News Releases

The Comptroller's Communications Office issues news releases on a regular basis to inform the media and through them, the public about important activities happening in the agency.

Current News Releases

Comptroller Franchot Announces Filing Extension for Businesses Impacted by Dundalk Flood
ANNAPOLIS, MD (September 30, 2009) - Comptroller Peter Franchot today extended the October 15, 2009, filing due date for Maryland taxpayers with business or financial records in the Dundalk area. Eligible taxpayers now have until November 15 to pay withholding tax and until November 20 to pay sales and use tax for those returns that were due the 15th and 20th of October.

Comptroller Reminds Taxpayers:Tax “Do Over” Deadline, One Month Away
ANNAPOLIS, Md. (September 30, 2009) - Maryland Comptroller Peter Franchot reminded taxpayers today that the deadline for the state’s tax amnesty is approaching and ends October 30. Tax amnesty gives delinquent taxpayers one final opportunity to pay their Maryland tax liability with only one half of the interest owed and no fear of criminal prosecution.

Worcester Co. Police Tip Leads Comptroller Agents to Seize More Than 3,500 Illegal Cigs on US-13
Annapolis, Md. (September 30, 2009) - After receiving a tip from a Worcester County Sherriff’s Office corporal, agents for Comptroller Peter Franchot confiscated more than 3,500 packs of contraband cigarettes and arrested one man yesterday along US-13 in Pocomoke City. Corporal Nate Passwaters of the Worcester County Sherriff’s Office observed the driver of the vehicle purchase a large amount of cigarettes from a Virginia store and notified the Comptroller’s field enforcement agents about possible illegal activity.

Prince George's County Residents See Green at Annual Fair
ANNAPOLIS, Md. (September 22, 2009) - Nearly 300 people found $21,408 in unclaimed funds at Comptroller Peter Franchot's booth at the Prince George's County fair. Comptroller employees were at the fair this year as part of a statewide initiative to help reunite Marylanders with money they are owed.

Fairgoers Find More Than Funnel Cake and Cows at This Years State Fair
ANNAPOLIS, Md. (September 9, 2009) - More than 500 people found over $350,000 in unclaimed funds at Comptroller Peter Franchot's booth at the Maryland State Fair. Comptroller employees were at the fair this year as part of a statewide initiative to help reunite Marylanders with money they are owed.

More Than $150,000 Found at Montgomery County Fair
Annapolis, MD (September 2, 2009) - Staff of Maryland Comptroller Peter Franchot's unclaimed property unit visited the Montgomery County Fair, reuniting 137 people with more than $156,000 in unclaimed funds. One lucky festival attendee found $17,000.

Comptroller Offers "Tax Do Over" to Marylanders Who Owe Back Taxes
ANNAPOLIS, MD (August 31,2009) - Maryland Comptroller Peter Franchot today announced that a two-month tax amnesty beginning September 1, gives delinquent taxpayers one last opportunity to come clean by paying their tax liability and one half of the interest owed without fear of criminal prosecution. Previously assessed fraud penalties will not be waived.

Big Money Found at Allegany County Fair
Annapolis, MD (August 3, 2009) - Staff of Maryland Comptroller Peter Franchot's unclaimed property unit visited this weekend's Allegany County Fair, reuniting five people with more than $21,000 in unclaimed funds. One lucky festival attendee found nearly $10,000.

Franchot Holds Economic Online Chat
ANNAPOLIS, MD (July 16, 2009) - Renewing his commitment to making government more accessible, Comptroller Peter Franchot today held his second online chat with Marylanders from across the state. Today's chat focused on the economy and the most recent revenue figures for the state that were released earlier in the morning.

Comptroller Franchot Launches New Web Site
ANNAPOLIS, Md. (July 13, 2009) - Comptroller Peter Franchot today unveiled his agency's new Web site at www.marylandtaxes.com. The improved site showcases a number of new features including a fiscal transparency section called "Maryland Money," which highlights where taxpayer dollars are spent.

