Doug Thomas, the new owner of the Bloomington, Ind., resort, said the Indiana Department of Revenue closed the business in response to both the buyers and the sellers filing tax reports for the same business before the sale was finalized.
Officials shut down Eagle Pointe Golf Resort in Bloomington, Ind., on May 30, saying it was violating tax code, the Bloomington-based Herald-Times reported.
Four uniformed sheriff’s deputies assisted the Indiana Department of Revenue in closing the business at 10 a.m., according to a news release from Monroe County Sheriff Brad Swain. An orange “Indiana Department of Revenue WARNING” sign was taped to the door, stating that the business is in violation of Indiana code and that the business “is committing a Class A misdemeanor.” The pro shop, golf course, bar and dining facilities are now closed, the Herald-Times reported.
Kristin Reed, Indiana Department of Labor public relations project manager and media liaison, would not comment on the specific violations that are said to have occurred, stating in an email that information specific to a particular taxpayer is confidential, the Herald-Times reported.
In December 2016, Pointe Properties LLC bought Eagle Pointe Golf Resort from TRML Eagle Pointe LLC. The new owner, Doug Thomas, said the Indiana Department of Revenue closed the business in response to both the buyers and the sellers filing tax reports for the same business before the sale was finalized, the Herald-Times reported.
According to its website, the property offers short-term condo rentals, an 18-hole professional golf course, full-service restaurant and bar, event catering, pool and cabana bar, and weekly music.
“I believe there was a flag in the system because you had multiple entities filing reports on multiple parts of a business,” Thomas said. “We initially stepped in and were operating the business because the sellers asked us to. It got complicated for the tax officials, because they saw multiple entities reporting income for tax purposes. It raised the question in their mind if they were getting accurate reporting, and who should they be getting these reports from. They assumed we were not being forthcoming with them.”
Thomas doesn’t believe there were back taxes owed, as it would be unusual for a business that has only been operating for six months to accrue back taxes, the Herald-Times reported.
“We had an insured closing through the bank,” Thomas said. “If there had been a tax issue, it would’ve become apparent and been addressed at that closing. And that didn’t happen.”
Thomas and his accountant met with a representative of the Indiana Department of Revenue by 12:30 p.m. on Tuesday and provided documents requested by the Department of Revenue official, the Herald-Times reported.
“We quickly complied, they are reviewing everything later today or early tomorrow morning, and we should be getting the green light to resume operations,” Thomas said.
No customers were in the establishment when deputies and officials with the Department of Revenue arrived Tuesday morning. Golfers weren’t permitted on the course after 10 a.m., the Herald-Times reported.
The new ownership has been investing in the business to support the surrounding community of 17 villages by hosting events and creating nearly 40 jobs, the Herald-Times reported.
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