RALEIGH, N.C. — The Department of Revenue’s aging tax system is printing tax bills that are wrong.
More than half a million North Carolina taxpayers got incorrect tax bills by the state this year, and every day the number of people getting incorrect bills is climbing.
WRAL-TV learned 526,742 people who paid their taxes late were sent a bill with a penalty for 10% of their tax bill. The correct rate is 5%. That has caused people to send the Department of Revenue more money than they should. In 2022, taxpayers were assessed an additional 10% of their tax bill for paying late. In 2023, the penalty rate was lowered to 5%, but people are still getting bills that say they owe 10%.
Ron Whitaker, who happens to be a federally licensed tax professional, got one of these incorrect bills after filing an extension on his taxes. He said he’s never seen anything like it.
"I caught it because I know of the change," Whitaker told WRAL.
WCNC Charlotte is always asking "where's the money?" If you need help, reach out to WCNC Charlotte by emailing money@wcnc.com.
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