Want to Cash In On Your State’s Amnesty Program?

** This post has been modified from its May 4th version (which focused on amnesty in New Jersey) **

The flurry of page views to this blog and dollars received in New Jersey in response to its latest sales tax amnesty program was so extreme that I decided to re-write that original post to update on the many other states currently granting the gift of amnesty, as well as those considering doing so soon.

If you don’t think the numbers add up, you couldn’t be more wrong. This year’s program in New Jersey, its fourth in 25 years, ended June 15th at 11:59 p.m. Early numbers show that the Garden State recaptured in excess of $617 million (I expect that number to grow when all of the returns have been opened and accounted for, possibly to tally something closer to $700 million).

The last time the state granted an amnesty period, back in 2002, it recouped approximately $276.9 million.

Alabama’s Operation Clean Slate ended May 15th, but I don’t have numbers from that one yet, nor from the Arizona amnesty program, which concluded June 1st and the now-ended Massachusetts program.

Amnesty programs . . .

Connecticut (running May 1 through June 25 — did you act in time?)

Hawaii (see here, here, and here ran from May 27, 2009 and expires June 26, 2009 — hurry!)

Kansas (proposed)

Louisiana (the House passed this one — H.B. 720 — in May, the Senate in June. This is a tricky one to provide the dates for, because the legislation requires the Department of Revenue to develop and put into place a two-month amnesty program at any time between July 1, 2009 and June 30, 2010 . . . and there are several other intricacies. I’ll have to stay tuned on this rather complicated one. )

Maine (The 2009 Tax Receivables Reduction Initiative is scheduled for September 1, 2009 through November 30, 2009 and provides for a reduction of 90% of penalties owed)

Maryland (An amnesty program — S.B. 552 — will be in effect from September 1, 2009 through October 30, 2009. One-half of interest due plus all civil penalties will be waived, with the exception of previously assessed fraud penalties and a few other exceptions — no criminal charges shall be filed arising from payment or filings during this period.)

Michigan (H.B. 4149 would grant a 60-day tax amnesty window that would end September 30, 2009)

New Mexico (proposed but not enacted, but I’ll keep my eye on this state for future amnesty announcements)

New York (not quite amnesty but a chance to get caught up with limited penalty)

North Carolina (not quite amnesty, but close)

Pennsylvania (not quite amnesty, too, but appears to be open dating)

Vermont (between July 20th and August 31st, there will be amnesty on certain penalties when the owed tax and interest are paid during this six-week period, according to the Department of Taxes)

Virginia (is scheduled for the 2009 fiscal year via S.B. 1120 for an amnesty period of between 60 – 75 days to occur within July 1, 2009 through June 30, 2010)

Wisconsin (for sellers that register by October 1, 2010)

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