Indiana's Tax Amnesty Program Exceeds $90 Million Goal

INDIANAPOLIS -- Indiana’s 2015 tax amnesty program surpassed its goal of collecting at least $90 million.

The tax amnesty program, which allowed Hoosiers who owed back taxes to repay them without penalties, interest or fines, brought in $100 million in its two-month period.  Delinquent taxpayers have promised an additional $22 million through payment plans that run through June of 2016. 

Of that total, $84 million is dedicated for the new Regional Cities Initiative, an economic development program that will award funding to two Indiana regions.  That announcement is expected later this month. 

The next $6 million is earmarked for the Hoosier State Passenger Rail Line that runs from Indianapolis to Chicago.  And the remaining money goes to the state’s General Fund.

The Department of Revenue hired a private contractor, Navient, to help collect money through tax amnesty.  Navient gets four percent of the money it helps collect if it reaches at least $55 million.  The contractor has not yet hit that mark on its own, though a Revenue Department spokesperson says it’s expected to once the remaining money comes in via the payment plans.