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Thursday, April 5, 2012 | 11:16 p.m.

Starting May 1, Ohioans who are behind on their taxes will have a limited-time opportunity to make good on their obligations with no penalties and only half interest on the amount due.

To help taxpayers and tax professionals take advantage of the program the Ohio Department of Taxation has established a website that provides extensive information on the amnesty, how it works, and how to apply. The website is at www.ohiotaxamnesty.gov.

The Ohio General Tax Amnesty Program runs for six weeks, from May 1 through June 15, and allows taxpayers who have underpaid, or failed to pay, certain taxes to correct their tax issues at the lowest possible cost.

In a news release, Ohio Tax Commissioner Joe Testa said amnesty provides benefits to both those who participate and all other Ohioans who pay tax.

"Simply put, this is the best chance to catch up on back taxes and an important source of revenue to balance the state budget without raising taxes," Testa said.

He said amnesty programs have a successful track record in many states, including Ohio.

"The last General Tax Amnesty Program in 2006 resulted in thousands of participants and the collection of $66 million," Testa said.

The new website launched Thursday and provides applications, interest calculators, answers to frequently asked questions, and many other details about the program.

A similar, but separate, program offering amnesty for the Consumer’s Use Tax also is under way.

To be eligible for general tax amnesty, taxpayers must have owed taxes on May 1, 2011. They cannot have been issued a billing or assessment notice or have been notified of an audit for the tax period or periods for which they are applying for amnesty.

The amnesty program applies to the following taxes:

• Individual income

• Individual school district income

• Commercial activity tax

• Sales and seller’s use (excludes consumer’s use tax)

• Employer withholding

• School district employer withholding

• Corporation franchise

• Pass-through entity

• Estate

• Gross receipts of a natural gas company or a combined electric and gas company

• Motor fuel

• Cigarette or other tobacco products

• Dealers in intangibles

In the news release, Testa encouraged those who might qualify for amnesty to step up and correct their unpaid tax issues, saying, "Amnesty is a taxpayer-friendly way for Ohioans to meet their obligations. There are incentives that end June 15. After that, not complying gets a lot more costly."

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