Across Illinois, Missouri, Kansas and Eastern Iowa, Mid-America Carpenters Regional Council reps took to the streets to warn the public about tax fraud.
Tax Fraud Days of Action started on April 12, 2023, and runs through April 18.
“Are my taxes too high?” was the question on the minds of many after seeing the Regional Council’s banners in front of businesses, post offices and on street corners. All told, our communities lose out big time because of cheating contractors – we all know this, but we have to remind the public every year that tax cheats are stealing from the working men in women who pay their fair share.
In Missouri and Kansas, hundreds of millions in lost revenue every year, according to two studies authored by University of Missouri – Kansas City (UMKC) Adjunct Professor Dr. Michael Kelsay.
In his study focused on the state of Missouri, Dr. Kelsay found that construction tax cheats neglected to pay $149.3 million in required state and federal income taxes and $96.7 million in state workers compensation and unemployment insurance funds in a single year. The studies analyzed data from the Missouri Department of Labor, the U.S. Department of Labor and the Bureau of Labor Statistics. A similar study of Kansas found these bad actors also neglected to pay $157.5 million in required state and federal income taxes and $104.9 million in state workers compensation and unemployment insurance funds in a single year. The studies analyzed data from the Kanas Department of Labor, the U.S. Department of Labor and the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Across both states, construction industry tax fraud cost taxpayers more than $500 million from state and federal income taxes as well as workers compensation and unemployment insurance.
Contractors who commit tax fraud are abusing workers and skipping out on their tax obligation, passing it off to mom and pop. It kneecaps the ability to fund public safety, education and other vital services that require our taxes. Illinois, Missouri and Kansas all lose hundreds of millions every year and the federal government loses more than $15 billion!
Thank you to all of our Brothers and Sisters that took time out of their schedules to help us get the message out!
