A sale of a local business owner’s wares was cancelled minutes before it was to begin last week.
Last May, “Miranda’s” on Main Street in the Town of Madison was padlocked for nonpayment of Virginia taxes. Three liens totaled $27,253.43. The business was closed and its property was removed. The following month, the Madison County Sheriff’s Office auctioned off the business’ wares including freezers, tables, chairs and more. The auction netted $5,600.
Now, the same thing is occurring in Greene County. Earlier this month, the Greene County Sheriff’s Office announced that it would conduct a public sale of personal property seized from “Miranda’s Grill” under a lawful distress/seizure warrant for enforcement of delinquent taxes issued by order of the county treasurer. Both “Miranda’s” and “Miranda’s Grill” are owned by Miranda Davis-Durrer. The sale was set to take place Friday, Oct. 24 at 10 a.m. at the restaurant which is located in the Greene Countryside Square shopping center off of U.S. 29.
However, minutes before it was to begin, the Greene County Sheriff’s Office announced the sale had been cancelled. In a joint statement issued by the sheriff’s office and the Greene County Treasurer’s Office, the sale was cancelled following a thorough review of secured liens which revealed substantial federal tax liens placed on the property and assets that take legal priority over the county’s claims.
“The proceeds from the sheriff’s sale would not provide sufficient recovery to satisfy Miranda’s Grill LLC/Gateway Grill LLC’s unpaid local taxes,” the two offices said via the statement. The delinquent meals tax obligation and related criminal charges remain active and the treasurer’s office will continue to pursue lawful means of collection.
According to online State Corporation Commission records, a federal tax lien totaling $12,423.02 was issued by the IRS in April 2023.
It’s unknown how much money Durrer-Davis owes in back taxes to Greene County, but she has been charged with 10 counts of a business not collecting local taxes. An arraignment scheduled for Oct. 22 was continued until Nov. 26. Three charges of not collecting or not paying sales tax were dismissed in May.
