IDR Closes Arlington Heights Gas Station, Owner Fails To Pay Taxes

The Illinois Department of Revenue has shut down an Arlington Heights gas station for not paying sales tax, Sue Hofer, a spokeswoman for the department said. 

Shell Gas Station located at 2113 N. Arlington Heights road has been closed for nearly a month due to taxes not being.

Green posters have been plastered all around the building and gas pumps. 

The posters say the following: 

• "This business certificate or registration is hereby revoked, persons who engage in the business of selling tangible personal property at retail after their certificate of registration has been revoked are guilty of a Class A misdemeanor and will be subject to criminal prosecution and penalty"

Hofer said if a business fails to pay sales tax or employees are withholding taxes, a business would be shut down.

"Our goal is not to close businesses," she said. "We tried to work with them, we offer payment plans to customers, (the) last thing we want to do is shut down a business."   

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A business being closed due to unpaid sales taxes is not uncommon. Hofer said this happens periodically, either bad economy or bad business management. 

"The reason for taxes are for roads to get repaired, schools can be open and the purpose of government is fulfilled," she said.

Hofer said the gas station could be reopened once the taxes are paid.

James McCalister, director of building and health services for the village, said Todd Antenore, owner of the station, had renewed his business license with the village on June 13 but for the station to be reopened, Antenore would have to handle his business with the IDR.

Phone calls to Shell Gas Station locally and nationally for comment were not immediately returned.