Free Daily Headlines :

  • COVID-19
  • Vaccine Info
  • Money
  • Politics
  • Education
  • Health
  • Justice
  • More
    • Environment
    • Economic Development
    • Gaming
    • Investigations
    • Social Services
    • TRANSPORTATION
  • Opinion
    • CT Viewpoints
    • CT Artpoints
DONATE
Reflecting Connecticut’s Reality.
    COVID-19
    Vaccine Info
    Money
    Politics
    Education
    Health
    Justice
    More
    Environment
    Economic Development
    Gaming
    Investigations
    Social Services
    TRANSPORTATION
    Opinion
    CT Viewpoints
    CT Artpoints

LET�S GET SOCIAL

Show your love for great stories and out standing journalism

Owe past taxes? CT waives big penalties for delinquents

  • by Keith M. Phaneuf
  • September 16, 2013
  • View as "Clean Read" "Exit Clean Read"

State officials will waive penalties and most interest during the next two months in hopes of recovering at least $35 million from Connecticut’s tax delinquents.

And while this marks Connecticut’s fifth amnesty program since 1990, Department of Revenue Services Commissioner Kevin B. Sullivan said the latest features a new, stiff penalty for those who still refuse to pay back taxes.

“This is a chance for taxpayers to do the right thing and the smart thing,” Sullivan said of the new program, which starts today and runs through Nov. 15.

An estimated 80,000 residents and businesses in total are currently delinquent, owing about $400 million. 

“That is a moving number, and it moves from month to month,” said John Biello, the department’s tax division chief.

The program, open to residents and businesses, waives all penalties and reduces by 75 percent all interest owed on all delinquent state taxes, except for the motor carriers tax. All major levies, including the income, sales and corporation tax are included.

Federal and municipal taxes are not part of the program. Also, taxpayers under criminal investigation or prosecution, or who are party to a DRS audit or closing agreement, are not eligible.

Gov. Dannel P. Malloy first proposed the latest amnesty program in February.

The governor’s fellow Democrats in the legislature’s majority incorporated the program into the new budget they adopted in June — a move criticized by Republican lawmakers as one of several gimmicks used to postpone dealing with fiscal problems until after the 2014 gubernatorial elections.

Connecticut has offered amnesty to tax delinquents, on average, about every three years in the last decade-and-a-half.

Past amnesty programs and the collections they generated include:

  • 2009, $25 million.
  • 2002, $109 million.
  • 1995, $46 million.
  • 1990, $54 million.

To encourage delinquents to take advantage of this program, Sullivan noted that the legislature included a new wrinkle.

The 10 percent interest penalty applied to most delinquent state taxes jumps to 25 percent on any residents and businesses who owe back taxes during the two-month amnesty period — and still refuse to pay.

“That is a big penalty and it’s a lot to pay,” the commissioner added. “If you don’t take advantage of amnesty, you have to ask yourself: Am I truly feeling lucky?”

Rep. Patricia Widlitz, D-Guilford, co-chairwoman of the legislature’s tax-writing Finance, Revenue and Bonding Committee, said the General Assembly’s $35 million estimate for this amnesty program is conservative.

“People get behind in their taxes for very good reasons,” she said. “This is an opportunity for people to catch up.”

Further information may be obtained on the program website at www.makeitrightCT.com and on the department’s Facebook and Twitter pages.

Sign up for CT Mirror's free daily news summary.

Free to Read. Not Free to Produce.

The Connecticut Mirror is a nonprofit newsroom. 90% of our revenue comes from people like you. If you value our reporting please consider making a donation. You'll enjoy reading CT Mirror even more knowing you helped make it happen.

YES, I'LL DONATE TODAY

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Keith M. Phaneuf

SEE WHAT READERS SAID

RELATED STORIES
On 4/20 this year, legalizing pot is not enough
by Mark Pazniokas

There was nothing mellow about this 4/20, the unofficial holiday for the celebration and consumption of cannabis.

Lamont unveils bipartisan deal to pay off huge unemployment trust debt
by Keith M. Phaneuf

A new plan to preserve Connecticut’s debt-riddled unemployment trust fund would curb benefits and increase taxes on some businesses.

