Any reason to panic? (tax bill)

[Deleted]

I got a tax bill today from the City of Detroit, demanding payment for my 2011 taxes. The bill is for exactly the amount of money that was withheld from my paychecks in 2011 (2 companies, I moved jobs mid-year, both in the city). They also added a late fee and interest charges.

I have a copy of the form I mailed to the city of Detroit, which reflected that they owed me $12 as a refund. I mailed the form on time, because you can't submit it electronically like I did with state and federal.

I did not, admittedly, send the letter certified mail because the letter was going 2 blocks north to the post office, where it would then be placed into the PO Box on the address label. Perhaps naive of me.

That being said, the money they say I owe was withheld from my paycheck, and I have the W2 forms and 2011 tax return to prove this. So I have no reason to panic, with the exception that they could argue that I didn't send my form in and thus owe them the late fee (not interest though, since there's no interest on $0). Right?

Thoughts? I did my taxes on Turbo Tax, should I contact them?

Just as a note about local tax law, I don't live in Detroit but I do work there, and they tax 1.25% for employees non-resident. It's a huge crock of sh*t, btw.

[jenjen]

Did you ever get the $12 refund?

I would contact the city - I'm sure there is a number on the bottom of the letter. And I agree, at worst you may owe the late fee but you could ask that it be waived. I'm sure it's a simple mistake on their part.

[Deleted]

No, I never got the refund but that's not abnormal. I got my refund last year in December. Detroit City is really awful.