FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 1, 2012
Limited Time Tax Amnesty Begins for Ohio
Taxpayers
Ohio General Tax Amnesty Program runs from May 1 to June
15
COLUMBUS, Ohio, May 1, 2012 – Ohio is offering taxpayers an
opportunity to pay off certain back taxes without costly
penalties and with only half the regular interest charge.
That opportunity begins today with the opening of the 2012
Ohio General Tax Amnesty Program.
Ohio Tax Commissioner Joe Testa is urging delinquent
taxpayers to take advantage of the program because the cost
of settling tax debt will never be lower, “Millions of
dollars of taxes go unpaid every year, often because of
simple filing mistakes. This amnesty program is designed to
give taxpayers an incentive to catch up and it’s a way to
reinforce the integrity and equity of our tax system. It’s
important that all of us are involved and participate.”
The General Tax Amnesty Program, initiated last year by the
Ohio General Assembly, grants authority to waive penalties on
unreported or underreported taxes incurred and payable prior
to May 1, 2011.
State Representative Peter Beck, chairman of the Ohio House
Ways and Means Committee, said the program benefits all
involved, “Tax amnesty is good for individuals, businesses
and the State of Ohio. Taxpayers can clear up their tax debts
and have a fresh start while the State gains much-needed
revenue without raising taxes or spending money auditing a
taxpayer. It’s a winner all the way around.”
A Tax Amnesty website provides extensive information to help
Ohioans and others who owe taxes administered by the Ohio
Department of Taxation to take advantage of the program.
Applications and additional information are available at
www.ohiotaxamnesty.gov.
“The last General Tax Amnesty Program, in 2006, resulted in
thousands of participants and the collection of nearly $60
million,” Testa noted.
The 2012 General Tax Amnesty covers most state and some local
taxes, including individual income taxes, school district
income taxes, sales taxes and the Commercial Activity Tax. A
similar, but separate, program offering amnesty for the
Consumer’s Use Tax also is under way.
Testa noted that the Ohio Department of Taxation continues to
strengthen its discovery and enforcement capabilities but
would prefer that taxpayers come forward on their own.
“Amnesty is a way for Ohioans to meet their obligations
without the pain of alternatives that are more costly to the
taxpayer and the State,” Testa said.
# # #
Watch the television ads (below) that are informing
taxpayers about the Ohio Tax Amnesty program.
Media Contact: Gary Gudmundson, Ohio Department of
Taxation
614/466-0099, Gary_Gudmundson@tax.state.oh.us