RECORD BREAKER IN THE TOWN OF MEBANE!!!!
North Carolina's Tax DelinquentsSteve Daniels Investigates
Steve Daniels
(11/03/05 - RALEIGH) - Eyewitness News has discovered that delinquent N.C. taxpayers are costing all of us. Click to see who owes the most.
"Don't put the camera on me, just go out!" Bob Hupman said. "I don't want this guy here. "
He doesn't want to talk about his delinquent taxes. Probably because our Eyewitness News investigation turned up how much he owes, how much property he owns and what taxpayers are paying him to do for a living.
Alan Felton is the man in charge of collecting taxes for the state of North Carolina.
"The law is clear," he said. "If you earn income in North Carolina, you owe tax on it."
As we examined the state documents, we discovered a startling number of people are not paying their taxes. In fact, the total delinquent tax bill is $450 million dollars.
"That's a lot of unpaid taxes," Felton said. "We are trying to collect every dollar of that."
The Tammy Lynn Center in Raleigh needs more money. The facility helps developmentally disabled children, but faced cutbacks because of the tight state budget. The center's Mary Freeman explains.
"I just can only imagine what $450 million would do for our state," she said. "I'd love to see that flow into places that will help people with developmental disabilities and into school systems."
Eyewitness News used state records to compile a list of people who owe the most delinquent taxes.
Bill Freelove used to own McDonald's restaurants in Greenville. He owes the state $280,000 in delinquent taxes.
Larkin Pahl owes the most among people in Raleigh. The former bankruptcy lawyer was sentenced to federal prison in 2003 for his role in an international finance scam. Pahl owes North Carolina $40,000. He says he is now repaying his delinquent taxes.
Felton says he's not surprised by the anger we should feel as taxpayers.
"I would think we should be angry about it," Felton said. "The department has an obligation to do something about it."
The man who owes the most
Eyewitness News discovered the man who owes the most in delinquent taxes - - William R. Hupman Jr., of Mebane. Felton says Hupman owes $2,200,445.77.
"It's hard to run that up, but obviously someone has done it," Felton said.
We discovered the state does not have Hupman's home address - - only a P.O. Box in Mebane. Records we obtained show that he lives in a huge house on property that tax records show is valued at more than $1 million.
We also discovered he goes by Bob Hupman and is an elected official. He has served on the Mebane Town Council for 24 years. Eyewitness News confronted him.
Daniels: "You have $2 million dollars in unpaid income taxes"
Hupman: "You can't come barging in here like this."
Daniels: "Bob, we'd just like to talk to you about the unpaid income taxes. You have more unpaid income taxes than anyone in the state of North Carolina."
Eyewitness News took our findings to the N.C. Department of Revenue, showing them exactly who Humpan is and where he lives. Felton promised to launch his own investigation.
"I think we should probably look at this very closely and make sure we're doing everything we can to recoup this money for the state," Felton said. "We've improved our technology. We're continuing to improve our technology. We do need to continue to improve. I think we're doing as much as we can at this point in time, but we're not perfect and we're trying to get better."
But delinquent taxpayers like Bob Hupman may be hoping they can hide from the taxman and from the rest of us who do pay our taxes.
Councilman Hupman is up for reelection in Mebane on Tuesday. He told us he does plan to pay his $2.2 million dollars in delinquent taxes. Hupman says he has made bad financial decisions and says he received bad investment advice.
