If you want to get me riled up, one of the easiest ways to do it is ask about the “delights” of running a business in New York. There are multiple taxes and fees, each collected by a different agency, and each on a different schedule from each other and from the Federal government.
Upon returning from our Nova Scotia trip (the final chapter and pictures will be posted soon), I had no less than four “assessment” notices from my friends in Albany, all for fees not because I did not pay all my taxes, but because I had filed some at the wrong time, or not filed a form to indicate I had no taxes due!
I used to be quite the amateur politico, firing off letters on my opinions on various issues to my representatives. In my frustration over taxes, I dusted off my keyboard and rifled off a letter to Governor Pataki, as well as the Commissioner of Taxation, sharing my “thoughts and insights” into the tax environment in NY. This morning, I actually received a call from a very polite woman from Taxation regarding my letter. She offered to refund several of my fees, and put me in touch with one of the other departments that had assessed me. While this does not necessarily address the root problem, it is nice to know that some folks in government actually listen to their constituents, and will actually attempt to make things right.
Kudos to NY State, but I still am looking forward to moving to greener pastures.