Pennsylvania Tax Amnesty Deadline Day Arrives

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) - The PA Department of Revenue ads will come to an end Monday night.

AD: "Back taxes on your mind? The Pennsylvania Department of Revenue is offering tax amnesty."

And when the ads go, so will the tax amnesty program launched sixty days ago.

"The clock is ticking for people who want to take advantage of the tax amnesty program," says Daniel Hassell, the Acting Secretary of Revenue.

"The deadline's approaching."

In fact, it's midnight tonight, says Hassell.

"Monday is the final opportunity for people who have delinquent tax debts with the state to come forward."

Some 680,090 in-state taxpayers, including many small businesses and corporations, owe $2.1 billion in back taxes with 115,387 of those taxpayers are here in southwestern Pennsylvania.

"Under the tax amnesty program, people who apply are able to get their penalty waived and their interest reduced in half, so it's a significant benefit."

The state expects a last-minute rush, but as of last Wednesday, only 34,000 had applied for the special amnesty deal.

And if you miss the deadline, not only will you pay all the penalties and interest due, but the state is also tacking on an additional 5 percent penalty.

This tax amnesty program was last offered in 2010, and before that in 1995, so there is no guarantee that the state legislature will offer amnesty again anytime soon.

Again, the deadline is midnight tonight. You can file on line or by telephone.

More information is available at www.backtax.pa.gov, or call 1-(844)-727-8283.

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