Georgia Rescinds State Tax Refunds: Citizens Stuck with Overdraft Fees

Georgia is a beautiful state, and not just because of the scenery, either. The people there seem warm, friendly, hard-working, and caring. But not the Georgia State Department of Revenue. Apparently, the state tax refunds electronically deposited into a number of bank accounts have been rescinded by the state of Georgia, leaving account holders in the lurch for overdraft fees and other costs.

Based on a report from AJC.com, not only are the tax paying residents of Georgia hosed for the refunds themselves, bureaucrats are not being forthcoming with answers, either. In true politician style, department spokesman Reg Lansbury is quoted as saying, "We are in the fact-gathering stage right now." Maybe landlords and other creditors will accept that as an answer from their customers, too. What do you think?

The Georgia state tax refund incident just convinces me further that, government should not be trusted with money. Someone, somewhere in the Georgia Department of Revenue made what is probably just a simple error. Rather than owning up to it though, government workers give answers like the one previously shared, and folks like poor Alton Carter are being told they can appeal the overdraft charges resulting from this latest screw up.

Of course, to whom a resident will appeal is not quite clear. As long as the State of Georgia can say the fees are charged by the banks, and the banks can say the fees are not due to any error on their part, there's enough wiggle room for nearly everyone involved to shirk responsibility here - everyone except for the state's victims. Screw the people, though, right?

Will Georgia residents get their state tax refunds back? Much like the vagueness of answers from bureaucrats, the answer is unclear. Meanwhile, citizens across the state are in for some major scrambling to cover bounced checks, getting overdraft fees reversed if possible, and hopefully getting their money back. Let's hope no one ends up out in the street, or arrested, over this latest bungle.

Sources:
Opinions, and
AJC.com "State tax refunds taken back, Georgians left with overdraft fees" January 25th, 2011