PA Tax Amnesty to Offer Additional Customer Service Hours in Final Weeks

Fifteen Days Remain to Save on Penalties, Interest on Back Taxes Paid by June 18

HARRISBURG, Pa., June 3 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Revenue Secretary C. Daniel Hassell today announced the PA Tax Amnesty hotline – 1-877-34-PAYUP – will offer additional customer service hours from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays, June 5 and 12, and Revenue agents will be available to answer calls to the hotline until midnight June 18, when PA Tax Amnesty ends.

"We're offering additional customer service hours in the final weeks of the PA Tax Amnesty opportunity because we know many, many people will be calling and e-mailing as the June 18 deadline draws nearer," said Hassell.  "However, we urge businesses and individuals who owe back taxes to avoid the last-minute rush and apply now, because once midnight strikes on June 18, this opportunity ends and an additional 5 percent penalty is tacked on to all outstanding tax delinquencies."

During the last PA Tax Amnesty 14 years ago, 74 percent of applications and payments were submitted in the final two weeks of the program.  

The PA Tax Amnesty application is only available online at www.PATaxPayUp.com.  The website also answers commonly asked Tax Amnesty questions and provides step-by-step application instructions in English and Spanish.

To be considered for PA Tax Amnesty, online applications must be completed and submitted electronically by midnight, Friday, June 18, 2010.

Tax Amnesty payments can be made through a variety of options: by electronic funds transfer, credit or debit card, check, money order or cash. Cash is only accepted at the Harrisburg district office in the lobby of Strawberry Square. Payments for all outstanding tax liabilities must also be made electronically or postmarked by midnight, Friday June 18.

Assistance is available by calling 1-877-34-PAYUP (1-877-347-2987) weekdays between 7:30 a.m. and 7 p.m. and on Saturdays June 5 and 12 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Revenue agents will be available to answer calls to the hotline until midnight on June 18.  

Customer service is also available at any of the Department of Revenue's 17 district offices, which are listed in the blue pages of local telephone directories.  In-person assistance is available weekdays from 9 a.m. to noon and 1 to 4 p.m.

To date, the PA Tax Amnesty program received more than 34,000 completed, or in-process, applications disclosing $88.9 million in previously unpaid Pennsylvania back taxes.  

About Tax Amnesty:

For a limited time, the PA Department of Revenue is waiving 100 percent of penalties and half the interest for anyone who applies for Tax Amnesty online at www.PATaxPayUp.com and pays eligible delinquent taxes by June 18.

The 54-day PA Tax Amnesty program, created by Act 48 of 2009, is generally available to all individuals, businesses and other entities with PA tax delinquencies as of June 30, 2009.

The Tax Amnesty period began on April 26 and is expected to net $190 million for the current fiscal year budget by June 18.

After the program ends on June 18, eligible taxpayers who do not take advantage of the PA Tax Amnesty program to settle back taxes will have a 5-percent non-participation penalty added to delinquencies and may face other enforcement actions.

For more information, visit www.PATaxPayUp.com or call 1-877-34-PAYUP (1-877-347-2987) weekdays between 7:30 a.m. and 7 p.m.; from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays (June 5 and 12), and until midnight on June 18.

Media contact: Stephanie Weyant, Department of Revenue; 717-787-6960

SOURCE Pennsylvania Department of Revenue

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