Corbin business state’s worst taxpayer

Recent release of the state’s worst taxpayers is topped by a local business and several individuals from the Corbin, Williamsburg and London areas.
On Monday the Kentucky Finance and Administration Cabinet’s Department of Revenue published a list of the top 150 delinquent individual and business taxpayers on its web site at www.kentucky.rev.gov.
Worst corporate taxpayer on that list is Corbin’s Thomas Concrete of Tenn, LLC located on Cumberland Falls Hwy. According to state records, the company owes $752,496 in unpaid taxes.
Rains Enterprises, Inc. of Williamsburg holds down the No. 8 spot, owing $230,675 to the state. Double D Drilling of London is No. 72 owing $66,961.
Hightop Used Parts Inc., located on Hightop Rd. in Corbin, is No. 119 and owes $47,817.
Individually, David K. Kersey of 680 Alsip Trail in Corbin, is the worst taxpayer locally. He owes $50,626 to the state coffers and is No. 76 overall on the list. Kevin Thomas, of 106 Lakepointe Dr. in Corbin, owes $35,117.
Jill Midkiff, a spokesperson for the Kentucky Finance and Administration Cabinet, said money owed by individuals is mostly delinquent income taxes. For businesses, about 60 percent is unpaid sales taxes, and 30 to 35 percent is employee withholding taxes.
“We just started doing this in January,” she said. “It’s just a starting place. We plan to expand it and include more over time.”
Midkiff said other states have had success collecting unpaid taxes by publishing a list, so Kentucky followed suit.
It is a felony crime to willfully refuse to pay taxes owed to the state. Midkiff said collectors have tried numerous times, in a variety of ways, to contact people and businesses that appear on the list about the money they owe. Though violators could be arrested, she said payment is preferable to pursuit of criminal charges.
“We aren’t interested in putting people in jail. We want these people to contact us and make payment arrangements,” she said. “Once they’ve contacted us and we’ve reached a payment agreement or they’ve settled whatever debt they owe to the state, we’ll take their name off the list.”
Anyone who has information about delinquent taxpayers listed can submit an anonymous tip to http://revenue.ky.gov/fraud.htm.
Businesses or individuals who want to pay back taxes and have their name taken of the list are encouraged to call 502-564-4921, ext. 5367.