Comptroller asks for support of Tax Payer Protection Act

Maryland Comptroller Peter Franchot is asking for support of his Tax Payer Protection Act. It would essentially expand his authority to chase down and punish people who file fraudulent returns.

The comptroller expressed his concern to members of the Greater Salisbury Committee on Monday. The act would do several different things like add tax fraud laws to the existing list of enforcement responsibilities in his agency’s field enforcement division, and add a fraudulent preparer penalty.

According to the fraud detection figures from the comptroller’s office, the total value of phony returns in the state of Maryland from 2015 was more than $38 million.  At the meeting on Monday it appeared the legislation would get community support.

Mike Dunn, the CEO and president of the Greater Salisbury Committee says, “Once we take a look at it there’s a very good chance we the city of Salisbury and Wicomico County will probably write some letters of the support to the judiciary committee and kind of follow his lead on that.”

To take a look at the Tax Payer Protection Act click here.