Lamont takes a moment to celebrate government efficiency
by Mark Pazniokas

The state has consolidated 140 positions in human resources into 70.

Big dollars hang in the balance as CT finance panel rushes to finish work
by Keith M. Phaneuf

Millions of dollars in proposed tax hikes and cuts remain in play as the finance committee nears its Thursday deadline.

Bill that would eliminate CT’s religious exemption from mandatory vaccines clears House
by Jenna Carlesso

The measure passed by a vote of 90 to 53 after 16 hours of debate.

Support Our Work

Show your love for great stories and outstanding journalism.

$
Select One
  • Monthly
  • Yearly
  • Once
Artpoint painter
CT ViewpointsCT Artpoints
Opinion Biden is right to think big on infrastructure
by Jim Cameron

Hurrah! It was finally “infrastructure week” in Washington. In his first 100 days as President, Joe Biden has delivered a plan that his predecessor just kept teasing us with for four years:  a complete rehabilitation and expansion of the nation’s infrastructure.

Opinion My life and every other Black life matters
by Eugene Bertrand

"My life and every other black life matters." This is every black person's motto in the United States of America. In the past few months, we've seen an increase in deaths among the Black community.

Opinion Send us the children
by Kellin Atherton

Send us the children, President Biden. Send us the children, Governor Lamont. But not just the children. Move heaven and earth to find their families. Find mothers and fathers, brothers and sisters, grandparents, aunts and uncles, cousins. Children are coming here alone. Find someone to ease their loneliness and bring them too.

Opinion Lobbyist uses seniors and people with disabilities to protect drug company profits
by Ellen M. Andrews

Reading William Smith’s opinion (Connecticut must protect vulnerable populations from biased and discriminatory healthcare practices, April 13, 2021), I was worried that my state had passed draconian laws that were harming the health of seniors and people with disabilities. Thankfully, that isn’t the case. Our anti-discrimination laws are still in place and functioning.

Artwork Grand guidance
by Anne:Gogh

In a world of systemic oppression aimed towards those of darker skintones – representation matters. We are more than our equity elusive environments, more than numbers in a prison and much more than victims of societal dispositions. This piece depicts a melanated young man draped in a cape ascending high above multiple forms of oppression. […]

Artwork Shea
by Anthony Valentine

Shea is a story about race and social inequalities that plague America. It is a narrative that prompts the question, “Do you know what it’s like to wake up in new skin?”

Artwork The Declaration of Human Rights
by Andres Chaparro

Through my artwork I strive to create an example of ideas that reflect my desire to raise social consciousness, and cultural awareness. Jazz music is the catalyst to all my work, and plays a major influence in each piece of work.”

Artwork ‘A thing of beauty. Destroy it forever’
by Richard DiCarlo | Derby

During times like these it’s often fun to revisit something familiar and approach things with a different slant. I have been taking some Pop culture and Art masterpieces and applying the vintage 1960’s and 70’s classic figures (Fisher Price, little people) to the make an amusing pieces. Here is my homage to Fisher -Price, Yellow […]

Twitter Feed
A Twitter List by CTMirror

Engage

  • Reflections Tickets & Sponsorships
  • Events
  • Donate
  • Newsletter Sign-Up
  • Submit to Viewpoints
  • Submit to ArtPoints
  • Economic Indicator Dashboard
  • Speaking Engagements
  • Commenting Guidelines
  • Legal Notices
  • Contact Us

About

  • About CT Mirror
  • Announcements
  • Board
  • Staff
  • Sponsors and Funders
  • Donors
  • Friends of CT Mirror
  • History
  • Financial
  • Policies
  • Strategic Plan

Opportunity

  • Advertising and Sponsorship
  • Speaking Engagements
  • Use of Photography
  • Work for Us

Go Deeper

  • Steady Habits Podcast
  • Economic Indicator Dashboard
  • Five Things

The Connecticut News Project, Inc. 1049 Asylum Avenue, Hartford, CT 06105. Phone: 860-218-6380

© Copyright 2021, The Connecticut News Project. All Rights Reserved. Website by Web Publisher PRO