HARRISBURG - If you owe taxes, Pennsylvania wants you to know you have until midnight to pay up - and if you don't, it will find you.
Friday is the last day for the state's tax-amnesty program, which allows people and corporations to pay without penalty and with only half the interest due.
After the window closes, tax delinquents will be slapped with a 5 percent penalty on top of normal penalties and interest. And their names could be displayed on the state Department of Revenue's website.
And if that doesn't persuade them? As the state's somewhat ominous tax-amnesty television ad says, "We know where you live."
The program, which began in late April, appears to have been successful. Gov. Rendell told reporters Thursday that the state had raked in $180 million, and that he was "confident" it would reach its $190 million goal.
In all, the state is owed more than $2.1 billion, according to the administration. About 20 percent of the 202,000 tax delinquents are from other states, including the six bordering Pennsylvania.
The amnesty applies to all individuals and businesses with tax delinquencies as of June 30, 2009. It covers all taxes collected by the state, including personal-income, sales, and corporation taxes.
Rendell has said repeatedly that the program does not give tax delinquents a pass, since participants still pay more than what they originally owed: the taxes, plus some interest.
The state got the word out through a $3 million media campaign, including television, print, radio, and online ads. The Department of Revenue also sent out letters in April to those owing money.
One of the state's television ads has raised more than a few eyebrows. It aired during the first few weeks of the program and began: "Your name is Tom. You live just off of Fifth Street. Nice car, Tom. Nice house. What's not so nice is you owe Pennsylvania $4,212 in back taxes."
The ad shows a GPS map zeroing in on a house, then urges Tom to take advantage of the program because "Tom, we do know who you are."
"Find us before we find you," the ad flashes at the end.
Of the ads, Rendell said Thursday: "They're a little tough and edgy, but they ought to be."
And, he added, they've worked.
Call 1-877-347-2987 (1-877-34-PAYUP) or visit www.PATaxPayUp.com
Inquirer staff writer Amy Worden contributed to this article.
