Refund illegal taxes?

Suppose you buy a new car with a GPS navigation system built in. But you drive it home and realize the system wasn’t installed. Should you get your money back for the lack of the feature?

Of course you should. And the dealer must refund you the money, or face fraud charges.

Not so the California government. If it takes from you a tax later found to be illegal, it doesn’t have to give back your money. No joke.

Board of Equalization Member George Runner is sponsoring legislation to end that and refund your money. According to his office:

“Two identical measures, AB 2510 (Wagner) and SB 1327 (Knight), would require the state to provide a full refund to all individuals who paid a tax later declared unconstitutional or illegal.”

Runner himself said:

“It is criminal that the State of California can keep money it illegally collects from its citizens. Anyone who in good faith pays what ends up being an illegal tax should get their money back. It’s as simple as that.”

It really is criminal, as he says. In fact, what’s needed is another law stipulating that, if the government takes a tax from you illegally, you don’t have to pay any taxes for the rest of your life. After all, private-sector crooks like Bernie Madoff get life in prison. Why not turn it around and help the government’s victims — for life?