Ford files $445 million suit against IRS

DEARBORN, Mich., July 11 (UPI) -- Struggling U.S. auto giant Ford Motor Co. filed suit in federal court Friday, claiming the Internal Revenue Service owed the company $445 million.

Papers filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, say the IRS owes the amount for interest on overpayments, the Detroit Free Press reported.

In question are company's taxes for the years 1983 to 1989 and 1992 to 1994, the newspaper said.

"Because of the size of the dispute, we thought we had no choice but to file suit," said Ford spokeswoman Marcey Evans.