CHICAGO–A Chicago grocery and liquor store is suing Illinois, saying the state is attempting to block renewal of its liquor license, allegedly because of unpaid taxes.
A&G Foods Inc. filed a lawsuit Nov. 24 in Cook County Circuit Court against the state of Illinois and the Illinois Department of Revenue (IDR).
According to the complaint, an audit by the IDR found that A&G Foods owed $211,834.02 for tax returns completed in 2009-2010. However, the plaintiff alleges the statute of limitations on these taxes expired before the penalties were levied, exempting it from payment.
If the unpaid taxes are unresolved, the suit says, this will endanger renewal of A&G's liquor license, costing large sums in lost business and causing layoffs.
A&G Foods seeks a ban on reporting the unpaid taxes to the liquor licensing board, a hearing on the tax issues and invalidation of the notices of tax liability against the business. It is represented by attorney Jonathan P. Novoselsky of Chicago.
Cook County Circuit Court Case number 2015-CH-17261.