Vermont to join states that publish lists of delinquent taxpayers

Under a new law, the Vermont Department of Taxes will start issuing lists by the end of the year of 100 individual taxpayers and 100 business taxpayers with the highest amounts of unpaid tax debt.

The law, enacted in June, allows the state's commissioner of taxes the ability to compile and publish the lists on the department's website.

More than 28 states publish lists of delinquent taxpayers and have found it to be an effective tool. Vermont officials hope to achieve similar results.

Over the next few weeks, the department will begin notifying taxpayers identified as having levels of tax debt that would potentially place them on one of the lists. They will be offered a final chance to pay their outstanding tax debts, avoiding publication on the lists.