Tennessee Department of Revenue Restructured to Emphasize Consistency, Compliance

 

NASHVILLE  Commissioner Charles Trost has restructured the Tennessee Department of Revenue to ensure that tax enforcement policies are uniformly and consistently implemented. As part of the reorganization, department veterans Arnold Clapp and David Gerregano have been named Assistant Commissioners, responsible for maintaining compliance and uniform tax policies, and upholding the standards and credibility of the department.

 

“It is imperative that the department provide a reliable structure for compliance,” said Commissioner Trost. “We will continue to provide consistent enforcement to sustain the high degree of integrity in this office. I am pleased to make these appointments to such distinguished attorneys who combine more than 56 years of working in the Department of Revenue, and who will bring the benefit of their experience and judgment to these important new positions.

In his new role as Assistant Commissioner for Compliance and Integrity, Clapp will directly advise the commissioner and the department, and handle legal matters involving tax enforcement. Clapp, a Nashville School of Law graduate, has filled many roles since joining the department in 1967, including Audit Supervisor, Senior Tax Counsel and Special Counsel to the Commissioner.

 

David Gerregano, a Vanderbilt Law graduate, has been with the department for over 13 years. As Assistant Commissioner for Legal Affairs, Gerregano will provide guidance to the department in its tax policy efforts while continuing to serve in the role of General Counsel.

 

“The Department of Revenue will now have senior officers responsible for compliance in a manner now standard within major corporations and public agencies,” Added Commissioner Trost. “These positions will have complete authority to oversee all matters within the department and advocate for the taxpayers of the State of Tennessee so that it can provide, to the fullest extent, the myriad of necessary services on which our citizens depend.”

 

The Department of Revenue is responsible for the administration of state tax laws and motor vehicle title and registration laws established by the legislature and the collection of taxes and fees associated with those laws. The Department of Revenue collects approximately 92 percent of total state tax revenue. During the 2009-2010 fiscal year, the department collected $10.1 billion in state taxes and fees. In addition to collecting state taxes, $1.9 billion of local sales tax was collected by the department for local governments during the 2009-2010 fiscal year. Besides collecting taxes, the department enforces the revenue laws fairly and impartially in an effort to encourage voluntary taxpayer compliance. The department also apportions revenue collections for distribution to the various state funds and local units of government. To learn more about the department, log on to www.TN.gov/revenue.

 

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