SURPRISE UNDERPAYMENT OF PENALTY INTEREST FEE FROM WI DEPT OF REVENUE

I completed my Wisconsin Tax Return back on February 12, 2013 for the 2012 tax year.  I owed around $800.00.  I paid the amount in full on February 20, 2013.

Imagine my surprise when I received a letter today saying that I owed an additional $60.00.  I checked the return and then I checked my bank account.  The amounts matched and were correct.

So I had the joy to call the WI Department of Revenue.  Again, imagine my surprise when I was told that I needed to pay the $800.00 amount in advance (in 2012) even though I did not know that I owed it and because of that, I owed them a fee and penalty.

Never mind that I had never had this happen before.  Never mind that the amount of $800.00 is minimal in the scope of taxes and that I had paid it in full AND early.  Never mind that no one from the department of revenue had told me that I needed to make these payments in advance. 

Imagine the time and money wasted by the WI Dept of Revenue in sending letters, calls, and trying to collect these ridiculous fees.  Imagine the time and money wasted by honest hard working taxpayers that pay their taxes. Imagine all of the people affected by this that have a business in Wisconsin and a spouse that works in Minnesota. Since reciprocity is gone, many of them are paying WI state taxes and if
they do it on time for the first time, they get to pay a fee as a reward.

If anyone out there has any influence with the WI Department of Revenue or can help to change this, I would truly appreciate your help as this is RIDICULOUS!!