ST. LOUIS (KMOX) - A class-action lawsuit is brewing that seeks to force the City of St. Louis to refund millions of dollars withheld from the paychecks of people who worked from home during the pandemic.
Bevis Schock says the city used to let people who worked outside the city get refunds all the time.
"The city has changed the rules for this year and a rule change like that is a change in the tax base, which bring up something called the Hancock Amendment," Schock says. "The Hancock Amendment is the thing that says the voters and have to vote in favor of an expansion of the tax base."
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And Schock says the letter of the law says you have to be working "in the city" to pay the tax.
The city says otherwise. They say you have to pay the tax, if your employer is "in the city" – even if you worked from home.
To qualify for a refund, Schock says you have to request it now, by going on the Collector of Revenue's website and printing out the E-1R refund form as soon as possible.
The 1% earnings tax is collected from all St. Louis city residents regardless of where they work, and non-city residents who work within city limits, according to the city website.
"The funds collected through the earnings tax comprise one-third of the city's budget and are directed into the city's general fund to pay for essential city services like police and fire," the Collector of Revenue states.
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