Thousands not charged RTA tax due to computer glitch
Feb 28, 2013, 12:37 PM | Updated: 12:59 pm
A computer glitch resulted in roughly 6,000 people not being charged a Regional Transit Authority (RTA) excise tax when they renewed their vehicle tabs online. (Photo: Brandi Kruse)
(Photo: Brandi Kruse)
Thousands of people received a bill from the Washington State Department of Licensing last month after they were undercharged when they renewed their vehicle tabs online.
KIRO Radio has learned that a computer glitch resulted in roughly 6,000 people not being charged a Regional Transit Authority (RTA) excise tax, which funds Sound Transit.
Those affected renewed their vehicle tabs online in May, June or July of 2012 and must now pay the tax before they renew their registration again.
Sound Transit estimates that the glitch cost them roughly $150,000 in tax revenue.
Brad Benfield, a DOL spokesperson, said the department’s aging computer system is to blame.
“We’re not happy about it. We wouldn’t expect our customers to be happy about it,” Benfield said. “We would just ask that they understand that this is a mistake that will happen from time to time.”
In fact, the department sends out roughly 800 so-called “shortage letters” each month as their computer software sometimes struggles to determine whether certain addresses fall in areas subject to the RTA tax.
When asked why taxpayers should have to be inconvenienced for the state’s mistakes, Benfield said the department
is “obligated by law to go back and collect (the tax).”
You must pay an RTA tax if you live in an urban area of King, Pierce, or Snohomish County. While the tax varies based on the value of each vehicle, the average person is charged around $30 each time they update their registration.
