On June 21st, Governor Rendell announced that Pennsylvania’s first general tax amnesty program in 14 years brought in $261 million, significantly exceeding its budgeted goal of $190 million. The Department of Revenue expended considerable effort in contacting taxpayers with outstanding balances, urging them to participate. And, we saw much greater than usual flexibility from the Department in helping taxpayers under audit to conclude their audits in a manner permitting them to submit part or all of their audited liability through the amnesty program.

Now that the general amnesty is over (see article below for new escheat amnesty program), the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue is vowing to step up enforcement against those who did not take advantage of the amnesty program. According to Governor Rendell, ì[t]he Department Ö will more frequently garnish the wages of people who owe back taxes, hold more corporate officers personally accountable for taxes their businesses owe, issue more citations against businesses operating without sales tax licenses and publish all tax liens for public view.î The amnesty legislation also provided an additional 5% penalty for those who did not participate.