State of Ohio Offering Tax Amnesty

The State of Ohio is offering a rare opportunity to remit unpaid taxes without penalty and interest. As part of House Bill 153, the State of Ohio is offering qualified taxpayers the opportunity to remit unpaid use tax for purchases made from January 1, 2009 and forward. There will be no penalty or interest assessed on the balance due and an interest free payment plan is available (if you meet certain criteria). The amnesty program runs from October 1, 2011 through May 1, 2013. If you previously have been contacted in any form by the Ohio Department of Taxation regarding use tax, you are not eligible for the Amnesty Program. If you have been remitting use tax but think that you may owe additional use tax, you are not eligible for the Amnesty Program, but may be eligible for the Voluntary Disclosure Program. Please find in the provided link the information release recently published by the Ohio Department of Taxation at: Click Here

What is Use Tax? I’ve never heard of this?

Consumer use tax must be paid on all taxable purchases of tangible personal property or services used, stored or otherwise consumed in Ohio unless Ohio sales tax has been paid to a vendor or the tax has been properly paid to another state. In general, if you have paid Ohio sales tax on the purchase of tangible personal property or a taxable service, you do not owe consumer’s use tax on that transaction. The State of Ohio has provided this amnesty program as an opportunity for taxpayers to satisfy their past consumer’s use tax liability. The amnesty program is offering taxpayers an excellent opportunity to satisfy unpaid use tax.

If you believe you have a potential use tax liability and may be eligible for the amnesty or voluntary disclosure program, please contact our office at (740) 362-9031.