Maryland releases names of 50 biggest tax scofflaws

The Maryland comptroller’s office released its annual list of the 50 biggest individual and business tax scofflaws Thursday, who combined owe the state nearly $8 million.

“We’ve found that this public shame and embarrassment is a very effective tool,” said Comptroller Peter Franchot, adding that the state has recovered $25 million from listed scofflaws in the decade that it has made the names public.

Topping the list locally is Swingline Management Corp., a Gaithersburg company that owes more than $400,000. The comptroller revoked its corporate charter in 2007 for failing to file a property return.

Robert Waters, also from Gaithersburg, is the top individual local scofflaw, owing more than $328,000.

Also high on the list is Andris Pukkethe disgraced founder of the debt-counseling service AmeriDebt. Pukke is listed as owing more than $296,000 in back taxes.

Pukke was sent to prison for reportedly withholding millions of dollars he owed to the federal government in a settlement. The Germantown company was shut down after it was accused of stealing $172 million from 300,000 customers who were looking for help with their troubled credit histories.

James Stachura, whose son John owes nearly $100,000, said the comptroller’s list is a counterproductive attempt to embarrass his son. He said his son is trying to settle the matter in courts, and most of the taxes owed are interest and fees that have been “piled on.”

“It resolves nothing, he’s trying to resolve it through the court system,” Stachura said.

Franchot said he wasn’t familiar with the details of every case, but said the state is eager to work with any citizen who may be having a hard time paying their taxes, as long as they communicate their distress.

But the people on the list, Franchot said, have been “thumbing their noses” at Maryland for years.

“This is a recalcitrant group of people who are cheating the state of Maryland,” he said.

Overall there are “tens of thousands” of tax scofflaws in Maryland who owe “tens of millions” in taxes Franchot’s staff said.

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