What's my incentive for paying taxes on time?

October 29, 2009 12:36 am

I get very upset every time I hear about the state offering to waive late-tax-filing penalties to anyone paying late and outstanding taxes by a certain date ["State hopes tax amnesty program will raise cash," Sept. 29].

I understand that this has been quite successful. What upsets me is how I have paid my taxes, on time, all my working life, without even a "thank you."

With the way the evaders are being treated, I feel foolish that I didn't wait for this offer. I could have taken all that tax money, put it into a bank savings account, collected interest, and then when the state set up this program, take the money out, pay off my debt and have a little pile of interest money to spend.

And I thought I was being a good citizen. Foolish me.

Along with this program of waiving penalties to tax evaders, I think the state should add an amendment to this bill and offer to pay those of us who paid our taxes on time some sort of interest rebate.

A proposal: With the next filing date, we are allowed to deduct, say, $50 a year for every year we paid our taxes on time going back 20 years.

I am just tired of trying to follow the rules, be a fairly good citizen, stay out of trouble, and then watch the evaders get off scot free.

Tell me, what are we to tell the younger generation about following the rules? It just isn't fair.

Dale Virch

Orange