Watch CBS News

State Collects Millions As Gas Stations Pay Up

CHICAGO (WBBM) - State officials say they have collected millions of dollars in unpaid taxes from gas station operators since they began an aggressive enforcement effort.

LISTEN: Newsradio 780's Bob Conway Reports

Podcast

Last year, the Department of Revenue and the Attorney General's office began a voluntary compliance program, increased audits and intensified collection of unpaid taxes from gasoline station owners, generating about $12.5 million over a 10-month period.

Recently, the effort was stepped up with the filing of criminal charges against five gas station operators. Since then, an additional $9.3 million has been collected for a total of approximately $22 million.

Gasoline sales are reported on a monthly basis. Officials determined that a fraudulent practice had developed of evading the payment of the taxes by falsely reporting gasoline sales figures.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.