New York’s New Tax Commissioner Announced
January 23, 2008
The New York State Senate today confirmed Governor Eliot Spitzer’s nomination of Robert L. Megna as Commissioner of the State Department of Taxation and Finance.
Governor Spitzer nominated Commissioner Megna for the position in December.
“I am honored that Governor Spitzer asked me to serve as Commissioner of this important state agency. For many years I’ve had the pleasure of working closely with the Department and its many dedicated, motivated and skilled professionals. I’d like to thank the outgoing Acting Commissioner, Barbara Billet, for leaving me with a highly-efficient and effective agency. I look forward to continuing efforts to transform and improve taxpayer services for all New Yorkers.”
Commissioner Megna will oversee a Department responsible for two major functions: the administration of the state’s tax laws, including the administration of related local taxes, and the management of the State Treasury. In the fiscal year ending March 31, 2007, the Department collected over $56 billion in state revenue and more than $36 billion on behalf of localities.
The Tax Department, with approximately 5,000 employees, is responsible for the administration of approximately 40 different taxes, including the personal income tax, business taxes, and sales and use taxes. The Department also administers the collection of local sales tax, the personal income taxes for New York City and Yonkers, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority surcharge on business taxes and the New York City Cigarette Tax. Additionally, the Department administers the collection activity for delinquent child support payments.
Commissioner Megna was previously head of the Economic and Revenue Unit of the New York State Division of the Budget. He was responsible for revenue projections used in the State Budget and worked on the team that develops and monitors the State Financial Plan.
Before joining the Division of the Budget in 1998, Mr. Megna was Assistant Commissioner for Tax Policy for the Commonwealth of Virginia. He also served as Director of Tax Studies for the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance, and Deputy Director of Fiscal Studies for the Ways and Means Committee of the New York State Assembly. Mr. Megna also worked as an economist for AT&T.
Commissioner Megna is a graduate of Fordham University in New York and holds Masters Degrees in Public Policy from Fordham and Economics from the London School of Economics.
From the Press Release
Related Articles
- Budget Shortfall Forces Spitzer To Scramble
- City Said to Explore Rise in Personal Income Tax
- N.Y. Operations Director Expected To Resign
- Governor To Deliver Budget Today
- Spitzer’s “Drug Tax” is Unfair on Drug Users and Dealers
Comment on this article
