How To Reach Us:
St. Louis Front Page
P.O. Box 1354
St. Louis, MO 63188
Voice: 314-771-0200
Fax: 314-771-0300
To submit news, contact:
editor@slfp.com
To advertise, contact:
advertising@slfp.com
|
|
|
ST. LOUIS NEWS TODAY - Sunday, February 25, 2007
|
Beware of Calls From ID Thieves Posing As IRS Agents
ST. LOUIS, (SLFP.com), February 25, 2007 - Missourians should never divulge their personal information to anyone who calls or e-mails them. According to Attorney General Jay Nixon, his office is starting to get consumer complaints about a familiar scam during tax time - con artists claiming to be from the Internal Revenue Service, asking for personal information.
In the phone call, consumers say someone poses as an IRS agent and claims there is a problem with the consumer's tax return. In another scenario, the caller says the consumer qualifies for a speedy refund. In either case, the caller asks to verify personal information, including Social Security or bank account number.
"These calls are not from the IRS," Nixon said. "This is nothing more than a trick to get consumers scared or excited enough to give up some precious personal information."
Nixon says legitimate organizations don't call consumers and demand Social Security or banking numbers, so consumers should only give out that information when they have initiated the contact.
The scam may also happen via e-mail. Web users each year report getting e-mails that appear to be from the IRS, which ask the consumer to visit a Web site and enter personal information. This e-mail tactic, known as "phishing," is also a scam, Nixon says, regardless of who the sender appears to be.
The Attorney General's Consumer Encyclopedia offers more information on the IRS phishing scam, including a sample bogus e-mail. Consumers should report the contact to his Consumer Protection Hotline at 1-800-392-8222 or obtain a complaint form off his Web site, ago.mo.gov.
New Vehicle Emissions Inspection Program
ST. LOUIS, (SLFP.com), February 25, 2007 - Proposed rules to implement the new vehicle emissions inspection program have been released.
The proposed rules address the changes that are in store for the program effective Sept. 1 and will address the statutory changes pursuant to Section 643.303, RSMo, which became effective Aug. 28.
The first of these rules, 10 CSR 10-5.381, On-Board Diagnostics Motor Vehicle Emissions Inspection, replaces the current St. Louis ozone nonattainment area centralized vehicle emissions program with a decentralized on-board diagnostics (OBD) vehicle emissions program starting Sept. 1. This new rule establishes a program that will test 1996 and newer vehicles with the OBD test and eliminates emissions testing for 1995 and older vehicles.
The following highlights are being implemented with this rule as dictated by Section 643.303, RSMo:
- Independently owned businesses in the St. Louis ozone nonattainment area will be licensed to conduct the OBD emissions testing, rather than a single, centralized contractor.
- 1996 and newer gasoline-powered vehicles registered in St. Louis City, St. Charles, St. Louis, Jefferson and Franklin counties will be tested using onboard-diagnostics, or OBD testing.
- Tailpipe testing will no longer be performed.
- 1997 light duty diesel powered vehicles will also require testing.
Tax Credit for Missouri Built Vehicles Could Boost Jobs
ST. LOUIS, (SLFP.com), February 25, 2007 - Missourians who plan to buy vehicles assembled and sold in the state might want to wait and see if a bill considered by a House committee Wednesday becomes law. House Bill 488 received unanimous approval from members of the House Special Committee on Job Creation and Economic Development.
It would allow Missourians purchasing vehicles built and sold in Missouri-including cars, trucks, and motorcycles-to apply for a tax credit equal to the state sales tax paid on the vehicle. Bill sponsor Representative Michael Spreng, D-Florissant, believes his measure provides more benefits than a tax credit.
"We're trying to make an offer, an incentive to buy Missouri products," said Rep. Spreng. "By buying Missouri products, then you increase the demand for Missouri products which means we can put the shift back on." Spreng was referring to a Ford manufacturing plant in Hazelwood slated to close in September because of an unprofitable bottom line. The plant provides 2,500 jobs and generates considerable tax revenue including $25 million to the state, $8.5 million to the city, and $3.5 million to the local school district. Spreng also believes his bill might entice manufacturers to locate facilities for additional vehicles in Missouri.
Others supporting Spreng's bill also said the measure could create jobs, but not only by increasing the demand for vehicle manufacturing jobs.
"What this bill will do is keep ... assembly plants running in St. Louis and Kansas City," said Cecil Vaughan, testifying for the Local 710 Union in Kansas City. And "for every one of those jobs ... in St. Louis, ... in Kansas City, there are seven people across this state that are producing parts and services to keep that plant running."
Vaughan warned, "When you lose a plant in St. Louis, when you lose a shift... look at your little towns...these towns all lose jobs and its devastating."
A study produced by the Missouri Economic Research & Information Center indicates the state's auto manufacturers and motorcycle manufacturing plants directly or indirectly account for 69,599 jobs, $2.838 billion in personal income, and $235.831 million in state general revenues annually.
|
STL-News is owned and maintained by the Moore Design Group as a special feature of the Saint Louis Front Page for the sole purpose of disseminating news and information about the Metropolitan Saint Louis area. Text or graphics may not be copied, rewritten or distributed in any manner whatsoever without written permission. For more information, contact editor@slfp.com
All rights reserved world wide
© 1996 - 2008 Moore Design Group .
|
|
Archived St. Louis News:
|
|
