State closes Sophie & Me at Towne West for not paying taxes

The Kansas Department of Revenue and Sedgwick County Sheriff seized the business assets of Kansas-themed gift shop Sophie & Me at Towne West Square.

The store, which owed $14,243 in state sales taxes, was sealed and the assets will be sold at public auction to pay the taxes owed. Officers seized all known bank accounts, on-site cash, business inventory and personal property assets of owner Kathleen Clark.

The state said it closed the store only after other collection attempts had been exhausted. Those attempts included multiple letters, telephone calls, letters of impending legal action, tax liens filed with the local district court, previous bank levies and on-site till taps.

The revenue department said it seeks to encourage delinquent taxpayers to voluntarily enter into a repayment agreement.

This story was originally published September 2, 2015 at 10:20 AM with the headline "State closes Sophie & Me at Towne West for not paying taxes."