THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 
              Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Tuesday, July 9, 1996                 TAG: 9607090006
SECTION: FRONT                   PAGE: A14  EDITION: FINAL 
TYPE: Letter 
                                            LENGTH:   24 lines

PAY UP

The Virginia Department of Taxation illegally taxed all military retirement incomes, 1985-1988. What gives the state the right to require those affected to file a request to have the money returned to them? Before existing litigation was decided, retirees had to make a choice of positively receiving 76.5 percent of the money without interest paid over a period of five years, being bound by the final disposition of the litigation (possibly receiving nothing), or just allowing the state to keep their money. Those who took the second choice and filed on time received all of their money plus interest.

Governor Allen has now ``generously'' allowed all those who did not participate in the litigation to once again make choice No. 1.

If individuals do not pay the state all monies legally due, they do not have any options when caught. It's pay up with interest and also a big fine.

Virginia, you have been caught. Pay up in full.

JOAN E. POINTS

Virginia Beach, July 4, 1996 by CNB