Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-04-19
$4,000 IN REFUNDS
AWAIT TAXPAYERS
=
District Unable to Return Ex-
sa,cess Payments, Lacking
legs
Addressee.

fS
The District government has between
$4,000 and $4,000, representing ex-
cess payments of real estate taxes, which
it is having difficulty in returning to
taxpayers because OF the lack Of their
addresses, according to a statement pre-
pared for Tax Assessor William P
Richards today by Mrs. Anna E. Thomp-
son, director of the tax refund division
of the assessors Office.
Since it's creation in January, 1928,
the tax refund bureau has returned ap-
proximately $4,000 to real estate cwn-
ers who made duplicate payments.
2,220 Refunds Made.
According to Mrs. Thompson's report
1920 refunds for excess payments on
real estate taxes have been made. and
many of these required diligent inves-
t.gation to locate the property owner
In one case 1t was necessary to trace an
owner to the Philippine Islands.
The work of the tax-refund division
has been exceedingly tedious as result
of the lack of the home or business adj
dress of many of the owners e real es-
tate.
In order to facilitate the work of the
refund division as well as assure prop
erty owners of the return Of an excess
payment they might make through or
ror, Mrs. Thompson urged that tax.
payers whose addresses are not noted
on the real estate tax bills write them
in under their names on the coupon,
which is taken. by the collector of
taxes when the bills are paid.
The 1880 tax bills will not be issued
until July, but Mrs. Thompson points
out It IS not too early to advise the tax
PAYERS carefully to observe the bills to
note whether they contain the home or
business address.
Annual Bills Unmailed.
Largely through the lack of addresses,
the tax assessors ONCE has been unanle
to mail annual real estate tax bills
with the result that thousands OF tax
PAYERS are required to call at the Dis
trict Building for the bills. The mail
ing of tax bills, however, according to
the assessor, can only be regarded as
action based on courtesy.
''The Law not only fixes time within
which tax payments must be made, but
provides a penalty for periods OF de-
iinouency," said Mr. Richards. THE
taxpayer is forced to assume respon-
sibilty if he wishes to avoid penalty
His payment of any tax demands as
Careful dbLt,IltlOI1 dS any OtliCA puAb Va
the management of his property.
Based on Courtesy.
"The mailing of bills and notices
can only be regarded as action based
on courtesy However, this ONCE Is
not in possession of complete mailing
list, although strenuous efforts have
been made toward that end. Every
wear the clerks of this office have been
Instructed to obtain the addresses OF the
taxpayers, but this effort has met with
little or no success"
The tax refund bureau has been one
of the most important and invaluable
units OF the tax assessors office. Prior
to its creation, it was said, several
wears elapsed sometimes before over
i,avrneAts were discovered and REFUNDS
made to taxpayers. Now the refunds
are prompt when addresses are avail
able. .,v-
The procedure for handling tax bills
after payment changed somewhat with
the establishment of the tax refuno
unit. Now as soon as the bills are PAID
they are sent by the tax collector TO
the assessors Office where the payment
is recorded on the tax ledgers. Any
overpayment is Immediately noted. ana
the tax refund division so notified.
A thorough check is then made by
the refund division to determine
whether any error has been made. ana
If not, steps are taken to communicate
with the property owner.