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By ZINIE CHEN SAMPSON
RICHMOND
Virginia is encouraging businesses and people delinquent on their state taxes to pay up without penalty in an amnesty program that officials hope will bring an estimated $48 million to the cash-strapped state.
The Department of Taxation's Get Square on Back Taxes campaign allows tax evaders and delayers to do the right thing and settle their debts with the state, said Gov. Timothy M. Kaine, who helped launch the program today at an outdoor gathering of state tax-department employees.
Kaine noted the program gives people who are late on their state taxes a strong financial incentive to fulfill their obligations and improve their credit ratings, as well as help Virginia's general fund, which supports education, public safety and other basic programs.
Qualifying businesses or individual taxpayers who settle up with the Department of Taxation between Oct. 7 and Dec. 5 can escape a 20 percent late-payment penalty and waive half the interest they owe. The tax department is sending 550,000 notices by mail to households and businesses with delinquent tax bills and notifying them how much they potentially can save under the amnesty plan.
The campaign features a smiling square, as officials are being encouraging rather than threatening in their approach to collecting delinquent tax payments during tough economic times. The tax department has set up a Web site and a call center to handle amnesty inquiries and has added 35 to 40 temporary staffers to handle increased customer-service and mail duties during the two-month period.
The program can apply to any outstanding tax bills that are at least 90 days old, tax department spokeswoman Ginny Slaughter said. The average delinquent Virginia tax bill is $2,315.
Kaine said the $48 million is a "somewhat conservative" target, and the amount will be applied to the budget for the upcoming biennium.
The General Assembly passed legislation this year to authorize the program to increase taxpayer compliance. A tax-amnesty program in 1990 netted $32 million, and a second one in 2003 brought in $98.3 million, Slaughter said. The mascot for the first campaign was a guillotine, and a character who chased people represented the latter.
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On the Net:
"Get Square": http://www.GetSquareVA.com
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What everyone is missing
is that most of our taxes are unconstitutional to begin with. The government has no right to collect income taxes, among other things. But we're too weak a nation to take any action to get our rights back. People are too lazy and don't want to be inconvenienced to make a difference.
isn't this something like...
counting chickens before they hatch? Kaine is an idiot.
Disgusting
There are those of us who play by the rules, pay our taxes - and have to put up with failing infrastructure because some people believe they shouldn't have to pay their fair share into the system. I say after the amnesty period, catch the scofflaws, seize their accounts or even personal property to pay what is owed and toss them in jail for a year or five. Maybe next time they'll have more respect for their fellow Americans.
Kaine
looks like a circus clown.
I'd bet
there is a correlation between these tax dead beats and their probability of having health insurance! Another example of pathetic hand holding!
There you go again
Rewarding those who don't comply with the law at the expense of those who do. This is no different than admitting illegal aliens into this country. This is a sham for those of us who continually pay our taxes. Perhaps this falls under the category of "sharing the wealth?"
bailout
tax evaders are getting a government bailout!right here in our own state.now we know the democrats all pull from the same playbook.maybe that's what timmy has been doing with the DNC, learning the true way to screw your constituents. almost to damn funny!
Timmy is just your typical
Timmy is just your typical liberal, socialist democrat.... break the law and all you have to do is ask the governor for a pardon. Hey Timmy, how about giving the state of Virginia back all of the money you spent while traveling around doing the work of the DNC. You certainly were not doing the work you were paid to do.
This program is hardly a break ...
Those behind on taxes will still have to pay their due taxes. Yes they do get a break on the fees and penalties, but in the end it helps meet gaps in the budget deficit. This helps prevent lay-offs and limitations to the services that benefit us all. Without collecting these taxes services are sure to be even more limited. It is just an incentive to square up on due taxes with a reduction in some fees.
The question was asked what was the break for those who paid on time? You get to pay your taxes with NO FEES.
It never fails that the complainers on here will complain about anything and everything: You guys sure love to play the professional victim. Need some cheese with your whine?
These people stole from all of us. Get real!
If the bums had paid their taxes we would not have had this last round of cuts. This hurts the honest people who pay, not the criminals who still owe. The State is not our banker. These people stole from all of us. Get real!