Maryland Court: Staples Owes $14 Million in Taxes

A Maryland court ruled Staples Inc. must pay $14 million in back taxes to the Commonwealth of Maryland.

The Maryland court said Staples, which has its world-wide headquarters in Framingham, underpaid its taxes between 1999 and 2004.

Staples altered its corporate structure in part to improperly avoid paying its share of state taxes, according to the court opinion.

Staples said it paid more than $150 million in salaries and $260 million in property taxes to the Commonwealth of Maryland, over that same 5-year period.

The court’s ruling declined to impose penalties or interest because it found Staples acted in good faith.

Staples can appeal the ruling of Staples Inc. v. Comptroller of the Treasury, case number 09-IN-OO-0148 in the Maryland Tax Court.