Local businesses on delinquent taxpayer list
Two Burbank businesses — an investment firm and a tire company — have been added to the state’s list of delinquent taxpayers, which also includes several Glendale enterprises that have remained there for several years.
The California State Board of Equalization’s report for the fourth quarter of 2011 lists the Winston Tire Co. and Investment on Financial Capital Inc. in Burbank as owing $1.69 million and $1.71 million, respectively.
The board releases a quarterly list of the top 250 delinquent businesses that owe more than $100,000 in taxes to the state.
The Burbank firms were two of 16 businesses added to the latest list, which totals $419.5 million in tax liens — this at a time when lower-than-expected mid-year budget figures have triggered another round of budget cutting in Sacramento.
The Alameda Avenue address listed for Winston Tire now houses Fotokem, a film post-production company that has been at the site for about seven years, according to employee Ann Nakamoto.
The address on Flower Street where Investment on Financial Capital reportedly was located was locked late Monday afternoon. There was no sign on the door indicating a business name.
A woman who answered the phone at a number listed for the firm on Tuesday said she didn’t know anything about back taxes, but when asked to speak with a supervisor, she hung up the phone.
USN Television Group in Glendale was added to the state list last March for owing about $730,000. Its address on Colorado Street is now home to Arecont Vision, manufacturer of surveillance cameras and software.
Four other alleged scofflaws have been on the delinquent taxpayer list for several years, including Vegas Truck Stop, Continental Homecare Inc., which filed for bankruptcy in 2008, and Ara Lousinian — all in Glendale — and Aslanyan and Kocoglu Inc. in Burbank.
Board of Equalization spokeswoman Cristina Herrera said her agency doesn’t have a timeline to gauge when more aggressive collection measures, such as seizing assets, should be taken, but the debtors are tracked.
“Everyone leaves a trace [electronically],” she said.
Each delinquent taxpayer is reviewed on a case-by-case basis, she added.
Taxpayers can have their names removed from the list if they pay their bills, agree to a payment plan or have their tax lien lifted through bankruptcy.
The quarterly list of delinquent businesses will grow to the top 500 in January, in accordance with recent state legislation, Herrera said.
