Business tax crackdown?

Faced with a budget deficit of at least $150 million, the Los Angeles City Council wants city staff to crack down on business tax scofflaws. Councilmembers Eric Garcetti and Bernard Parks recently presented an ordinance allowing city bureaucrats increased access to past business registration data to collect back taxes owed to the city. The motion also authorizes the Office of Finance to collect a fee on all delinquent accounts to cover the entire cost of searching for back taxes due; currently, a flat fee is levied on delinquent business accounts.

The motion is expected to come back to City Council at the end of this month.

Staff reporter Howard Fine can be reached at [phone], ext. 227 or at [e-mail]