14 Year Old Tax

[geezer01]

What is the name of your state? Texas
I recently received a notification that I owe Virginia state taxes from 1994. Letter was from a debt collector; however, this is the first time I have ever been notified of this. I have requested documentation as after 7 years I destroyed the tax papers (I am correct that I only need to keep for 7 years, aren't I?). Anyway, I am not aware of this debt and this if the first notification received. If in fact they prove the debt, can they legally make me pay penalties and interest for 14 years when I had no knowledge of the debt? WE are talking about $5,932.20 in penalties and interest. By the way, I haven't been hiding so there is no reason they couldn't have located me way before this.

[LdiJ]

Originally Posted by geezer01

What is the name of your state? Texas
I recently received a notification that I owe Virginia state taxes from 1994. Letter was from a debt collector; however, this is the first time I have ever been notified of this. I have requested documentation as after 7 years I destroyed the tax papers (I am correct that I only need to keep for 7 years, aren't I?). Anyway, I am not aware of this debt and this if the first notification received. If in fact they prove the debt, can they legally make me pay penalties and interest for 14 years when I had no knowledge of the debt? WE are talking about $5,932.20 in penalties and interest. By the way, I haven't been hiding so there is no reason they couldn't have located me way before this.

Definitely make them prove the debt. Although I don't practice in VA, I have been seeing a rash of very old items like this in my state, via a collection agency, that have turned out not to have any validity.