Thomas H. Mattox, the New York State Commissioner of Taxation and Finance, has received prestigious recognition from a well-known technology organization for his leadership and vision in public service.

Commissioner Mattox received the fourth annual Governor Hugh L. Carey Award for Outstanding Public Stewardship from e.Republic’s Government Technology, a media and research company focused on state and local government efficiency.

The ceremony took place at the organization’s New York Digital Government Summit in Albany on September 4^th.

e.Republic also presented the Tax Department with three Best of New York Awards: one for its sophisticated inventory management system used for tax collection cases, another for its collaboration with the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles on a new program to suspend driver’s licenses in cases of significant tax delinquency, and a third for development of a model-driven system to select certain income tax cases for audit.

Transforming services

“Through his efforts, Commissioner Mattox has brought about changes that have made a major impact on New York State operations and its citizens,” said Alan Cox, senior vice president and publisher of Government Technology magazine. “Actions such as his epitomize what the Hugh L. Carey Leadership Award stands for – dedication to better government for New York State citizens.”

Commissioner Mattox has “headed efforts to modernize New York State government” in several areas, Cox said. Most notably by:

• using advanced business analytics to automate the review of all 10 million income tax returns before refunds are issued;
• overseeing the consolidation of ten separate state agency call centers to create one “anchor agency,” thereby reducing costs to taxpayers and improving call center performance;
• transforming taxpayer service through “e-commerce” – the Department now has 70 online services that have eased filing tasks, cut errors, bolstered compliance, and increased revenue; and
• creating the Department’s Office of Risk Management that works with managers throughout the agency to mitigate potential risk exposures, such as identity theft;

“We are honored to be seen as a nationwide leader in the field of tax administration,” Commissioner Mattox said. “Our ability to operate at this level reflects the dedication of more than 5,000 Department employees statewide. On their behalf I am pleased to accept this award.”