The following relates my experience with Walter Duddy (personally, he's the owner) and Law Enforcement Supply in Waltham, MA (305 River St).
I do NOT recommend this place!
A few years ago I purchased a gun safe at Law Enforcement Supply and when Walter charged me $8.00 Sales Tax, I protested and told him that MGLs changed about 1 year prior to the sale, EXEMPTING ALL GUN LOCKS AND GUN SAFES from MA Sales Tax (see cite and text below). Walter's response was "I don't know anything about that" and he did charge me the sales tax. I told him that I'd FAX him a copy of the TIR and did so. Next time I was in his shop I asked him if he received my FAX and he said partially then his Fax machine jammed up (and he didn't bother to call me), so I handed him a "hard copy" of the TIR. His response was "I don't know anything about this, my accountant takes care of all the tax matters and I already paid the state" so I'm out of luck! BTW: Keep in mind that "ignorance of the law is NOT an excuse" and personally I've had a business sales tax number since ~1966 and there is a method for getting the sales tax back from the state when it is improperly charged (or for returns).
http://www.dor.state.ma.us/rul_reg/tir/tir99_19.htm
"B. Sales of commercial gun safes and trigger lock devices
The Act creates a new sales and use tax exemption for commercial gun safes and trigger lock devices. St. 1999, c. 127, § 92 (to be codified at G.L. c. 64H, § 6 (rr)). This provision will apply to sales on or after January 1, 2000. St. 1999, c. 127, § 383."
I sent an Email to DOR about this matter (and another improper sales tax issue) and their response was two-fold:
- The vendor should reimburse me the improperly charged tax and file an abatement with the State to get credit/refund of the tax.
- If the vendor refuses to refund the tax, DOR REQUESTED that I call the DOR Tax FRAUD phone number and file a formal complaint, whereby an investigation may lead to indictment for tax fraud.
I chose NOT to turn Walter in for prosecution, but I did harass him enough that he finally grudgingly handed me $8.00 from his pocket and tried to shame me for taking the money. At that point, I swore not to do business with him and to tell others of my own experience.
Due to his piss poor attitude, I'm willing to bet that he's still charging customers sales tax on gun locks/safes! He absolutely refused to acknowledge that he was improperly charging sales tax.
In my mind, he's not treating customers fairly and I won't do business with people like that! There are a number of MUCH BETTER places to spend our money, some of whom really understand "customer service"!
I do NOT recommend this place!
A few years ago I purchased a gun safe at Law Enforcement Supply and when Walter charged me $8.00 Sales Tax, I protested and told him that MGLs changed about 1 year prior to the sale, EXEMPTING ALL GUN LOCKS AND GUN SAFES from MA Sales Tax (see cite and text below). Walter's response was "I don't know anything about that" and he did charge me the sales tax. I told him that I'd FAX him a copy of the TIR and did so. Next time I was in his shop I asked him if he received my FAX and he said partially then his Fax machine jammed up (and he didn't bother to call me), so I handed him a "hard copy" of the TIR. His response was "I don't know anything about this, my accountant takes care of all the tax matters and I already paid the state" so I'm out of luck! BTW: Keep in mind that "ignorance of the law is NOT an excuse" and personally I've had a business sales tax number since ~1966 and there is a method for getting the sales tax back from the state when it is improperly charged (or for returns).
http://www.dor.state.ma.us/rul_reg/tir/tir99_19.htm
"B. Sales of commercial gun safes and trigger lock devices
The Act creates a new sales and use tax exemption for commercial gun safes and trigger lock devices. St. 1999, c. 127, § 92 (to be codified at G.L. c. 64H, § 6 (rr)). This provision will apply to sales on or after January 1, 2000. St. 1999, c. 127, § 383."
I sent an Email to DOR about this matter (and another improper sales tax issue) and their response was two-fold:
- The vendor should reimburse me the improperly charged tax and file an abatement with the State to get credit/refund of the tax.
- If the vendor refuses to refund the tax, DOR REQUESTED that I call the DOR Tax FRAUD phone number and file a formal complaint, whereby an investigation may lead to indictment for tax fraud.
I chose NOT to turn Walter in for prosecution, but I did harass him enough that he finally grudgingly handed me $8.00 from his pocket and tried to shame me for taking the money. At that point, I swore not to do business with him and to tell others of my own experience.
Due to his piss poor attitude, I'm willing to bet that he's still charging customers sales tax on gun locks/safes! He absolutely refused to acknowledge that he was improperly charging sales tax.
In my mind, he's not treating customers fairly and I won't do business with people like that! There are a number of MUCH BETTER places to spend our money, some of whom really understand "customer service"!
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