TAX NEWS - June 2010

Pennsylvania Tax: Pa. Tax Amnesty Ends June 18

HARRISBURG, Pa. -- Pennsylvania's Tax Amnesty program, which waives all penalties and half the interest for anyone who pays delinquent state taxes, will end June 18. To be considered for the amnesty program, mail and online applications must be completed by midnight on that date.

To date, the program has received more than 39,500 applications disclosing more than $109 million in unpaid back taxes, according to C. Daniel Hassell, state secretary of revenue. In April, the department mailed notices to the last-known mailing addresses of more than one million tax delinquents.

During the last state Tax Amnesty 14 years ago, 74% of applications and payments were submitted in the final two weeks of the program, Hassell said. "Anyone who is behind on their state taxes should avoid the last-minute rush and apply now, because after June 18, not only does this offer disappear, but an additional 5% penalty will be tacked on to all outstanding tax delinquencies," he said.

Tax Amnesty payments may be made through a variety of options: by electronic funds transfer, credit or debit card, check, money order or cash. Cash is accepted only at the Harrisburg district office.

"The deadline was set by law and will not be extended," Hassell said. "However, the Revenue Department will have additional staff answering phone calls and processing applications in the final days of the program, and we're offering additional customer service hours for people to call the toll-free hotline. In-person assistance is also available at district offices across the state."

Help is available by calling (877) 347-2987 weekdays between 7:30 a.m. and 7 p.m. Revenue agents also will be available to answer calls to the hotline from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on June 12 and until midnight on June 18.

The Tax Amnesty period began on April 26 and is expected to net $190 million for the current fiscal year budget by June 18.