Mesa hopes to coax late taxpayers to settle their bill with the city by getting rid of penalties and reducing interest payments.
City staff has proposed a tax amnesty program that would take place from June 1 to July 31, 2017.
The program would waive penalties and cut interest payments in half if people paid their outstanding balance.
“It gives them a break,” said Mesa revenue collections supervisor Patti Oskvarek.
Mesa staff estimate the city could net $630,00 if even 80 percent of people pay up.
“It’s targeted at anybody that has a business, whether it’s a corporation, an LLC or an individual,” Oskvarek said. “It's also for people that may not have a license and haven’t filed any returns and want to come forward.”
A presentation to Mesa’s Audit, Finance and Enterprise Committee cited Tucson’s success in collecting $2 million because of a tax amnesty program offered in 2015.
The committee approved the program and it now awaits a vote in city council.
