State

Fraud Prevention Measures to Delay Tax Refunds in 2016

The Illinois Department of Revenue (IDOR) is announcing that they do not anticipate releasing Individual Income Tax refunds for the 2016 tax season until March 1.

The decision comes as fraud prevention efforts from last year’s tax season illustrate the positive impact that additional delays and scrutiny have had in combating tax return fraud and identity theft.

IDOR is reminding taxpayers that filing tax returns electronically and requesting direct deposit into a checking or savings account is still the fastest way to receive a refund.

“Fraud prevention measures implemented by the Department of Revenue during last year’s tax season resulted in an overall savings of nearly $5 million that would have, otherwise, been paid,” said Connie Beard, IDOR Director.

“Our new security protocols proved very beneficial in detecting and stopping fraudulently filed returns last year, and we are continuing to enhance our fraud detection efforts this year.  By delaying tax refunds by just a few weeks, we’ll be able to better detect attempts at identity theft and ensure taxpayer refunds do not fall needlessly into the hands of criminals,” Beard said.

For electronic returns filed prior to March 1, IDOR anticipates refunds will be issued within two to three weeks from the March 1 date.

For electronic returns submitted error-free on or after March 1, IDOR anticipates refunds will be issued within two to three weeks from the date the return was submitted.

Tax refunds are not subject to budgetary appropriation by the Illinois General Assembly and are, therefore, not impacted by the current budget impasse.

For the most up-to-date information, forms, schedules, and instructions for the 2016 Illinois Income Tax Filing season, visit IDOR’s website at: tax.illinois.gov.

Regional

Cardinals Caravan coming to East Peoria

Embassy Suites Hotel in East Peoria will be hosting the St. Louis Cardinals Caravan on Friday and Saturday, Jan. 15-16.

No official list of Cardinal personnel who will be attending has been announced, but players and coaches  will be signing autographs before taking questions from fans.The first 400 youth ages 15 and younger through the door will receive one autograph per player, according to Cardinal organization rules.

The event officially begins Friday at 6 p.m. but doors open at 5:30 p.m. Tickets cost $2 each and will be available at the door.

Fans can lunch with the Cardinals players at Dozer Park at noon on Saturday. Tickets are $18 for adults or $13 for ages 12 and under.

The luncheon includes a short question-and-answer session, plus a baseball autographed by all of the Cardinal players and staff who attend the caravan.

Space is limited and tickets must be purchased by noon, Thursday,  Jan. 14 by going online to www.peoriachiefs.com.  Proceeds benefit the Oldtimers Baseball Association.

Chillicothe

Residents can now pay water bills online

The city of Chillicothe is offering a new online and mobile service for paying water bills.  Residents will need to visit  www.cityofcillicotheil.com and follow the instruction to download the “PSN Payments” app. Residents also will be able to make payments over the phone can be made by calling, toll-free (877) 885-7968, and customers will be guided through an automated phone payment service.  Customers can use a credit or debit card or with checking or savings account.  The city says moving to this automated and digital payment process will be a cost-savings to the city.  A convenience fee of $1  will be charged for checking and savings account payments and a  2.75 percent convenience fee, plus 50 cents, will be placed on credit and debit card payments, according to reports. The city reports will it not receive any revenue from the fees. In addition to the bill payment news,  the city also announced on its web site the City Council is soon expected to name a new public works superintendent.  The timeline is to have a new person in the role by the end of January.

Peoria

Caterpillar found guilty of stealing trade secrets

Just prior to the start of the new year, Peoria-based Caterpillar, Inc. took a big blow in the courts. Caterpillar was found guilty of stealing trade secrets and was ordered to pay British supplier Miller UK Ltd. nearly $74 million.

The jury’s verdict came after an eight-week case

The Friday verdict came after an eight-week trial in district court in which the court found CAT had used its place as major customer of the British company to gain specifics on the design of a coupler used in excavating work, then used that knowledge to produce its own product, according to published reports. CAT’s purchases from Miller UK Ltd. accounted for up to 28 percent of the British firm’s business, according to reports.

The lawsuit was filed in 2010, but the initial allegations were made in 2008 once Caterpillar stopped buying products from Miller UK Ltd. A CAT spokesman said verdict was “disappointing” but the manufacturer is considering its next move in the litigation.

Larry M. Evans,  newly-appointed chief of the Civil Division for the Peoria County State’s Attorney’s Office. (Photo courtesy Peoria County)

State’s Attorney’s Office appoints new chief of civil division  

The Peoria County State’s Attorney’s Office has hired Larry M. Evans as its new chief of the Civil Division. Evans previously served as chief of the SAO’s Criminal Division from 2003-08, and as a felony assistant state’s attorney the two years prior. Since 2008, he served as deputy chief of the criminal division for the Tazewell County State’s Attorney’s Office.

The Civil Division of the State’s Attorney’s Office represents Peoria County government in all civil litigation involving the organization, including personal injury claims, zoning disputes, and claims of law enforcement misconduct. In addition to managing litigation involving the county and supervising civil division staff,  Evans will continue to employ his extensive knowledge and experience as a felony prosecutor, according to a statement released by the State’s Attorney’s Office.  Evans  assisted then-State’s Attorney Kevin Lyons in the felony prosecution of the Peoria man who fatally shot Peoria Police Officer Donan “Jim” Faulkner following a foot chase on Sept. 20, 2001.  Evans began his career as an assistant in the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office serving from 1983-99.

–Peoria Area News Briefs–