“I am providing this link as a service to business and individual taxpayers who believe they may be eligible to participate in this one-time opportunity to pay their past taxes and avoid most penalties and fees without fiscal penalties,” Ruskin stated.

Under provisions contained in the state budget enacted last year, individual and business taxpayers who owe income, franchise, sales, or use taxes for tax years 2002 and earlier are eligible for this amnesty program. Taxpayers can avoid criminal prosecution and get most penalties and fees waived by paying the tax and interest.

“I want to emphasize that the deadline to apply for this one-time opportunity is March 31, 2005,” Ruskin said.

Excluded from participating are taxpayers currently under criminal investigation for tax-related matters, or taxpayers with abusive tax shelter transactions that were eligible to participate in either last year's Voluntary Compliance Initiative or the 2003 IRS Offshore Voluntary Compliance Initiative. These taxpayers are eligible for amnesty for non-abusive tax shelter items.

“I encourage taxpayers who believe they are eligible for the amnesty program to log on to my website and click-on the link I have provided,” Ruskin concluded.

The Franchise Tax Board estimates the amnesty program will gross $555 million for fiscal year 2004/05 and the Board of Equalization predicts they will collect some $115 million for fiscal years 2004/05 and 2005/06. A similar program in 1984-85 raised $154 million.