on Tue., Oct. 30, 2007
re: "‘No new taxes:’ Md. groups rally against O’Malley’s tax hike plan"
Report as inappropriate
5:14 AM MST on Tue., Oct. 30, 2007
re: "Republicans say poll a sneaky way to increase taxes"
Report as inappropriate
4:42 AM MST on Tue., Oct. 30, 2007
re: "‘No new taxes:’ Md. groups rally against O’Malley’s tax hike plan"
Report as inappropriate
4:12 AM MST on Tue., Oct. 30, 2007
re: "‘No new taxes:’ Md. groups rally against O’Malley’s tax hike plan"
Report as inappropriate
4:06 AM MST on Tue., Oct. 30, 2007
re: "‘No new taxes:’ Md. groups rally against O’Malley’s tax hike plan"
Report as inappropriate
3:05 AM MST on Tue., Oct. 30, 2007
re: "‘No new taxes:’ Md. groups rally against O’Malley’s tax hike plan"
Report as inappropriate
12:24 PM MST on Tue., Aug. 7, 2007
re: "Republicans say poll a sneaky way to increase taxes"
Report as inappropriate
4:40 PM MST on Fri., Aug. 3, 2007
re: "Republicans say poll a sneaky way to increase taxes"
Report as inappropriate
2:28 PM MST on Fri., Aug. 3, 2007
re: "Republicans say poll a sneaky way to increase taxes"
Report as inappropriate
10:43 AM MST on Mon., Jun. 18, 2007
re: "Thousands of city properties on the market in tax auction"
Report as inappropriate
Examiner Reader said:
What post offices are open today later than 7:30 p.m.?
5 agree | 6 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
Gizmo said:
It's pay day in the congress and Ted Kennedy is waiting for my check, it's his turn to buy a round at the Senate Bar.
5 agree | 6 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
Examiner Reader said:
This article should have been written in January... Better late than never...
4 agree | 5 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
Martin O'Malley said:
Stop criticizing me, you'd do the same thing if you were in my position. I'm the governor, I have the right to have more power and control over money. And the best way to do that is take it from the rich. They have the most of it, and besides, they don't protest and complain because they're too busy working.
156 agree | 149 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
Examiner Reader said:
The poll was done by "Alliance for Tax Fairness, a coalition of liberal advocacy groups". I'm sure that wasn't biased at all... What really cracks me up are these far left groups that throw "Progressive" in their title. Progressive to who/what, other than your socialist agenda? Is huge government "progress"? I don't think so, anyway.
149 agree | 148 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
reader said:
I think the politicians should stand and say to O'Malley, make the cuts and see where that lying, sack of crap will lay the blame then. Oh I forgot he can always blame Bob Ehrlich, even for the BGE lies he told us.
154 agree | 162 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
VJC College Republican said:
If Thomas Jefferson thought taxation without representation was bad, he should see it with representation!
166 agree | 168 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
Examiner Reader said:
Thanks Baltimore City and Prince Georges county for electing this tax and spend Democtat. You deserve all the taxes this wimp can impose
197 agree | 160 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
Sven said:
Makes no never mind. O'Malley has got them where he wants them. Don't give him his tax increases and he will cut the funds to your county, teachers retirement, green programs and anything else to blackmail the legislators. M.O. WINS!
178 agree | 185 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
Examiner Reader said:
Tax fairness” lol. How is it fair the I might be taxed more just because I happen to be successful? Am I using more State resources then someone who is less successful? I've got two kids in college but I don't qualify for any state aid on tuition because I've committed a sin against liberal sensibilities by making to much money. A lower income citizens kid gets the State tuition aid my kids are denied how’s that for fair. The 4% state tax on a $200,000 salary equates to a bigger contribution to the state coffers the 4% with held from a $35,000 salary so don't talk to me about fair taxation.
221 agree | 209 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
Examiner Reader said:
Simple solutions to taxes, No Taxes except on purchases.... The rich would then pay and the poor would save. No employment tax!!
210 agree | 191 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
Examiner Reader said:
Why is it that the folks who conduct these polls never speak with anybody I know?
206 agree | 184 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
Examiner Reader said:
I've searched everywhere for the list, including the Times for the list of properties. It has not yet made it to the OTR website. Anyone know where you can find this other than the original newspaper ad?
263 agree | 224 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree