| Native rights claimed in tax sale lawsuit
ANNAPOLIS ROYAL — An Annapolis County man is claiming native treaty rights in a lawsuit against the county for selling his property at a tax sale. In a statement of claim and amendment filed with Nova Scotia Supreme Court in Annapolis Royal, Joseph Daniel Landry of Wilmot says he made an aboriginal land claim, which has not been negotiated, for the Station Road property in Wilmot in 1993 and that the municipality was aware of the dispute over non-payment of taxes, failed to negotiate the matter and sold his property illegally. He said the county is violating his treaty and aboriginal rights by "taxing me and not allowing me to live in peace and harmony, free from hindrance." He is asking for the tax sale to be reversed and for a property tax exemption for the property and $1.6 million in damages.
Foreclosure threat defended on delinquent city water bills
City officials defended yesterday their policy of selling delinquent water bills and other small debts to private debt collectors along with back-tax bills, saying Baltimore would possibly jeopardize its finances if it can't use the threat of foreclosure to collect overdue bills.
Their comments came during a hearing of the City Council's Taxation and Finance Committee on a proposal by Bernard C. "Jack" Young, the 12th District councilman, to eliminate water-bill liens from the city's annual tax sale. No vote was taken.
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For golf courses, there's a way out of NJ sales-tax rough
Some local golf course owners and managers think they have found a way to get around charging members the 7 percent sales tax the state imposed in October on club memberships. The tax was among a number of new levies the state enacted last year in a budget crunch. It applies to club-membership fees — which can run from $1,000 to tens of thousands of dollars — and dues, but not to greens fees that clubs charge members to play. And that's where golf course management sees a way out of the tax. Officials at the private Wildwood Golf & Country Club believe that only 25 percent of its annual dues should be subject to the tax. The club based its decision on its “house membership� policy established before the imposition of the sales tax. With the house membership — called an associate membership at other clubs — the member pays greens fees on a per-round basis.
Kingsport sales tax collections up 5 percent for fiscal year
KINGSPORT - Sales tax collections in the Model City are up for the year, but not nearly as much as they were three months ago. According to city finance records, sales tax collections for the first nine months of the fiscal year are up 5 percent over projections. Kingsport budgeted a 2 percent growth in collections for the year. Kingsport's local-option sales tax collections have come in at $11.1 million through March, which is $275,000 ahead of expectations. Kingsport budgeted $14.24 million in local-option sales tax collections for the fiscal year. The $11.1 million figure is $543,439 more than during the same time period in 2006, and $709,647 more than during the same time period for fiscal 2005. Kingsport's regional sales tax collections through March are around $2.4 million.
Do-it-yourself tax filers can tap these free information sources
As income taxes get more complicated, preparing your own return might feel like a journey into the unknown, sans compass or GPS. Sure, it can be intellectually rewarding--and even save you money--but no doubt there are times when you wish for a tax genie to steer the way. Here's the next best thing: a guide to free sources of information and advice.
On the web
The Internal Revenue Service. The IRS Web site, www.irs.gov, has a section called 1040 Central with many resources, including a search engine, fact sheets, and tips. The site's AMT Assistant informs you whether you're a likely victim of the alternative minimum tax, while the Sales Tax Calculator helps you identify the higher deduction: state and local income tax, or sales tax. You can even check the status of your refund by clicking on the site's Where's My Refund? tool.
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