Kansas seizes Dodge City restaurant assets for $37K tax bill

DODGE CITY, Kan. (KSNW) -- State tax agents have seized the assets of a Dodge City barbecue restaurant. The Kansas Department of Revenue said the business is more than $37,000 behind in tax payments.

The address of the seizure is Provecho Mex-Kan BBQ, 202 E. Frontview. The company's Facebook page says the restaurant was voted best BBQ in Dodge City for four years in a row.

The restaurant management said the problem is related to the effects of identity theft in California, which resulted in the deposits being placed on hold.

According to revenue investigators, the business owes $37,830.01:

• Sales tax - $37,273.26
• Withholding - $556.75

Provecho said it stayed in contact with state representatives and was assured no enforcement actions would be taken and that a payment plan would be established.

However, this week, state tax agents sealed the restaurant with a public notice posted on the outside.

"We were presented with an immediate obligation to pay $38,000, with an additional $12,000 required to continue operations — a total of $50,000 demanded within 24 hours," Provecho said in a statement. "Regrettably, we are unable to meet those demands in such a short timeframe, and we have been left with no choice but to close our doors."

The agents seized assets, including all known bank accounts, on-site cash, business inventory, and the owner’s personal property. The assets will be sold at a public auction to pay the tax bill.

Customers, employees and others who had items in the restaurant at the time of the seizure can contact the agent assigned to the case at 785-296-3289.

A KDOR spokesperson said the department tries multiple times to work with businesses to voluntarily enter into repayment agreements. When that fails, KDOR is forced to execute a tax warrant, utilizing actions such as bank levies, till taps, and, ultimately, asset seizure.

This is the full statement Provecho management sent KSN:

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the closure of Provecho Mex-Kan BBQ.

The recent seizure of our business came without warning. For some time, we have been battling the effects of identity theft connected to the State of California, which resulted in our deposits being placed on hold. Throughout this difficult period, we remained in communication with state representatives, openly sharing our situation. We were assured that no enforcement actions would be taken and that a payment plan would be established to help us move forward.

Despite those assurances, our business was seized. We were presented with an immediate obligation to pay $38,000, with an additional $12,000 required to continue operations — a total of $50,000 demanded within 24 hours. Regrettably, we are unable to meet those demands in such a short timeframe, and we have been left with no choice but to close our doors.

This outcome is not what we wanted. Our plan was to keep serving our community and resolve the issue. The decision to shut us down — especially after we were told otherwise — feels not only unfair, but deeply disheartening. Still, we are proud of the journey, the food, the community, and the heart we poured into every moment.

To our loyal customers, friends, and supporters: thank you. Provecho would not have been what it was without you. We have loved every second of this experience and we are forever grateful for the love, encouragement, and belief you’ve shown us throughout the years.

With all our hearts,
The Provecho Mex-Kan BBQ Family"

The Provecho Mex-Kan BBQ Family