For its part, the Department of Revenue is proud of the work it's doing to collect delinquent taxes. The state has rounded up $1.5 billion dollars since 2001.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
List of tax delinquents provided by the N.C. Department of Revenue:
Neco, Inc. Salisbury $70,009.22
Juan H. Cruz Winterville $70,689.62
Juanita B. Sims Myrtle Beach, SC $71,185.53
Clifton Potter Bayboro $72,519.59
WCC Group, Inc. Tarboro $73,019.82
Roy S. Winstead Charlotte $73,605.55
Ronald L. Smith Garner $76,435.80
Richard M. Pearman, Jr. Greensboro $77,397.98
William Hughes Olivia $78,344.20
Timothy W. Phillips Concord $78,705.20
William Veillette New Hill $78,876.53
James R. Thomas Arden $78,901.47
Mary B. Bickers Atlanta, GA $79,770.51
Terry W. Adwell Greensboro $82,552.58
Quality Exchange, Inc. Kings Mountain $83,966.95
Robert L.Carver Fairview $84,867.80
William F. Mahlerwein Gastonia $85,156.95
Panfilo C. Gonzalez Yanceyville $87,338.39
George A. McGee Durham $88,011.86
Richard L. Moore China Grove $88,291.89
Michael L. Skipper Elizabethtown $89,048.25
Steven F. Garner Sanford $89,099.30
Barn Construction Company, Inc. Henderson $89,146.92
James D. Merriman II Collinsville, VA $89,356.74
James H. McNally Charlotte $90,833.77
Billy A. Thorpe Clayton $91,270.86
Carlton Calhoon Bath $93,692.82
Garry W. & Debra H. Beam** Denver, CO** $94,996.56
David M. & Sheila Johnson Thompsonville, IL $95,379.66
Unlimited Technologies International, Inc. Charlotte $98,514.89
Albert E. Vaughan Pikeville $101,483.96
Irvin Norris Greenville, NC $103,799.74
Robert Winstead New Bern $104,336.12
Busco Textiles & Machines, Inc. Fayetteville $110,755.29
David L. Whitted Cedar Grove $114,664.57
David S. Mitchell Greenville, SC $119,714.85
George D. Crum Charlotte $121,392.13
Alfred P. Brammer Woolwine, VA $123,777.60
Aous S. & Marah Alkhaldi Oxford $130,261.81
Marlowe F. Bostic Jr. North Topsail Beach $133,152.44
Wayne T. Draughon, Jr. Emerald Isle $136,656.97
Richard L. Halverson Winston Salem $144,291.02
John E. Alexander & Diane Alexander Charlotte $145,065.05
Evelyn R. Davis Greensboro $148,167.73
H.C. McKee, Jr. Hillsborough $150,276.76
Lorne M. Bloovol El Centro, CA $152,326.70
Colonial Acquisition, LLC Hillsborough $168,075.34
Charles D. David Warrenton $172,152.59
Donald & Joy Evans Charlotte $173,588.10
William J. Lundell Charlotte $184,916.30
Evelyn G. Robinson Fayetteville $190,508.68
Larry S. & Lynn H. McAlpine Charlotte $200,729.10
L.A.P. Care Services, Inc. Reidsville $244,702.17
Johnny L. Williams Jacksonville, NC $245,634.89
William R. & Sarah Freelove Winterville $279,554.90
William R. Hupman, Jr. Mebane $2,200,445.77
Ricky L. Brooks Ahoskie $376,736.67
Steve Daniels
(11/03/05 - RALEIGH) - Eyewitness News has discovered that delinquent N.C. taxpayers are costing all of us. Click to see who owes the most.
"Don't put the camera on me, just go out!" Bob Hupman said. "I don't want this guy here. "
He doesn't want to talk about his delinquent taxes. Probably because our Eyewitness News investigation turned up how much he owes, how much property he owns and what taxpayers are paying him to do for a living.
Alan Felton is the man in charge of collecting taxes for the state of North Carolina.
"The law is clear," he said. "If you earn income in North Carolina, you owe tax on it."
As we examined the state documents, we discovered a startling number of people are not paying their taxes. In fact, the total delinquent tax bill is $450 million dollars.
"That's a lot of unpaid taxes," Felton said. "We are trying to collect every dollar of that."
The Tammy Lynn Center in Raleigh needs more money. The facility helps developmentally disabled children, but faced cutbacks because of the tight state budget. The center's Mary Freeman explains.
"I just can only imagine what $450 million would do for our state," she said. "I'd love to see that flow into places that will help people with developmental disabilities and into school systems."
Eyewitness News used state records to compile a list of people who owe the most delinquent taxes.
Bill Freelove used to own McDonald's restaurants in Greenville. He owes the state $280,000 in delinquent taxes.
Larkin Pahl owes the most among people in Raleigh. The former bankruptcy lawyer was sentenced to federal prison in 2003 for his role in an international finance scam. Pahl owes North Carolina $40,000. He says he is now repaying his delinquent taxes.
Felton says he's not surprised by the anger we should feel as taxpayers.
"I would think we should be angry about it," Felton said. "The department has an obligation to do something about it."
The man who owes the most
Eyewitness News discovered the man who owes the most in delinquent taxes - - William R. Hupman Jr., of Mebane. Felton says Hupman owes $2,200,445.77.
"It's hard to run that up, but obviously someone has done it," Felton said.
We discovered the state does not have Hupman's home address - - only a P.O. Box in Mebane. Records we obtained show that he lives in a huge house on property that tax records show is valued at more than $1 million.
We also discovered he goes by Bob Hupman and is an elected official. He has served on the Mebane Town Council for 24 years. Eyewitness News confronted him.
