Ada pawn shop receives multimillion-dollar tax bill by mistake

Journal Record, The (Oklahoma City), Jul 23, 2001

Donna Gilley would have had to pawn her pawn shop and everything in it to pay a tax bill from the Internal Revenue Service.

Gilley, the owner of Owl Pawn in Ada, said the letter dated July 9 demanded that she pay $881,103,066.78 immediately. "We intend to levy on certain assets. Please respond NOW. To avoid additional penalty and interest, pay the amount you owe within 10 days from the date of this notice," the letter from the IRS' Austin, Texas, branch read.

"They said I owed them millions of dollars in unemployment taxes," Gilley said. "I haven't had an employee since March of 2000. The tax period shows 12/31/2000."

Gilley called the IRS' 800 number in Austin and gave her federal taxpayer identification number to a woman who answered the telephone.

"She kept me on hold for 30 minutes, then turned me over to collections," Gilley said. "I had to hold on for another 45 minutes before I got a Mrs. Whitehead, who said, `You don't owe it, that was a mistake. She didn't say whose mistake it was or even say she was sorry."

"I don't see how something like this can happen," Gilley said. "How did it get so far that the IRS sent a certified letter without catching the mistake -- threatening to take my assets? And, they didn't even apologize for the mistake.

"It just isn't right."

Smith earns marketing designation

Burt Smith, president of Oklahoma City-based Executive Marketing Information, has earned the American Marketing Association's Professional Certified Marketer designation. Smith is the first Oklahoman to earn the designation. Earlier this year, he completed his doctorate at Oklahoma State University. Smith is past president of the Oklahoma City Chapter of the American Marketing Association. He will serve a second term as chapter president in 2002.

Slab of Oklahoma road

to go in GM museum?

The Smithsonian Institution is close to naming an exhibition hall for General Motors in exchange for $10 million, a museum spokeswoman said.

The gift would allow renovation of 20,000 square feet at the National Museum of American History. For 30 years, the space would be known as the General Motors Hall of Transportation. It will house a $20 million "America On the Move" exhibit of cars, trains and motorcycles.

"We think transportation is a very important element of American history, and we're very excited that we can help the Smithsonian tell the transportation story," GM spokesman Bill Noack said.

The transportation hall of the Washington, D.C., museum hasn't been updated since the museum opened in 1964. The new exhibit is expected to open by late 2003. One of the highlights would be a section from Oklahoma of the original Route 66 highway, which ran from Chicago to Los Angeles. A car from Chicago's famed El, an elevated train, also will be on display.

"We want to tell stories of how transportation changed America. People stories," Smithsonian spokeswoman Melinda Machado said.

Noack said the Smithsonian approached the world's largest automaker about a donation several months ago. Machado said GM was asked to make a "leadership donation," about $10 million. GM would not confirm an amount. She said the sponsorship has been agreed to in principle but requires approval from the Smithsonian's board of regents, which next meets in September.

The Department of Transportation gave $3 million for the exhibit, which will also be funded by other private donors. The United Parcel Service Foundation, the American Road and Transportation Builders Association and the National Asphalt Pavement Association gave $1 million each.

The Smithsonian has renamed facilities after corporate gifts before. The Museum of Natural History's Insect Zoo was renamed for the founder of Orkin Pest Control after the company gave $500,000 in 1992.

Come and get `em

An all-you-can-eat pancake breakfast to benefit utility assistance programs administered by the Salvation Army is scheduled from 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. Tuesday at the India Temple Shrine, 3601 NW 36th St. Gov. Frank Keating will present a proclamation in support of the programs at 8:15 a.m. The breakfast is co-sponsored by the Salvation Army, the Masons of Oklahoma, OG&E, Oklahoma Natural Gas and AEP Public Service. Oklahoma Corporation Commissioners Denise Bode and Bob Anthony and volunteers from the sponsors will bus tables and refill drinks. Organizers hope to raise $5,000 at the event, which will be partially matched by the utility companies and Masons. Tickets are $5 and may be purchased in advance at The Salvation Army, 311 SW Fifth St., or at the door.

Managing the C of C

The Center for Chamber of Commerce Excellence at the University of Oklahoma will offer two chamber management programs Aug. 20-21 in Norman.

The first program, "Fundamentals of Chamber Management," provides chamber officials with skills needed to enhance the value of their chamber to the community. Up-to-date management issues and chamber practices will also be discussed.

Sponsored by the College of Continuing Education, this program is in its third year of operation. It is designed for the chamber executive or staff member. The participant will be provided with insights on economic development and tourism, recruitment and member retention techniques and developments impacting the chamber profession. This is also an opportunity for Oklahoma participants to interact with colleagues from Missouri, Arkansas, Texas, Louisiana, Kansas, and Nebraska.