RI hope to shame top tax delinquents

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI/AP) - Rhode Island tax officials are hoping a new list of the top 100 tax scofflaws will force the state's worst tax delinquents to pay up.

State Tax Administrator David Sullivan says his department has sent out hundreds of letters warning individuals and businesses that if they don't pay their back taxes, their names will appear on a list posted on the agency's Web site.

That list is now online.

The state's Top 100 tax delinquents owe a combined $16 million -- a significant amount considering the state is struggling with a $219 million deficit.

The top alleged scofflaws are a couple who now live in Florida who owe more than $1.2 million.

Also on the list again, local boxer Vinnie Paz, who owes $195,825.66.

Paul Guertin, chief of compliance and collection for the Division of Taxation, tells The Providence Journal that the online list is "quite effective."