http://www.charleston.net/pub/news/state/agen0210.htm

Agency repaying tax error

Thursday, February 10, 2000

Associated Press

SPARTANBURG - The state Revenue Department says it will issue refund checks to taxpayers who were overcharged because of an error in the department's car assessment guide.

Tens of thousands of automobile owners were overcharged when they paid vehicle taxes in January and February, according to county auditors.

Spokeswoman Vicki Ringer said Tuesday that there was a malfunction in the computer program that assigns assessed values to cars and other personal property, causing the computer to randomly assign incorrect assessments.

Department Director Elizabeth Carpentier said Wednesday that her staff was working to determine how the problems occurred. Spartanburg County Auditor Sarah Broyles said it would take about a month to get refund checks to taxpayers.

The glitch affected people who paid their taxes in the past two months, but Ringer said it was unclear how many types or makes of vehicles were involved.

But Richland County Auditor Harry Huntley said the assessment guides have created serious problems across the state.

Broyles said more than 30,000 Spartanburg County car owners paid their taxes before the glitch was corrected, but it was unclear how many might have overpaid.

Peggy Mosley, Charleston County auditor, said technicians are writing a new computer program that her staff will use to search the 60,000 tax notices she's mailed to vehicle owners. The Charleston billing cycle also includes March.

-- Homer Beanfang (Bats@inbellfry.com), February 10, 2000

Answers

Error in car values could bring refunds to some

http://www.beaufortgazette.com/localnews/story/0,1458,133895,00.html

-- Homer Beanfang (Bats@inbellfry.com), February 10, 2000.