State Rep. Matthew Bierlein is continuing to push for answers for constituents and people across the state seeking clarity on their tax return statuses.

Bierlein, who serves as Vice Chair of the House Oversight Committee, recently sent a letter to state Treasurer Rachael Eubanks as a follow up to testimony before the committee in June on roughly 27,000 erroneous letters sent to taxpayers telling them they would be receiving a smaller refund than expected or that they owed more money in taxes. The committee hearing also explored the department’s transition to a modern integrated tax system program and how that transition has impacted customers. The department provided updates to legislative offices in July and August on constituent case statuses as progress on resolutions continued to lag.

Bierlein noted in the letter, which was signed by several other legislators from both sides of the aisle, that several problems still exist, including refunds remaining delayed well beyond the department’s stated 4-6 week processing window, a rise in Homestead Property Tax Credit and Home Heating Credit claims being denied or flagged, delays in Home Heating Credit payments to providers that have left some people caught between their energy provider and the state, functionality issues with the department’s contact center line, and more.

“While modernizing a 40-year-old platform is a significant undertaking, workers and families I represent continue to experience real, unresolved difficulties,” said Bierlein, of Vassar. “People are continuing to see higher costs everywhere they turn. The last thing they need to see in addition to that is a delay on a pending case that will help lower their bills or get them money they are owed. I am once again calling on the state Department of Treasury to expedite these issues and make things right for people we all represent.”

Bierlein is requesting transparency from the department by providing status updates on remaining refund and tax credit backlogs and an estimated timeline for resolutions, confirmation that penalties and interest from previously sent erroneous notices will be waived, and a commitment to review call-back features that will help link constituents with someone who can help resolve their case.

“We simply want to make sure that as these new processes mature, hardworking taxpayers who are still waiting on answers are not lost in the process,” Bierlein said. “Providing this clarity is imperative to maintaining a good level of customer service and helping representatives of the people properly relay information to those in our communities.”