Tax Havens, Loopholes and Delinquencies

To whom it may concern,

A proposed bill in the US Senate seeks to shut down international tax havens that have deprived the US treasury from nearly $100 billion a year. This new law and several other loopholes in existing tax law are currently being targeted in order to shore up dwindling funds in hard economic times. Other tax provisions are being changed or allowed to expire to bring in yet more revenue. With all of this accounting going on in Washington D.C., it makes you wonder why most of this was not done sooner. Surely someone will claim economic hardship during this process or its enforcement. While most of this is practical, some of it is based on the new direction of this administration (i.e. rethinking oil, gas, and timber leases on federal lands). However, we should be simultaneously streamlining future revenues and pursuing delinquent accounts. Many State governments are essentially shaming companies that do not pay their taxes by creating websites with their contact information. Others are threatening to revoke business licences if companies do not pay their bills with interest. Can and will the federal government take up similar measures to ensure that back taxes will be paid?

GUNNAR HAND, AICP