Tax department keeps taxpayers waiting

The state tax director has rightly acknowledged that the Tax Department’s aggressive anti-fraud screening has gone too far, delaying the processing of tax returns for months. A full $100 million of taxpayer refunds won’t be processed until after the fiscal year ends.

It’s an untenable situation, and state officials promise to do better next year. Left unstated amid the mea culpas, though, is whether all this trouble has been worth much to the state’s coffers. How many fraudulent returns have been detected so far, and what is the total dollar value of those returns? Tax officials didn’t supply that essential information during a presentation to the state Council on Revenues. They should.

Lost baggage more than inconvenient

For the weary economy-class traveler, learning that the airline lost her luggage can be the crowning indignity from a mode of travel that seems filled with them. So it would be unconscionable if the airline arbitrarily refused to provide adequate compensation for the loss.

So we hope Hawaiian Airlines takes to heart its mild punishment of up to $160,000, a fine imposed by the U.S. Department of Transportation for deception on a credit-card promotion and for setting limits on reimbursement for delayed baggage at $90, far lower than the mandated $3,400. Travelers who paid extra to check in their bags deserve better.