I lived in Los Angeles for the better part of twelve years. For several of those years I was subject to a Los Angeles business license and the tax burden that generated. When I permanently left Los Angeles the end of June 2010, I notified the various agencies that I had permanently departed their jurisdiction.
This did not stop the City of Los Angeles, however. Despite their knowing that I had left (as evidenced by their having my new address), they sent me a notification last February that I was delinquent in filing my 2011 Los Angeles business license and tax. I dutifully informed them (for the second time) that I no longer resided in Los Angeles, and that they should take me off their rolls. I thought that was it. I presumed that it was less hassle on their end just to let the notification go out than to cull their records continually for departed tax payers.
Apparently, I was wrong. Today I received a notification from the City of Los Angeles to appear before the Los Angeles City Attorney to explain why I had not paid my 2011 Los Angeles City Business Tax. I tried calling to inform them for the third time that I no longer live in Los Angeles, and am no longer subject to their tax jurisdiction, but a recording informed me that they were receiving too many calls resulting from their recent mailing, and they would not be able to take my call. So I emailed them to the email address they specified (finance.customerservice@lacity.org) to let them know of my changed status, and that I would not be appearing at their hearing. Here is what I received from their automatic responder:
from City of LA – Office of Finance <finance.customerservice@lacity.org>sender-time Sent at 10:22 AM (GMT-07:00). Current time there: 11:09 AM. ✆to argeew@gmail.comdate Tue, Apr 26, 2011 at 10:22 AMsubject Notice of Hearing Re: Williscroft; xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx001-7mailed-by lacity.orgAt this time, our office is experiencing extremely high volumes ofinquiries and not all inquiries may be answered in a timely fashion.We are currently in the annual Business Tax Notice of Hearing period(deadline May 4, 2011 and will attempt to address all inquiriesregarding the hearing period but other inquiries may not be addresseduntil after our deadline.Please remember, if you have received a hearing notice, you mustrespond to us by May 4, 2011. Please visit our website atwww.lacity.org/finance for non-renewal inquiries. You may also visitone of our branch offices – please click on the link, “Location /Hours” on the left side of our homepage for a listing of offices, orconsult the back cover of your renewal packet.—Thank you,Finance Customer Service
I guess they will not receive my communication before I am supposed to be there. Do you think they will expend more time and money before they figure it out?
There is a cure for ignorance…and I really tried to educate them. But Stupid is forever…
Well..The City of Los Angeles actually responded to my email, and has removed me from its rolls. This is ten months overdue, but at least it finally happened
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