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IRS: Variety owner, construction firm fail to pay $378,728 in taxes
Younis Art Studio Inc., which owns the Marianas Variety, and Sablan Construction Co. Ltd. failed to pay a total of $378,727.43 in employer’s quarterly federal tax return, according to the U.S. Internal Revenue Service.
IRS, through revenue officers Marla Johnson and Debra Nostdahl, filed yesterday in the U.S. District Court for the NMI separate notices of federal tax lien against Younis Art Studio and Sablan Construction Co. Ltd.
According to the notices, Younis Art Studio’s total unpaid tax amounts to $289,397.41, while Sablan Construction Co. Ltd. owes $89,330.02.
Robert T. Torres, counsel for Younis Art Studio, said the company is aware of the notice of tax lien, which he described as a “predictable and often-taken” move by revenue offices to assert its priority over other competing creditors.
“As a closely held local company in media and publishing since 1972, Younis Art Studio intends to meet this challenge and remove this lien upon fulfillment of tax obligations,” Torres said.
According to court documents, Younis Art Studio allegedly failed to pay its employer’s quarterly federal tax return in the tax period from 2009 to 2011.
In December 2011, the CNMI Department of Finance notified the federal court that Younis Art Studio had already satisfied its $328,412.63 in tax obligations to the CNMI government.
Saipan Tribune tried but failed to get comments from Sablan Construction Co. Ltd.
Sablan Construction Co. Ltd. allegedly failed to pay its employer’s quarterly federal tax return from 2008 to March 2012.
The revenue officers stated in the notice that taxes (including interest and penalties) have been assessed against Younis Art Studio and Sablan Construction Co.
The revenue officers said they have made a demand for payment of this liability but it remains unpaid.
“Therefore, there is a lien in favor of the United States on all property and rights to property belonging to [these taxpayers] for the amount of these taxes, and additional penalties, interest, and costs that may accrue,” the officers said in the notice.
By Ferdie de la Torre
Reporter
