TAX FORMS DON'T BYPASS LOCAL OFFICE

                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, March 4, 1993                   TAG: 9303040278
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C1   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Ray Reed
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium
TAX FORMS DON'T BYPASS LOCAL OFFICE
Q: Why are we required to mail personal income tax returns to the commissioner of revenue's office? Why can't we mail directly to Richmond? In a small town, especially, some people prefer to mail directly to Richmond. N.N., New River Valley
A: There are no legal penalties for mailing directly to Richmond, but doing it could miss a chance to save some money.
Another point worth considering: Some local commissioners can help you get a tax refund check in four or five days, one of the few appealing things about taxes.
The Virginia Department of Taxation is at P.O. Box 760, Richmond 23206-0760.
Filing there doesn't bypass the local office, though; all state tax returns are accessible to local commissioners. Privacy laws are in effect to protect us from casual snooping by anyone who doesn't have a need to know - and tell. I'm assuming that's why you didn't name your hometown.
The law calls for people to file state tax returns with their local commissioners of revenue. Fifteen localities simply send the forms straight to Richmond, and Roanoke is one of these. That could change by next year because Commissioner Jerome Howard is retiring.
Many professional tax preparers also mail their clients' returns to Richmond.
Local commissioners often prefer the political advantages of serving the voters.
Some of them say they find and correct math errors in one of every 10 returns.
In addition, Roanoke County taxpayers were saved $58,000 because of deductions they overlooked, says Commissioner Wayne Compton.
Returns received in his office Wednesday were punched into a computer linked to Richmond, where refund checks were to be written overnight and signed by this afternoon, Compton said. Saturday's mail should contain a check for those taxpayers.
Other Roanoke-area localities using the same computer linkup include Salem and Montgomery County. Bedford, Botetourt and Franklin are coming on line, Compton said.
The cable just might leak
Q: I live in an apartment building and I don't get cable TV normally, but it has suddenly started coming through my TV antenna. It especially happens at night, and I want to know why. If the cable company finds out, are they going to come and clip my ears? S.G., Roanoke
A: Your ears are safe. The rabbit ears on your TV are sensitive.
Cox Cable folks say the situation you describe is entirely possible, and they assume it's caused by signal leakage resulting from a cable outlet in your building having been done incorrectly or illegally.
Leaks can occur if improper equipment is used. The cable company has a meter that can check for leakage, and it's something the Federal Communications Commission requires the company to control, says Philip Ahlschlager, Cox Cable's acting general manager. He's interested in finding the source, if you'd like to help.
Got a question about something that might affect other people too? Something you've come across and wondered about? Give us a call at 981-3118. Maybe we can find the answer.

by Archana Subramaniam by CNB