Governor Kelly Announces Retirement of Kansas Department of Revenue Secretary Mark Burghart

TOPEKA – Governor Laura Kelly announced on Monday the retirement of Kansas Department of Revenue (KDOR) Secretary Mark Burghart, who has served as Secretary since March 26, 2019. His last day in this role will be July 31, 2026.

“I want to thank Secretary Burghart for his steadfast leadership over the last seven years. As a dedicated public servant, he has led the Kansas Department of Revenue with integrity, ensuring that the agency serves the people of Kansas with fairness and respect,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “The State of Kansas is better off because of Secretary Burghart’s commitment.”

A lifelong Kansan, Secretary Burghart was born and raised in Topeka, where he still resides. He graduated from the University of Kansas with business and accounting degrees, from Washburn University School of Law with a juris doctorate, and the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law with a Master of Law in taxation degree. He taught state and local tax at Washburn University School of Law as an adjunct professor for twenty-five years.

Secretary Burghart brought over four decades of experience as a tax attorney in the private and public sectors to the Secretary position. During his tenure, he oversaw the administration of the state’s tax programs, driver’s license and vehicle services, property valuation, and alcoholic beverage control while leading efforts to improve taxpayer services and modernize department operations through the expansion of online services. Those efforts have resulted in the recovery of nearly $1.8 billion in delinquent taxes, prevented the payments of nearly $250 million in fraudulent refunds, and significantly reduced waiting times at driver’s license offices across the state by expanding the department’s online scheduling option.  

“It has been an honor to serve the people of Kansas and to lead the Department of Revenue,” Kansas Department of Revenue Secretary Mark Burghart said. “I am especially grateful for the opportunity to work alongside the dedicated directors and staff who are responsible for the many advances at the department over the last seven years, especially those occurring during the darkest days of the COVID-19 pandemic.”