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(Frankfort, Oct. 1, 2002) - The Kentucky Revenue Cabinet announced today that preliminary receipts for the Tax Amnesty program, which ended yesterday, are $41,489,591.

"The Cabinet is very pleased by the favorable response to the Tax Amnesty program," said Revenue Secretary Dana B. Mayton. "Both individuals and businesses realized what an excellent opportunity tax amnesty presented," said Mayton.

More than 12,800 individuals and businesses have participated in the Tax Amnesty program; 6,777 individuals and 6,055 businesses. More than $36,623,000 (88%) has come from businesses and more than $4,867,000 (12%) from individuals. Over 26,000 tax bills have been resolved.

Payments have come from taxpayers in 46 states, the District of Columbia and five foreign countries. Payments from taxpayers outside Kentucky total more than $24,416,000 or 59% of receipts to date. "Most of the out-of-state payments have come from multi-state corporations doing business in Kentucky," said Mayton.

"Tax amnesty not only helped delinquent taxpayers to get right with the government, it was good for compliant taxpayers, too," said Mayton. "The program has added new taxpayers to the rolls creating a fairer distribution of the tax burden," Mayton said.

Amnesty payments were received from all 120 Kentucky counties. Jefferson County led the way with more than $7,379,000 from 2,363 participants.

The largest single payment was more than $6 million while the smallest was $0.03.

Sales tax leads in receipts with more than $10,486,000, followed closely by corporation license with more than $ 10,284,000 and corporation income with more than $10,165,000. Individual income receipts are $3,791,614. 

The Cabinet's Tax Amnesty website received more than 132,000 hits while the Amnesty toll-free number received 26,000 calls. Almost 4,000 were received yesterday, the final day of the program.

"The results we are announcing today are preliminary," said Mayton. "Amnesty applications postmarked September 30th are still arriving and we will provide a more complete report on October 11, when we hold a press conference at 10:00 a.m. at the Capitol," Mayton said. 

Secretary Mayton pointed out that, "Tax Amnesty was a special grace period provided to allow delinquent taxpayers to pay up before new compliance tools are implemented. The General Assembly equipped Revenue with increased penalties and new compliance programs to begin after the conclusion of Amnesty," said Mayton. "These new tools will help ensure that all taxpayers are paying their fair share," said the Secretary.