Local Government Property Tax Amnesty Programs: Structures and Themes
Public Finance and Management 12(2), pp. 146-173, 2012.
31 Pages Posted: 19 Feb 2012 Last revised: 27 Jul 2012
Date Written: April 21, 2012
Abstract
While the use of tax amnesty programs has been commonplace for decades among both states and local governments, historically these offers have rarely been extended to delinquent real property taxes. In the last 10 years, however, there have been 26 property tax amnesties offered by local governments in six states. This paper presents data on these programs, and then provides a narrative analysis of these cases by drawing upon archival data from press releases, media reports, comprehensive annual financial reports, city council minutes, and policy memos. Several themes emerge from this study that reveal that the role of real property tax amnesty is more diverse than their state counterparts. The conclusion summarizes these lessons and offers some considerations for policy makers.
Keywords: Property Taxes, Tax Amnesty, Tax Evasion, Tax Administration, Tax Law
JEL Classification: H71, H27, K34, K11
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation
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