La. tax amnesty program near end

Delinquent taxpayers have less than a week to get a break on their tax bill by settling their accounts with the state.

The state tax amnesty program, which waives half the interest owed, ends Saturday, which is Halloween.

So far, the state has collected about $73 million — far less than the $150 million state officials hoped would be generated to repay the state’s “rainy day” fund.

State officials are counting on a crush of last minute payments, Byron Henderson, spokesman for the state Department of Revenue, said.

“Historically, the most active period for amnesty payments is the last three days of the program,” he said. “We anticipate that the 2009 Louisiana Tax Amnesty Program will follow the historical trend.”