WATCH: Illinois tax amnesty program closes Nov. 17, brings in $82.5 million

By Greg Bishop | The Center Square
The Center Square

(The Center Square) – The Illinois Department of Revenue is confident it will meet, if not exceed, its goal of bringing in $240 million in delinquent payments over the next two weeks during the 2025 tax amnesty program.

IDOR Director David Harris said the program legislators approved for the current fiscal year continues until Nov. 17. Tax liability that’s eligible for the program is that which was due to Illinois from periods ending June 30, 2018, to July 1, 2024.

“So if you have a tax debt that was incurred during those times, you are eligible to pay that tax debt without any penalty or interest,” Harris told The Center Square. “And that’s a significant savings for taxpayers that might have a debt owed to the state of Illinois through the Department of Revenue.”

So far, he said they’ve brought in $82.5 million. In May, legislators approved the program with the hopes of netting more than $240 million.

“I believe that we are on track to certainly equal or exceed that number,” Harris said.

They have tools to go after delinquent taxpayers who don’t take advantage of the amnesty program, Harris said.

“We can levy a bank account. You don’t have to worry about, if you’re a business, a sticker on your, let’s say, a retailer, a sticker on your front door saying that the business cannot operate because they have tax debt,” Harris said. “I mean, the collections efforts can be significant.”

It’s not just businesses within Illinois that Harris said they can target for tax delinquency. They can go after individuals out of state.

“It’s not just that business. It’s the principals in the business,” Harris said. “So if there is a tax debt for that business that isn’t paid, that tax that flows to the principals and the principals, then become liable for that tax bill.”

More information about the amnesty program can be found at Tax.Illinois.gov.