City Of Hart Gets Zero In Sales Tax For July Payment

City Of Hart Gets Zero In Sales Tax For July

By Neoma Williams

The City of Hart received no rebate in July for sales taxes collected in June for monthly filers or the second quarter ending June 30 for quarterly filers.  City Secretary Monica Guzman said that the June payment of $7,192.90 (for those businesses filing monthly reports in May) was more than usual. She said she contacted the Texas Comptroller’s office in Austin to inquire,  and was told that after researching the payment, it was noted that a Hart business had overpaid its sales tax.

The July report showed a negative balance of -$3,588.87, which is the result of an amended return filed to correct misreported local tax to the City of Hart. Future collections will be applied to this negative balance until the amount has been paid. This should take one month. The May payment was $3,707.18.

Hart’s sales tax rate is 8.25%:  6.25% is for the state; Castro County’s rate is 0.50% and the City’s is 1.5%. A document from the Comptroller’s office indicates that the Hart Economic Development Corporation’s rate (ratified by Hart voters in October 2007) is 0.05%, or one-half percent. However, City Hall reports it pays the EDC 0.33%. The City’s rate and the EDC rate are included in the 1.5%.

Castro County’s July payment of $18,137.73 is down from the same period last year when it was $39,876.98. For the year, the County’s total payments are $116,020.62, compared to $181,346.76. County Judge Carroll Gerber said that he thinks the reason for the smaller payments is because some county residents are shopping out of the County.