News

Tax commissioner dismisses latest challenge

Tue, 06/17/2008 - 3:12pm
By: John Thompson

Tax Commissioner George Wingo is fighting back over a charge that he is not a currently licensed CPA.

On his political signs throughout the county, CPA — which stands for certified public accountant — is listed on the sign. But a letter writer in today’s paper wonders about the truth of that designation.

“It seems that his CPA license expired on Dec. 31, 2005, and according to Georgia law, no person can use the CPA designation unless he has both a certificate and holds a live permit,” writes Sharon Snyder. The full letter appears on Page A5.

Wingo has a different take on the situation.

“Once you pass the exam, you’re a CPA until your license is revoked. I didn’t renew mine in 2005 because I wasn’t a practicing CPA,” he said.

If he decided to practice again, Wingo said it would just be a matter of taking 30 hours of continuing education. Besides, being a CPA is not a job requirement for the tax commissioner’s position, he said.

“I put that on my sign to show my level of experience,” he said.

The tax commissioner has nothing to do with property tax valuations or assessments. Rather, his office collects county tax bills on real estate and automobiles and issues auto tags.

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Fayette Tax Comm.
Change_is_good's picture
Submitted by Change_is_good on Thu, 06/19/2008 - 10:00am.

It seems to me that wingo has a problem following the rules. In the past didn't he bring a shotgun into his office, a public government office. He's not authorized or allowed to do this and didn't even get a slap on the wrist. But some guy who called the sheriff's office and lodged the complaint was charged with making a false statement THAT WASN'T FALSE.
Way to go Fayette County.
Now he's trying to defend the fact that he's not a licensed CPA.
If it's against the law then IT'S AGAINST THE LAW.
Hey wingo just because you say it doesn't make it true.
Time for a change because Change_is_good


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Why does the tax
Submitted by girlpower on Wed, 06/18/2008 - 6:12pm.

Why does the tax commissioner have to challenge everything that is said about him? Why can't he just accept the fact that maybe he has made some errors in judgment or made mistakes? Couldn't he realize that it is possible for him to actually be wrong sometimes? People would respect him so much more if he owned up to his mistakes and took responsibility for them, instead of trying to talk his way out of it and use the good ol' boy tactics of calling in favors all over the county. I've dealt with him on many occasions and never once did he admit that he was wrong or out of line about anything. Nobody in this world is perfect!!!!!!!!!

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It's just time
Submitted by kikenbutt on Thu, 06/19/2008 - 10:58am.

for new blood in this race. Complacent, status-quo mentality is the problem.

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Tax Commissioner
Submitted by Abales on Thu, 06/19/2008 - 10:45am.

The Tax Commissioner isn't challenging what is said - he is just telling the rest of the story - People need to know the whole story, not just the half truths that are being told.

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Taxing logic
Submitted by thenatural on Thu, 06/19/2008 - 8:38pm.

What is the rest of the story? Being a CPA has nothing to do with qualifications to hold the office. So why does he put it on the signs and in all his literature? It is against the law to use the CPA designation without an active license. Wingo knows it and simply does not care.

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