State Rep. Matthew Bierlein and fellow House Oversight Committee members today sought answers from Michigan Department of Treasury officials for errors that have led to breakdowns in communication and left taxpayers in the dark.

The department recently sent over 27,000 erroneous letters to taxpayers informing them they would be receiving a smaller refund than expected or that they owed more money in taxes. Others have experienced significant delays receiving tax refunds, leading to constituents contacting their elected officials looking for help.

“The testimony disclosed that 65 individual callers made a combined 11,000 calls to the department about these issues,” said Bierlein, of Vassar. “My legislative office has received over 100 calls so far compared to about 20 last tax year, and we’ve been happy to assist them. Many of these calls are people who have sent the same tax return year after year and their returns have been flagged this year and given lengthy delays. This has been a huge problem for the department, and the data shows they have been failing to deliver solutions promptly. With high costs for gas, groceries and other everyday expenditures, hardworking people are expecting their returns. This cannot be a recurring problem, and we will continue to protect taxpayers through our work on this committee.”

Bierlein noted that in one instance, a constituent seeking the same Farmland Preservation Tax Credit they had filed for and received previously was told their case would take up to 25 weeks to resolve.

Bierlein and the committee pushed department officials on process and protocols, and sought to gain their assurance that penalties would not be assessed to people for things that happened through no fault of their own. Department officials blamed outdated phone systems and IT issues throughout the hearing, which Bierlein said is inexcusable given the billions of dollars in taxpayer funds that Treasury works with each year in their operating budget.

“This hearing underscored problems with customer service and practicality. Many older individuals in our communities don’t have the ability to log on to a webpage and go hunting for information on their delayed returns,” Bierlein said. “There’s a lot to iron out for the department, because the current setup has cost people time and money.”