Six state lawmakers failed to file tax returns

[Rose Siding]

BOSTON -- Six members of the state House of Representatives have failed to file income tax returns in recent years, according to Department of Revenue records.

The list of tax delinquents includes Rep. Byron Rushing, a South End Democrat who serves on House Speaker Salvatore DiMasi's leadership team, and Rep. David Linsky, a Natick Democrat who is eyeing a run for Middlesex district attorney.

The Boston Herald, which obtained the list of scofflaws through a public records request, also reports that Reps. Colleen Garry, D-Dracut; Anne Gobi, D-Spencer; Sean Curran, D-Springfield; and Matthew Patrick, D-Falmouth have failed to file returns.
...
Rushing, who apologized in 1997 for failing to file returns for the six prior years, said he doesn't know why he is listed as failing to file a 2002 return. But he stopped short of claiming DOR made a mistake.
...
Another lawmaker, Springfield Democrat Benjamin Swan, filed his 2003 return last week after a reporter for The Republican of Springfield asked why he had missed the filing deadline.

http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2005/03/10/six_state_lawmakers_failed_to_file_tax_returns/

[sweetladybug]

1. Gosh I wish those old mean Democrats would file their taxes

like all of the good honest christian Republicans do(that way they could lie and deceive and not have to pay any taxes just like the rich Republicans)

[Blue_Tires]

2. jeez

i love knowing i belong in that downtrodden class that ISN'T above the law

[ohtransplant]

3. While technically late,

the IRS will still process the return and issue refunds if the return is filed within three years of the due date of the return.

Given this, many individuals (and accountants ) don't see the urgency in filing a tax return "on time".

Of course. if $$$ are owed, the balance will be subject to penalties and interest.

[Ian David]

4. If you're broke and can't afford to pay the taxes...

Do these guys make decent money?

[ohtransplant]

5. I don't have clue what they make.

But I expect they wouldn't owe any tax if they didn't have any income. Of course there are always exceptions.

[rocktivity]

6. This is why I've always filed a return

Even if it meant filling the tax forms with zeros, which I've had to do twice. Then I'd cash in the following year by having twice as many itemized deductions!

:headbang:
rocknation

[denverbill]

7. This is pathetic. Truly pathetic.

If you don't have enough social responsibility to file your damned taxes, you don't deserve to represent your fellow citizens. I don't give a damn which party you belong to. If this is true and not just some bookkeeping error, these guys should lose their seats.

And the same holds true for any other elected official in the US who doesn't file either state or federal tax returns.

[Rose Siding]

8. No kidding

It's a betrayal of the public's trust. How STUPID is this for an elected official?