Amnesty program offers cheats time to ante up

The state hopes to obtain$10 million in revenue from the amnesty program.
By JEFF ORTEGA
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
COLUMBUS -- The Ohio Department of Taxation has a message for state tax cheats or those who may have forgotten to pay their state taxes: We want to hear from you.
The department is holding a six-week tax amnesty program from Jan. 1 through Feb. 15, 2006, and is encouraging those who owe to 'fess up.
During the amnesty period, eligible taxpayers may turn in payments for unreported or under-reported tax delinquencies with no penalties and one-half of the interest charges, state tax department officials said Thursday.
Taxpayers who use the amnesty must make full tax payment during the amnesty period.
The program, which state officials say is projected to generate $10 million in revenue, will cover only the tax delinquents that the state does not know about, state tax officials say. It would not cover those with current state tax judgments pending against them or those under audit.
What to do
To obtain an amnesty, taxpayers have to file a completed tax amnesty application form, along with the returns and payment of the taxes and interest due with the Ohio Department of Taxation by Feb. 15. The state is accepting amnesty applications beginning Dec. 15.
"We are encouraging taxpayers to talk to their tax advisers or the Department of Taxation," Tax Commissioner William W. Wilkins said.
The amnesty program, which was authorized in the current, two-year $51.2 billion state budget, covers employer withholding taxes, state sales and use taxes, corporate franchise taxes, personal income taxes, pass-through entity taxes, personal property taxes, individual and school-district income taxes, and employer school district withholding taxes.
The state is spending $700,000 for a print and broadcast advertising campaign to publicize the amnesty program as well as a direct-mail campaign to tax professionals.
"We want to make people aware well in advance," Wilkins said.
Print ads are running in business periodicals and will hit general-circulation newspapers after Christmas, state tax officials said. Thirty-second TV spots will air in all major media markets after Christmas and run through the amnesty program period.
'Right thing to do'
One state lawmaker said it's understandable that some taxpayers, for whatever reason, may get behind in their tax payments.
"The right thing to do is to pay your taxes when they're due," said state Sen. Robert Spada, a northeastern Ohio Republican.
"I think this is a good opportunity and the right thing to do," Spada said.
State tax officials say the department is beefing up its resources to find and collect from delinquent taxpayers.
The department has added about 200 employees over the last three years, officials said, and has devoted what it says are "significant" resources to its auditing division.
The last state tax amnesty program was conducted in 2001, an effort that netted the state $48 million in delinquent taxes, state officials said.
Taxpayers can learn more about the amnesty program by visiting www.taxamnestyohio.com or by calling (800) 304-3211.