Tax News

CCH (cch.taxgroup.com) reports:

  Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick has signed legislation authorizing a two-month tax amnesty program, during which penalties for failure to timely file or pay Massachusetts taxes will be waived if the taxpayer files all outstanding returns and makes payments as required by the Commissioner of Revenue. The amnesty program will begin on a date to be determined by the commissioner and will end no later than June 30, 2010. The scope of the program, including the particular tax types and periods covered and any limited look-back period for unfiled returns, will be determined by the commissioner. Amnesty will not apply to penalties that the commissioner does not have the sole authority to waive, including penalties applicable to fuel taxes administered under the International Fuel Tax Agreement and local option portions of taxes collected for the benefit of cities, towns, or state governmental authorities. Any taxpayer who has been the subject of a tax-related criminal investigation or prosecution is not eligible for amnesty. Eligible taxpayers who fail to come forward under the program and pay tax owed will be subject to an additional penalty of $500.

Ch. 166 (H.B. 4359), Laws 2009, effective November 24, 2009