Revenue secretary says CJ article may have been ‘making hay’

Last week, Carolina Journal Online ran a story discussing the N.C. Department of Revenue’s request for additional documentation from taxpayers who claimed a high number of dependents on their return. Large families were concerned they were being targeted by Revenue.

680 WPTF-AM in the Triangle interviewed Ken Lay, director of the Revenue Department, about the subject last week.

Now, State Government Radio has a report in which Lay directly criticizes the article:

NC Commerce Secretary Kenneth Lay tells SGR.com listeners today a recent article by a conservative think-tank analyst may have been “making hay” over late state tax refund checks and audits, but admits that refund checks are being managed more carefully this year. Amid an increase in non-compliance in 2008 tax returns, and pressures generated by an over $4 billion dollar state budget deficit, Sec. Lay says over 6,300 returns have been “tagged” for an audit, but disputes the reports’ contention some audits this year are an attempt by the Department to “hold on to their money” as long as possible.

You can listen to the report every :20 after the hour.