Greitens responds to auditor’s DOR subpoena

The Missouri Department of Revenue submitted records one day after state auditor Nicole Galloway filed a subpoena for the information.

Galloway issued the writ six weeks after her office first requested information on the department’s handling of tax refunds.

“There is a lack of transparency in state government and it’s being directed by the governor’s office,” said Galloway.

In early March, Galloway launched a review of the Department of Revenue’s tax refund process to see if the state was making payments on time.

She asked the department for the number of overdue refund payments and the amount of interest owed for the last five years, including this year.

“They indicated that they would provide information for fiscal years 2012 through 2016, but not the current year’s information,” said Galloway. “We need the information for the current year to audit current tax refunds and how they’re being processed and if interest is owed.”

Yesterday, Galloway issued a subpoena, which Greitens called a “political stunt.”

“The auditor has received and knew that she was going to get this week every piece of information that she is legally entitled to have,” said Greitens. “The fact is if the auditor cared about this issue, she would have addressed it last year when you had a democratic administration. It’s a shame that she’s putting politics ahead of actually solving problems.”

The DOR submitted the documents to the Auditor’s office Thursday, which are currently being reviewed.