STATE OFFERS TAX AMNESTY

The Massachusetts Department of Revenue's tax amnesty program is underway and will last until May 31. The opportunity to catch up on back taxes and save on penalties is available to both individuals and businesses. The goal of the tax amnesty program is to bring those taxpayers who have failed to file returns or have underreported their taxes into compliance.

PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS
• File delinquent returns or amend prior tax filings all online at mass.gov/TaxAmnesty. 
• Pay only the tax and interest owed. Tax penalties and any interest due on those penalties will be waived.
• Non-filers may benefit from a three-year limited look-back period.

"The 2016 Tax Amnesty Program is a win-win for the Commonwealth and taxpayers,” said Kristen Lepore, secretary of the Executive Office for Administration and Finance. "This is an opportunity to bring tax filers onto the books while allowing individuals and businesses to become compliant without any penalty."
A simple online amnesty return is available at mass.gov/TaxAmnesty. 
DOR will calculate the interest for each tax period and provide the total amnesty balance due. Filers will submit an electronic payment for the balance due with the amnesty return.
"I urge both individuals and businesses to step up and do the right thing and pay their back taxes with our easy-to-use online amnesty application," said Mark Nunnelly, commissioner of revenue. “After tax amnesty ends, penalties and our full enforcement measures will be back in place.”
ELIGIBILITY
Amnesty is available to any individual or business who has not currently registered with the Department of Revenue, or who has not filed a tax return that was due on or before December 31, 2015, or who has failed to report the proper tax due on a previously filed return for any tax return due on or before December 31, 2015.