Mayor Cannon to correct parking management company’s business tax errors

Charlotte Mayor Patrick Cannons parking management company, E-Z Parking, says it will change how it pays its city taxes after the Observer questioned why the company incorrectly filed business licenses on the roughly 20 lots and decks it manages.

A parking management company is required to pay a Business Privilege License tax annually on each lot or deck it operates. But E-Z Parking has licenses only for its headquarters and two decks in the past year and hasnt obtained separate licenses on all of its decks or lots for several years, according to a review of county tax records.

Cannon, the chief executive, and Jeff Feemster, the chief operating officer, said E-Z Parking wasnt aware it needed individual licenses for each lot or deck.

But both men said the company has paid its taxes on all of its revenue, and they said they are certain they dont owe the city of Charlotte any money. Ultimately, they say, the companys only error is the technicality of not obtaining a license for every lot.

We accounted for 100 percent of the revenue Im sure of that, Feemster said. We want to do things the right way, but sometimes you dont get things right.

County records show that E-Z Parking paid the tax on its home office at 312 W. Trade St. and two other decks.

Feemster and Cannon said they believed they were only required to have a Business Privilege License where they have an office.

The countys tax collector, Neal Dixon, said a business such as a parking management company would need to pay the tax on each lot it manages, regardless of whether it has an office there.

We are in the process of doing that now, Feemster said.

Revenue from the tax helps the city pay for police, fire, roads and sidewalks, among other services.

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Mayor Cannon to correct parking management company’s business tax errors