Tax officials say more than 250 Rhode Island taxpayers who used direct debit to pay their 2014 state income tax were overcharged as a result of a computer problem.
The Providence Journal reports the glitch caused outstanding tax balances to be deducted from taxpayers' bank accounts twice.
Rhode Island Tax Administrator David Sullivan says those affected will be refunded and the state will pay any overdraft fees or other charges that result from the issue. Sullivan says the total amount overcharged to all taxpayers was $450,000, with one citizen double-billed $290,000.
The computer problem was not caused by malicious code or fraud. Officials believe the glitch was due to an unexpectedly high volume of last-minute returns passed along by the Internal Revenue Service.
More Than 250 RI Taxpayers Overcharged $450K
The total amount overcharged to all taxpayers was $450,000, with one citizen double-billed $290,000
Copyright AP - Associated Press
