Ohio Announces 6-Week Tax Amnesty Program

COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Ohio Department of Taxation will offer a limited-time tax amnesty program beginning Jan. 1, 2018 and ending Feb. 15, the department announced Monday.

The Ohio Tax Amnesty is available to eligible taxpayers — individuals and businesses — with unreported or under-reported tax debts. During the six-week amnesty period, taxpayers who fully pay qualifying tax delinquencies will owe no penalties and only half of the interest normally charged.

The Ohio Tax Amnesty will only be available to individuals and businesses with a tax liability that is unknown to the department, and only for taxes that were due and payable prior to May 1, 2017.

“The Ohio Tax Amnesty is a tremendous opportunity for eligible taxpayers to address an unreported tax debt and eliminate the financial risk of not complying with the obligation to file and pay taxes,” said Ohio Tax Commissioner Joe Testa. “If we all comply with the tax laws, as most Ohio taxpayers do already, we can lower the tax rates for all taxpayers.”

The Ohio Tax Amnesty includes the following taxes: individual income tax; school district income tax; employer withholding tax; employer withholding for school district income tax; pass-through entity tax; sales tax; use tax; commercial activity tax; financial institutions tax; cigarette and other tobacco products taxes; and alcoholic beverage taxes.

To help Ohio taxpayers determine their eligibility and learn more about the Ohio Tax Amnesty, the department is launching a statewide awareness campaign this week called “Ohio Tax Amnesty: Your Move Forward.” Campaign components will include TV, radio, email, social media, paid search and digital display advertising, special events, and outreach to tax practitioners.

Interested taxpayers and tax practitioners interested in learning about eligibility or other information can visit www.OhioTaxAmnesty.gov or call 800 304 3211.

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