Individuals or businesses who have used the Missouri Department of Revenue tax assistance center in Maplewood for face-to-face help with taxes are now left with the department website or a telephone number in Jefferson City.
The last day of business for the state tax assistance center, at 3256 Laclede Station Road, was June 30.
When Democratic Gov. Jay Nixon cut Missouri’s budget by $1.1 billion Tuesday before signing it into law, 260 full-time state positions were eliminated, closing seven Department of Revenue offices, the Springfield News-Leader reported.
An employee at the Maplewood office said all seven St. Louis branch offices were closed. Thirteen employees lost their job at the Maplewood office.
See also: Group helped with more than 400 tax returns at Maplewood Library
Betty Bradshaw, 61, was one of those.
“Our job was not in the budget,” she said. “We found out on Tuesday, last week. We still have to go in and pack up everything until July 15.”
Bradshaw and others at the office had lunch at Cousin Hugo’s on Tuesday. She said owner, Tommy Bahn, had used the tax assistance office.
“That’s where Tom always came,” she said. “We had to go tell him.
“It’s not only bad for us, it’s also bad for our tax payers,” Bradshaw said. “They’re used to coming to us, and we can deal with them face to face. Now everything has to be on the Internet or there’s a number you can call to Jeff City.”
Michelle Gleba, director of Communications for the Missouri Department of Revenue, said the tax assistance centers “mostly served as a resource for taxpayers and businesses who preferred in-person service,” she said in an email to the Springfield News-Leader. “All of the services, however, can be provided by calling the Department (of Revenue), emailing the department or visiting our website.”
The Maplewood office number is 314-877-0177, which is now a recording stating that the office has closed “due to necessary budget cuts,” along with information on how to receive tax help.
Department of Revenue
• For general information, visit http://dor.mo.gov/news/
• For business tax issues visit http://dor.mo.gov/business/
• To request a No Tax Due certification, visit https://dors.mo.gov/tax/notaxdue/taxpayer.jsp
• For personal state income tax questions, call the Taxation Division at 573-751-3505, email to [email protected] or visit http://dor.mo.gov/personal/.