Kokua Line
Kokua Line
Can you find out whether the state Department of Taxation will have its amnesty program again? We're a bunch of small business owners who have fallen behind on our general excise taxes. We're afraid to call the department to get information. No tax amnesty program,
but mercy for complianceSorry it's taken so long to get a response.
Part of the delay was caused by tax officials wanting to see what action legislators would take on an "amnesty bill" during the recently ended legislative session.
The short answer is that there is no amnesty program, although there are measures to help delinquent taxpayers.
Some background: House Bill 2912 would have provided an amnesty period -- Oct. 1-Dec. 31, 1998 -- for general excise taxes and enacted a new penalty for those who did not take advantage of that period. Taxpayers would have been allowed to pay the taxes without any interest, cost of collection or civil/criminal penalties.
Someone under criminal investigation or charged for any general excise tax matter at the time of the payment would not have been eligible for the amnesty, said department spokeswoman June Yamamoto.
But the amnesty provision in the bill was replaced with other tax measures, she said.
However, the Tax Department will be lenient in assessing penalties to taxpayers who voluntarily come forward with their returns before the department contacts them, Yamamoto said.
"If a business meets certain criteria, it may be granted a full or partial waiver of penalty and interest, or it may be able to pay their taxes through an installment payment plan agreement," she said.
The main objective, Yamamoto said, "is to get people back into the system and to pay their taxes currently."
Beginning with the 1995 tax returns, a person or business that does not file annual general excise tax returns faces a maximum $25,000 fine and/or a year in prison.
Regarding the woman who was killed on Kamehameha Highway near East Pali Momi Street on May 25: Why was she taken to Queen's Hospital instead of Kapiolani Medical Center at Pali Momi? She could have gotten attention much more quickly. The critical condition of the victim dictated that she be taken to Queen's Hospital, said Donnie Gates, assistant chief of operations for the city's Emergency Medical Services Division.
The division's transportation guidelines and standard operating procedures are to transport such severe trauma victims to Queen's, which is the designated trauma center, he said.
To the people on Analu Street in Liliha who allow their dogs to play at all hours of the day and night on some kind of metal plate or aluminum siding. We have had several weeks of sleepless nights. A good neighbor is what makes your home a castle and it works both ways. -- Sleepless in Honolulu Auwe
To Ms. Paracuellas for volunteering to help us become better readers. Also, mahalo to her and her friends at Gordon Biersch Restaurant for treating us to a delicious Easter Sunday brunch. We will never forget their kindness. -- Grade 3, Palolo School Mahalo
To a man driving a green Mercedes up Wilhelmina Rise with a toddler sitting on his lap and drinking from a cup on Memorial Day. I shudder to think of what would have happened if the air bag deployed. -- No Name Auwe
(To report toddlers not in a car safety seat, call 1-800-868-7300 with details -- license number, time, date, place, etc.)
Need help with problems? Call Kokua Line at 525-8686,
fax 525-6711, or write to P.O. Box 3080, Honolulu 96802.
Email to kokualine@starbulletin.com
