Maryland’s Tax Bill Blowout: State Slapped with $5.4 Million in Back Taxes After IRS Audit
1. Maryland needs to pay $5.4 million in tax debt due to IRS audit
The Maryland state government was audited by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) for the first time and was required to pay $5.4 million in 2020 tax arrears. State Treasurer Brooke Lierman said at the meeting that this was the first time Maryland had been audited. The IRS originally sought a claim of about $16 million, but after state staff provided documents, the IRS agreed to a substantial reduction and waiver of fines. At present, the state government may still have to pay some interest, and the specific amount is to be determined.
The IRS audit pointed out that the state government had deficiencies in three areas: it did not withhold federal taxes in full for some employees, it exceeded limits on some police officers’ retirement plans, and it failed to prove that it had withheld provisions for some suppliers. The state government is improving these issues through training and other measures, and the IRS will also assist with training.
In addition, the state Department of Public Safety approved a payment of nearly $900,000 to settle three lawsuits. The department has paid out $10.5 million in settlements this year. The Department of Public Safety is increasing the preservation of documents and video records to ensure adequate evidence in prosecutions.
2. Halloween isn’t just about tricks and treats – it’s an astronomical holiday
While you celebrate an unusually warm Halloween with your kids, there’s a great place for astronomy enthusiasts, too.
Halloween originates from the traditional Celtic pagan festival of Samhain. It marks the most important day between the autumnal equinox and the winter solstice. The Celts believed that during Samharn the barriers between worlds could be broken down, so they dressed up as monsters to avoid being kidnapped and left offerings for the monsters.
This makes Halloween an astronomical holiday. October 31st is the midway point between the autumnal equinox and the winter solstice, which means it’s a “cross-season day” as each night gets a little longer as the colder months arrive. Although the true cross-season day is November 7, Halloween is set by tradition.
For all you stargazers out there, if the clouds clear enough in Washington, D.C. Thursday night, you might see some bright planets in the night sky. After sunset, dazzling Venus greets us low in the southwest, and Mercury is lower right, very low on the horizon. High in the south, pale yellow Saturn can be seen shining brightly. At 9 pm, low on the eastern horizon, you will see another bright “star”, the brightest one in the sky, this is Jupiter.
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