Form Requiring Registration in Zanesville

A mandatory registration form went out to Zanesville residents earlier this week. It’s caused a stir in the city limits.

Now, the city’s treasurer explains that people don’t have a reason to worry.

“In order to try and prevent any loss or minimize any potential loss, we’re going to have everybody register to file a city income tax return,” treasurer Paul DuBeck said.

Seated in his office, DuBeck described that the form spawns from Ohio House Bill 5. The Bill, which was enacted in 2014, amended municipal tax code. DuBeck said sending out a mandatory registration form seemed like the best way to introduce the change.

“I thought a registration form was a lot easier to cope with than a letter stating it’s a misdemeanor to not file your city income tax,” he said.

He continued to say that the form is a way to make sure that everyone who needs to file does so.

The city used to accept W-2 forms from people living in Zanesville. However, it did not have access to W-2s from people who live in town but work somewhere else.

“Everybody in town is going to have to file a city tax return if they have earned income,” DuBeck said. “The only way to find out who has earned income who is not — who is disabled, who is retired or doesn’t need to file is by filling out a registration form.”

The form requires that everyone 16 and older, living in Zanesville and earning an income register with the city. Dubeck pointed to one aspect of the form that he has heard concerns about.

Next to all of the name lines on the form, it asks for a Social Security Number. However, he said it is not necessary to fill in that part.

“If you don’t feel comfortable putting your Social Security Number on that piece of paper, don’t do it,” DuBeck said.

If you don’t put your SS# # on there, you don’t have to do anything extra. DuBeck said when you file your taxes next year, you will need to include your 1040 and that will have your SS# # on it.

Before an interview with WHIZ news ended Wednesday morning, DuBeck added a thought of remorse for the confusion and outrage some people have felt towards the notice.

“The news conference that you and I are having should’ve taken place two days ago, but there was a hitch in the giddy-up,” DuBeck said.

He apologized for the forms being sent out prior to an announcement being made that they would be sent out. Dubeck explained it is not a scam. The forms are a way to make it easier for both residents and the city when tax season comes around.

“We’re trying to clean out our files,” he said. “We’re trying to make sure that everybody that’s supposed to file files and everybody that doesn’t have to file doesn’t get tax returns or letters stating why haven’t you filed?”

DuBeck stressed that all of the information on the forms are kept strickly confidential, and people do not have to worry about their information being released.