Comptroller Franchot New YouTube Ad Asks, “Who’s Watching Your Lost Money?”
ANNAPOLIS, Md.(July 9, 2009) – Comptroller Peter Franchot today unveiled his agency’s latest YouTube video promoting the agency’s unclaimed property program. A parody of the GEICO insurance ads featuring money that shows up when people least expect it, the video features Senator John Astle and the official Annapolis Town Crier, Squire Frederick. The video was debuted to a group of residents at Charlestown Retirement Community in Catonsville.

Comptroller Franchot Releases FY 09 Figures for Alcohol, Cigarette and Fuel Violations.
Annapolis, MD (July 8, 2009) - Known for his commitment to vigilantly enforcing Maryland tax laws, Comptroller Peter Franchot today announced the final figures of alcohol, cigarette and motor fuel violations for fiscal year 2009. Making the announcement in one of the agency's evidence holding facilities for contraband products, Franchot praised the work of his agents and local law enforcement officials in working together to protect law-abiding businesses from underground operations and tax cheats.

More Than a Dozen People Find Money at African American Heritage Festival
Annapolis, MD (July 7, 2009) - Staff of Maryland Comptroller Peter Franchot's unclaimed property unit visited this weekend's African American Heritage Festival, reuniting 15 people with more than $4,000 in unclaimed funds. One lucky festival attendee found $1,003.

Comptroller Franchot Receives Prestigious Honor in Financial Reporting

ANNAPOLIS, MD (July 7, 2009) - A North-American government finance organization recently awarded Comptroller Peter Franchot with the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting. The Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada (GFOA), honored Comptroller Franchot for Maryland's fiscal year 2008 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR). Received for the last 30 years, the award is the highest form of recognition in the area of governmental accounting and financial reporting.

Comptroller Franchot Hosts Tour of Agency’s Motor Fuel Testing Laboratory

Annapolis, Md. (June 24, 2009) - With the peak of summer travel season approaching and gas prices steadily on the rise, Comptroller Peter Franchot lead a tour of the Motor Fuel Testing Laboratory in Jessup today and participated in a live analysis of gasoline samples to highlight the agency’s efforts to protect consumers at the pump. The samples used in the analysis were gathered earlier today at a station near the lab. As Comptroller, Franchot is the state’s chief regulator of all petroleum products.

Comptroller’s Agents, Prince George’s County Police Seize Nearly 400 Cases of Bootleg Beer

Annapolis, MD (June 18, 2009) - Emphasizing his commitment to protecting Maryland businesses and consumers, Comptroller Peter Franchot today joined with the Prince George’s County Police Department to announce the recent confiscation of approximately 400 cases of beer worth nearly $10,000 from two Prince George’s County businesses.

Comptroller Franchot Announces Agency's New Accounting Chief: Former Westminster Treasurer To Lead Agency’s Oldest Division

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (June 15, 2009) - Comptroller Peter Franchot today announced the appointment of Roland L. Unger, 59, of Hunt Valley, Md., as the head of the agency's general accounting division. Most recently the treasurer and director of finance for the city of Westminster, Unger will lead the state’s accounting activities and corporate purchasing card program in addition to producing Maryland’s annual financial report and ensuring 20,000 vendor payments. Unger is replacing John Kenney, a 34-year veteran of the department. Accounting functions were the first tasks of the Comptroller’s Office when it was created in 1851.

Comptroller Franchot Applauds School Construction Funding Vote

Annapolis, Md. (May 6, 2009) - In keeping with his commitment to strengthening Maryland's best-in-the-nation public school system, Comptroller Peter Franchot joined Governor Martin O'Malley and Treasurer Nancy Kopp as the Board of Public Works unanimously voted to approve the recommendations by the Interagency Committee for School Construction (IAC) for the final $65 million in previously unallocated school construction funding for Fiscal Year 2010. Leading up to today's vote, the Comptroller visited over a dozen schools across the state. The visits to schools, ranked as high priorities by the local jurisdictions, allowed the Comptroller to hear directly from the county school officials, teachers, students and parents as to the desperate need for funding.

News Release Archives

2009 Archived Releases

2008 Archived Releases

2007 Archived Releases

2006 Archived Releases