Halitz Has Unpaid Taxes

Senator says accountant's error is to blame

CHRISTENKERR, EDS--East Deschire Senator Denna Halitz (CNS) has over $4,000 in unpaid taxes, according to a financial report released Tuesday by the Federal Taxation and Revenue Agency (FTRA).

The report says Halitz failed to pay more than $3,000 in taxes on a 160-acre property she owns in southeastern East Deschire. The senator also failed to pay just over $1,000 in taxes on annual earnings from the year 2007-2008.

When confronted by reporters Tuesday, the senator said the unpaid taxes are due to a "simple mistake" made by her accountant.

"I can say emphatically and unequivocally, there was no attempt to avoid paying taxes or to hold back money from the government," Halitz told reporters. "What this boils down to is a simple mistake made by my accountant, and my failure to recognize that mistake until it was brought to my attention."

A spokeswoman for the FTRA says the senator is being treated just like any other citizen who fails to pay their taxes.

"Like every other tax-payer, she will have 30 days to pay. She may also file an appeal in that time, which could extend her window to pay the outstanding balance," spokeswoman Leann Sho told the media.

It is up to the FTRA to determine if an investigation will be conducted. So far, officials have said there is no reason to conduct investigate.

"It looks like it was just a simple error, but we'll see," Sho said.

Halitz could also face an ethics investigation by the Senate Ethics Committee. The committee's chairman, Sen. John BiGadi (C-LIA), says he will meet with Senate Majority Leader George Landers (C-CEA) and members of the committee before possibly opening an investigation.

In the meantime, Senator Halitz says she is cooperating fully with the FTRA and Senate leaders. She also said she does not intend to appeal the FTRA's findings, and will pay back all owed taxes.