Improper local option sales tax charges found on some utility bills

The Iowa Utilities Board is urging customers to review charges on their utility bills after some improper local-option sales tax (LOST) charges were found recently.

The board intermittently receives complaints about improper taxes on customer bills, spokesman Rob Hillesland said. One customer in rural Redfield found LOST taxes incorrectly applied on bills from Alliant Energy, Sprint, Mediacom, and city water. The Iowa Utilities Board's customer service staff worked with the Iowa Department of Revenue, consumer protection officials and the utilities to fix the charges.

"We are uncertain the extent to which this is or isn't an issue," Hillesland said. "Since we've gotten a few of those consumer complaints, we want to get something out there so customers will pay closer attention."

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