Delaware's online delinquent taxpayer lists continue to collect millions

Delaware Division of Revenue Director Patrick Carter recently announced the posting of another list of top-100 delinquent individual and business taxpayers at revenue.delaware.gov/ddt.shtml.

In the past year, these delinquent taxpayer lists have prompted more than $1.6 million in tax collections from those whose names were published or who were advised they qualified to have their names published online.  Since its inception in February 2007, the lists have collected more than $8.3 million.

The Delaware delinquent taxpayers lists name individuals and businesses that owe a combined total of more than $8 million to the state.  As each list is posted, Carter said Delaware sees a surge in its collection of back taxes.

“The site has been in place for almost four years, and it’s very successful,” Carter said.  “People are responsive to paying their taxes rather than having their names published online.  Plus, Delaware saves money by not having to pay collection agency costs that we normally pay to collect this debt.  This project has been very positive for the state.”

Delaware began publishing its online delinquent taxpayer lists to post for public view the names of people and businesses who have unpaid tax bills in Delaware.  By legislative order, larger balances were targeted first for publication.  Each quarter, the next 100 consecutive business tax and 100 consecutive personal tax unresolved balances of more than $1,000 are posted to the site.

Rep. Deborah Hudson, R-Fairthorne, proposed the program and sponsored the legislation that established the posting requirements for Delaware’s delinquent taxpayers.  To meet the criteria for posting to the site, individuals and businesses must have already received a judgment for unpaid taxes.  They are then notified by mail that their name may be posted online, and they are given 60 days to respond.

The names of those who enter into a payment agreement with the Division of Revenue or pay their balance in full are either not published or will be removed from the list, depending on when the agreement takes place.  Taxpayers who have filed for bankruptcy protection or have incurred a liability that is being appealed are excluded from the published list until their cases are resolved.

Delaware is one of more than 20 states and the District of Columbia to publish delinquent taxpayers online.