The Local Motor Fuel Tax took effect May 1. In March, Finance Department staff, led by Financial Analyst Jennifer Johnson, provided information to tax payers on the requirements to collect the tax and remit it to the City. This included opportunities for tax payers to discuss tax implementation directly with City staff. Staff is preparing to receive the first tax payments in June.
As suggested by several Council Members, the tax remittance form requires that 1) tax payers sign it to affirm, under oath, that the tax return is accurate and 2) attach the equivalent State tax return. The Finance Director is preparing a Council report concerning the application of those requirements to other taxes collected by the Finance Department. In addition, the report discusses purchasing software that will:
- allow businesses and individuals to pay taxes and fees online
- improve staff’s ability to identify parties that have past-due accounts, and
- reduce staff time to process payments, allowing staff to devote more effort to collecting past due accounts.
At the present time the software does not have the capability to upload the State tax return online, but Finance staff and the vendor are discussing a possible software modification. Alternatively, tax remitters could email the State form to the City as a pdf.
This Council Report will be transmitted to Council later this week.