Have you received a notice of taxes due?
If you've paid your taxes, expect nothing.
Delinquent taxpayers, however, will be receiving notices from the Missouri Department of Revenue encouraging payment during its upcoming tax amnesty program.
Lawmakers this year established a tax amnesty period from Tuesday through Nov. 30. During this three-month span, delinquent individuals and businesses have a one-time opportunity to pay back taxes - those due prior to Dec. 31, 2014 - without interest or penalties.
We have reservations about tax amnesty periods, and we voiced them in this forum in February and April while legislators were debating the issue.
Our objections reflect the sentiments of then-Senate President Pro Tem Tom Dempsey, R-St. Charles, who characterized amnesty as a "tax-cheat program," and added: "We think they need to pay their taxes on time just like every other taxpayer."
Amnesty, we believe, provides no incentive for timely payment of taxes, as required by law.
We understand, however, proponents' reasoning, including:
• Precedent exists. Similar programs granted tax amnesty in 2002 and 2003.
• Conditions apply. In addition to payment of back taxes, the program requires compliance with state tax laws for the next eight years. And taxpayers who are the subject of any civil or criminal state tax-related investigations or litigation cannot participate.
• Finally, the state collects revenue it is owed. During the legislative session, lawmakers estimated an amnesty program would bring in more than $20 million. That figure is significantly lower than revenue collected during previous amnesty programs - $74 million in 2002 and $42 million in 2003.
Delinquent taxes eligible for amnesty include individual income tax, corporate income tax, corporate franchise tax, employer withholding tax, sales tax, consumer's use tax, vendor's use tax and fiduciary tax.
The amnesty program is an opportunity to meet tax obligations without penalty or punishment. We urge delinquent taxpayers to seize the opportunity and pay up.