Company Gets $500 Refund After Failing To Pay Taxes On Time

SANDY SPRINGS, GA -- One Sandy Springs company recently received a break for failing to pay its 2016 business occupational tax renewal fee on time while another business was unsuccessful in its bid to obtain the same ruling.

The City Council at its Aug. 16 meeting voted 4-3 to grant a $500 refund to BIAS Corporation. Council members Andy Bauman, Tibby DeJulio and Ken Dishman voted against the measure while Gabriel Sterling, Chris Burnett and John Paulson were in favor.

This tie forced Mayor Rusty Paul to cast a tie-breaking vote in favor of the request.

The company initially requested a full waiver of late fees and penalties, which totaled $4,180.25. However, the council opted to approve the staff-recommended refund of $500.

Business occupational taxes are due March 31 of each year, and the city received BIAS Corporation's renewal payment on May 5.

Representatives with the company told the city they never received their renewal form, which was why they did not pay the fee on time. BIAS Corporation has been up and running in Sandy Springs since 2007, and has never been late with paying the annual fee before 2016, the city states.

Another company in Sandy Springs didn't garner favor from city leaders. Council members unanimously rejected Software Paradigms International's request to waive late fees and penalties totaling $8,249.23.

City staff also recommended granting a $500 waiver to the company.

The company told city staff it was late filing its fee due to a transition within its finance department. Operating in the city since 2004, Software Paradigms International was previously late making its occupational tax payment in 2010.

In that year, the city did not receive the company's payment until April 3, and a request for a waiver during that time was denied by city staff.

This year, Sandy Springs received Software Paradigms' payment on May 26, nearly two months after the March 31 due date.

Dishman said he felt local businesses should be held to the same standards as property tax owners, adding he wasn't sure if local taxing authorities would "cut you a break" if you are late with your payments.

Councilman Gabriel Sterling added he felt the company had someone who was in charge of making sure the payments are received by the city, so he didn't feel granting the refund was appropriate.

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