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Galvin Wants Massachusetts' Use Of Tax Collection Agencies Publicized

Bill Galvin is the Massachusetts secretary of state.
Don Treeger
/
The Republican
Bill Galvin is the Massachusetts secretary of state.

Massachusetts uses private collection agencies to go after delinquent taxpayers. And the secretary of state said more needs to be done to make residents aware of the practice.

Secretary Bill Galvin said that until recently, he didn't even know about the use of debt collectors by the Department of Revenue. He said it's very easy for a taxpayer to mistake a scam as a legitimate effort to collect back taxes.

"I think the DOR has to step up and provide very specific information as to when they're referring a matter to a private collection agency and what the agency will be doing, who the agency is and who might be contacting them," Galvin said.

An official with the Department of Revenue said they've been using private agencies for about 15 years and only taxpayers who flat-out don't respond to multiple bills are turned over to an outside company. The official said the process is spelled out clearly on delinquency notices.

Meanwhile, the IRS announced earlier this month that it will also use private debt collectors.

Adam joined NEPM as a freelance reporter and fill-in operations assistant during the summer of 2011. For more than 15 years, Adam has had a number stops throughout his broadcast career, including as a news reporter and anchor, sports host and play-by-play announcer as well as a producer and technician.
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