PUBLIC SERVICE

William Donald Schaefer set an
ambitious agenda for efficiency and
personal assistance for taxpayers in
1999, his first income tax filing season
as Maryland's comptroller.

His state income tax representatives
responded to twice as many inquiries
sent by e-mail than ever before. They
also provided extra evening hours of
telephone tax help to 47 percent more
callers, and satisfied 75 percent more
requests from taxpayers for help with
their Maryland tax forms free of charge.
Enhancing the effectiveness of his 20
taxpayer service centers throughout the
state, the Comptroller strategically
relocated a field office on Maryland's
Eastern Shore to better serve that
fast-growing region.

The Comptroller issued nearly $1.9
billion in state income tax refunds
during fiscal year 1999.

In another important program, the
agency returned $12.5 million in
unclaimed funds to rightful owners.
Marylanders can search through the
Comptroller's records of more than $100
million worth of unclaimed wages, bank
accounts and other abandoned funds by
visiting the Comptroller's Internet

Helping people. Leroy Creek of the Comptroller's Revenue
Administration Division completes yet another Maryland
tax form among the 29,000 his agency completed during the
1999 tax filing season.

web-site at www.marylandtaxes.com.

The owners or their heirs can claim the
funds at any time.

The agency also joined ranks with
36 other states in offering an amnesty
program for unclaimed property
holders, allowing Maryland businesses
until December 31, 1999, to report
unclaimed property without incurring
late fees.

In keeping with his career-long
concern for those with special needs,
Comptroller Schaefer helped enlist the
support of many service stations across
Maryland to offer full pump service at
self-service prices for people with
disabilities.

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