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Month: October 2016

OPPAL Available to Help Businesses on Oct. 1

  • October 7th, 2016

MONTGOMERY, Sept. 28, 2016 — Beginning Oct. 1, Alabama businesses will be able to report equipment, tools,
machinery and other business personal property through the Optional Personal Property Assessment Link (OPPAL)
online system.

OPPAL is an optional, free, reporting-only portal. The electronically filed return will contain all information included
in the standard paper tax return. There is no charge to the taxpayer for utilizing this service. The OPPAL Web portal
will be available to accept taxpayer information from Oct. 1 of each year until the following Jan. 31.

OPPAL was designed per the requirements of Section 40-7-56, Code of Alabama, 1975, that states the Department of
Revenue will develop, maintain and administer an online business personal property tax filing system to allow any
taxpayer required to file a business personal property tax return with any county assessing official or applicable agency
the ability and option to file the return electronically.

“We are always looking for better and more efficient ways businesses can interact with state and local governments.

OPPAL provides that and I’m appreciative for the support of those who helped build it, especially the OPPAL Advisory
Council made up of representatives from county governments and the business community,” said Revenue
Commissioner Julie P. Magee.

For more information on OPPAL, visit http://oppal.alabama.gov/.

For the original ADOR press release, click here.

Scammers Making Phone Calls to Collect Tax Debt, Claim to be ADOR Staff

  • October 5th, 2016

MONTGOMERY, Sept. 28, 2016 – The Alabama Department of Revenue has received several complaints
regarding a phone scam targeting taxpayers. The callers claim to be ADOR employees who are attempting
to collect debts. These callers are NOT employees of the Department of Revenue.

Victims who answer these calls may be told they owe money to ADOR or to the state, and it must be paid
promptly, perhaps through a pre-loaded debit card or wire transfer. The criminals who make these calls can
sound convincing and may use fake names and other bogus ADOR identification methods. They may know
a lot about their targets, and they may alter the caller ID to make it look like ADOR is calling.

Victims who refuse to cooperate may be threatened with arrest, deportation, or suspension of a business or
driver’s license. Or, victims may be told they have a refund due to try to trick them into sharing private
information. NEVER share your Social Security number or other private information to someone who has
called you in this manner. These callers may become hostile or insulting to victims who do not cooperate.

Just hang up if this happens. Scammers often leave an “urgent” callback request when their calls are not
answered. Ignore these messages and DO NOT call the number they leave.
Remember – the Alabama Department of Revenue WILL NEVER:

 Call a taxpayer to demand immediate payment using a specific payment method, such as a prepaid debit
card, gift card or wire transfer. Generally, ADOR will contact taxpayers by mail to handle official business.

 Threaten to immediately bring in local police or other law-enforcement groups to have a taxpayer arrested
for not paying.

 Demand that taxes be paid without giving the taxpayer the opportunity to question or appeal the amount
ADOR says is owed.

 Ask for credit or debit card numbers over the phone.

Stay alert! Scammers continuously change tactics, and variations of these scams continue year-round,
peaking when scammers find prime opportunities to strike.

For the original press release, click here.

Business Owners – Be ADOR’s B.E.S.T.

  • October 4th, 2016

Business Owners – Be ADOR’s B.E.S.T.

Attend Auburn-Opelika State Tax Seminar on Oct. 12

AUBURN, Sept. 28, 2016 – State tax obligations can sometimes confuse business owners. Licenses,
sales tax, property tax, etc. – business owners are responsible for many details. To make that task easier,
the Alabama Department of Revenue (ADOR) invites business owners to come learn the “B.E.S.T.”
ways to handle state taxes at ADOR’s free Business Essentials for State Taxpayers Seminar on
Wednesday, Oct. 12, at 2 p.m. in Auburn.

The seminar will be held at the Harris Senior Center, 425 Perry Street.
ADOR specialists conduct B.E.S.T. Seminars, which include a brief but comprehensive overview of
Alabama’s business taxes, the business owner’s tax obligations, and the forms that are required, as well
as information on electronic filing and other requirements. Presenters cover a variety of state tax
information topics, including employer withholding taxes, state and local sales taxes, property taxes, and
business licensing requirements. The B.E.S.T. Seminars help new business owners navigate through
unfamiliar tax complexities while updating current business owners on tax law changes.

Seminar attendees receive ADOR’s “Starting a New Business” guide and information about Alabama’s
ONE SPOT, a free Internet filing and payment portal that allows business taxpayers to file and pay state,
county, and city sales, use, and rental taxes all in one place!

While there is no charge to attend the B.E.S.T. Seminars, reservations are required to ensure adequate
space is available. To make your reservation for the Auburn/Opelika B.E.S.T. Seminar, contact Marcia
Sanders at 334-887-9549, ext. 221.

For more information on B.E.S.T. Seminars and other B.E.S.T. resources, visit our website at
http://www.revenue.alabama.gov/taxpayerassist/workshop.cfm. B.E.S.T. Seminars are two hours long
plus additional time for questions and answers. Please plan to arrive at least 15 minutes prior to the
scheduled seminar.

For the original press release, click here.

Helping Businesses in Alabama- Alabama Secretary of State

  • October 4th, 2016

Alabama Secretary of State

Press Release

Helping Businesses in Alabama

MONTGOMERY – Under the direction of Secretary John Merrill the Secretary of State’s Office has worked to more expeditiously process the large volume of business filings coming in from throughout Alabama. This new process will better serve Alabama’s businesses and strengthen business development in the state.

“During my time working to earn the People of Alabama’s trust to serve as their 53rd Secretary of State, I was made aware that when someone wanted to form a new business in the state, it would take 5 to 7 months or longer from the time the Secretary of State’s Office received certain business filings for them to be placed in the online state business filings database available to the public, banks and the business community. After a period of better understanding the process, it became apparent that a dramatic restructuring, including new leadership as well as the establishment of certain financial controls and employee accountability measures, was necessary to end this continuous cycle of failing to meet the highest expectations of service to business in Alabama,” Secretary Merrill said.

Following completion of Secretary Merrill’s internal restructuring efforts, the waiting period for filings to be completed dropped and, for the past two months of July and August, recently reached for the first time the goal of completely handling from start to finish the processing of the incoming filings to no later than the next business day.

“Once our team met this new and high standard they were then reminded that we may have tied the game but the clock is still ticking. I have instructed our team to communicate with each other at the end of each week and the beginning of the succeeding week to ensure that we stay on track,” Merrill said.

Secretary Merrill continually emphasizes to the staff that it is our duty as public servants to be a resource to new and existing businesses. Resolving this issue is one of many changes made by Secretary Merrill during his administration.