Daniels: "You have $2 million dollars in unpaid income taxes"
Hupman: "You can't come barging in here like this."
Daniels: "Bob, we'd just like to talk to you about the unpaid income taxes. You have more unpaid income taxes than anyone in the state of North Carolina."
Eyewitness News took our findings to the N.C. Department of Revenue, showing them exactly who Humpan is and where he lives. Felton promised to launch his own investigation.
"I think we should probably look at this very closely and make sure we're doing everything we can to recoup this money for the state," Felton said. "We've improved our technology. We're continuing to improve our technology. We do need to continue to improve. I think we're doing as much as we can at this point in time, but we're not perfect and we're trying to get better."
But delinquent taxpayers like Bob Hupman may be hoping they can hide from the taxman and from the rest of us who do pay our taxes.
Councilman Hupman is up for reelection in Mebane on Tuesday. He told us he does plan to pay his $2.2 million dollars in delinquent taxes. Hupman says he has made bad financial decisions and says he received bad investment advice.
For its part, the Department of Revenue is proud of the work it's doing to collect delinquent taxes. The state has rounded up $1.5 billion dollars since 2001.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
List of tax delinquents provided by the N.C. Department of Revenue:
Neco, Inc. Salisbury $70,009.22
Juan H. Cruz Winterville $70,689.62
Juanita B. Sims Myrtle Beach, SC $71,185.53
Clifton Potter Bayboro $72,519.59
WCC Group, Inc. Tarboro $73,019.82
Roy S. Winstead Charlotte $73,605.55
Ronald L. Smith Garner $76,435.80
Richard M. Pearman, Jr. Greensboro $77,397.98
William Hughes Olivia $78,344.20
Timothy W. Phillips Concord $78,705.20
William Veillette New Hill $78,876.53
James R. Thomas Arden $78,901.47
Mary B. Bickers Atlanta, GA $79,770.51
Terry W. Adwell Greensboro $82,552.58
Quality Exchange, Inc. Kings Mountain $83,966.95
Robert L.Carver Fairview $84,867.80
William F. Mahlerwein Gastonia $85,156.95
Panfilo C. Gonzalez Yanceyville $87,338.39
George A. McGee Durham $88,011.86
Richard L. Moore China Grove $88,291.89
Michael L. Skipper Elizabethtown $89,048.25
Steven F. Garner Sanford $89,099.30
Barn Construction Company, Inc. Henderson $89,146.92
James D. Merriman II Collinsville, VA $89,356.74
James H. McNally Charlotte $90,833.77
Billy A. Thorpe Clayton $91,270.86
Carlton Calhoon Bath $93,692.82
Garry W. & Debra H. Beam** Denver, CO** $94,996.56
David M. & Sheila Johnson Thompsonville, IL $95,379.66
Unlimited Technologies International, Inc. Charlotte $98,514.89
Albert E. Vaughan Pikeville $101,483.96
Irvin Norris Greenville, NC $103,799.74
Robert Winstead New Bern $104,336.12
Busco Textiles & Machines, Inc. Fayetteville $110,755.29
David L. Whitted Cedar Grove $114,664.57
David S. Mitchell Greenville, SC $119,714.85
George D. Crum Charlotte $121,392.13
Alfred P. Brammer Woolwine, VA $123,777.60
Aous S. & Marah Alkhaldi Oxford $130,261.81
Marlowe F. Bostic Jr. North Topsail Beach $133,152.44
Wayne T. Draughon, Jr. Emerald Isle $136,656.97
Richard L. Halverson Winston Salem $144,291.02
John E. Alexander & Diane Alexander Charlotte $145,065.05
Evelyn R. Davis Greensboro $148,167.73
H.C. McKee, Jr. Hillsborough $150,276.76
Lorne M. Bloovol El Centro, CA $152,326.70
Colonial Acquisition, LLC Hillsborough $168,075.34
Charles D. David Warrenton $172,152.59
Donald & Joy Evans Charlotte $173,588.10
William J. Lundell Charlotte $184,916.30
Evelyn G. Robinson Fayetteville $190,508.68
Larry S. & Lynn H. McAlpine Charlotte $200,729.10
L.A.P. Care Services, Inc. Reidsville $244,702.17
Johnny L. Williams Jacksonville, NC $245,634.89
William R. & Sarah Freelove Winterville $279,554.90
William R. Hupman, Jr. Mebane $2,200,445.77
Ricky L. Brooks Ahoskie $376,736.67