News Release
January 24, 2012
Ohio Tax Reform Efforts Honored
Former Cleveland-area legislator Sally Conway Kilbane today
was inducted into the Ohio State and Local Tax Hall of Fame
at the 21st annual Ohio Tax Conference in Columbus.
Created jointly in 2001 by the Ohio Department of Taxation
and Ohio Chamber of Commerce, the hall honors those who have
significantly contributed to the development, administration
or operation of Ohio’s state and local tax system.
Rep. Kilbane (Rocky River) represented the 16th Ohio House
district from 1999 through 2006. As chairwoman of the House
Ways and Means Committee, she was a driving force in forging
the comprehensive tax reform package of 2005 that was enacted
in HB 66, the biennial budget bill that year.
Those tax reforms included phasing out the tangible personal
property tax and most of the corporation franchise tax by
2009, cutting personal income taxes by 21 percent over five
years and establishing the new commercial activity tax.
“Her leadership and that of others played a pivotal role in
positioning Ohio in a more favorable light regarding taxation
among our peers,” said Ohio Tax Commissioner Joe Testa, who
announced her selection at the gathering of accountants, tax
attorneys and tax preparers.
Also at the conference, Commissioner Testa said the
Consumer’s Use Tax Amnesty Program that began Oct. 1, 2011
has generated $3.1 million in tax revenue. About 700
taxpayers have voluntarily come forward to pay back taxes on
items purchased out of state on which no sales tax was
collected. This amnesty program expires on May 1, 2013.
Ohio taxpayers also have a limited time this year to resolve
past tax obligations on most other types of taxes by applying
for the Ohio General Tax Amnesty Program, which includes
personal income, estate, commercial activity, corporation
franchise and employer withholding taxes among many others.
Applications for the General Tax Amnesty Program will be
accepted from May 1 to June 15, 2012.
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(News media with further questions please contact Gary
Gudmundson, ODT communications director, at (614)
466-0099.