Friday, October 23, 1998

CaddoParish Sheriff Don Hathaway said today his Tax Department is preparing to file lawsuits against delinquent Taxpayers on more than 1,800 movable property accounts.

Sheriff Hathaway said his Tax Department is first targeting those accounts that still owe for the 1995 through 1997 tax years. Those 1,812 accounts represent taxes of $4,459,998.66. With penalties and interest added to the taxes owed, the total to be collected is more than $5.2 million.

Each May, the Sheriff’s Office conducts a tax sale to recover delinquent taxes on immovable property accounts – land and homes or business buildings. Sheriff’s Tax Department Director Mike Middleton said the pending lawsuits deal with movable property – furnishings and fixtures used in businesses to sell or deliver their products. Movable property includes, but is not limited to, shelving units, desks, oil field equipment, cash registers and copy machines.

Middleton said this is a new method being employed by the Sheriff’s Office to protect the interest of the citizens of Caddo Parish. He said the Sheriff’s Office is coordinating the filing of the lawsuits with its legal counsel firm, Cook, Yancey, King and Galloway.

"There is still time," Sheriff Hathaway said, "to head off being a sued party and incurring additional legal costs. If you own a business and know or suspect you owe taxes for the 1995 tax year, then you should call our Tax Department immediately at 318-681-0638."