JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Tomorrow, the Senate Interim Committee on Tax Administration Practices will meet at the St. Louis Community College Corporate College in Bridgeton.
In a release, the committee is highlighted to ” investigate the processes and policies used by the Missouri Department of Revenue (DOR) to interpret, enact and enforce tax statutes and uncover potential conflicts or inconsistencies in the administration of tax law.”
The Committee exists at least in part to help the legislature counter Gov. Jay Nixon. Several tax bills, vetoed by Nixon, have price tags officially calculated by DOR that Republicans say are exaggerated. During debate about various income tax cut bills, Republicans have repeatedly complained about DOR and Nixon’s lack of involvement in crafting tax policy.
“I look forward to this second committee meeting and continuing to take an in-depth look at Missouri’s tax policy administration,” said committee chairman Sen.Will Kraus. “With various court cases, rulings and changes in policy, there have been many situations where tax law is unclear or misinterpreted.”
The committee is also expecting to hear from local business owners, certified public accountants, and other industry experts about their experience in working with DOR. Several committee members have expressed concern that the department is too often being used as a political device.
“The Department of Revenue has, all too often, changed the playing field, even without notifying affected businesses,” said Kraus. “This panel would like to hear from business owners and accountants in the St. Louis area who have experienced tax issues.”
This is the second of three meetings. The third will be in Jefferson City.
Sens. Wayne Wallingford, Bob Dixon, Ed Emery, Eric Schmitt, Scott Sifton, and Paul LeVota are also on the committee.
Rachael Herndon was the editor at The Missouri Times and also produced This Week in Missouri Politics, published Missouri Times Magazine, and co-hosted the #MoLeg podcast. She joined The Missouri Times in 2014, returning to political reporting after working as a campaign and legislative staffer.
Rachael studied at the University of Missouri – Columbia. She lives in Jefferson City with her husband, Brandon, and their two children.
