New Measures Helping Taxpayers

(AUSTIN) — Texas taxpayers that a county denies a refund or who disagree with a state tax assessment could find it easier to take their arguments to court under measures advocated by Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar and approved by the 87th Legislature.

In the just-released August edition of Fiscal Notes, the Comptroller’s office looks at these taxpayer-friendly laws. Before this legislation, the law required taxpayers to pay disputed taxes before having their day in court unless they could prove unable to pay.

Lawmakers removed this “pay-to-play” requirement on disputed tax assessments, provided taxpayers first go through the State Office of Administrative Hearings process, where they frequently settle cases. These new measures potentially save taxpayers and the state time and money.

“We want a fair system for taxpayers whose hard-earned money pays for services and programs for all Texans,” Hegar said. “These new, taxpayer-friendly laws preserve our valuable administrative hearings process, which allows most disputes to be settled before a formal hearing even takes place. If taxpayers still disagree with a tax decision despite our best efforts to resolve differences, they will find it easier to take their case to court.”

In this issue, we also examine the Texas Bullion Depository (TxBD), which is open for business in Leander, Texas. The Comptroller’s office is responsible for its oversight and partners with Lone Star Tangible Assets (LSTA) to manage the facility’s daily operations.

When TxBD was preparing to launch in 2017, officials declared it would be an alternative to depositories located primarily in and around New York for precious metal owners seeking a storage vault. That’s still true, but since then, the TxBD has matured in meaningful ways.

Fiscal Notes furthers the Comptroller’s constitutional responsibility to monitor the state’s economy and estimate state government revenues. Texas has published it since 1975, featuring in-depth analysis concerning state finances and original research by subject-matter experts Comptroller’s office.

Fiscal Notes is available online, and it is yours by subscribing via the Comptroller’s website.

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