Authorizes the tax administrator to waive interest and penalties on delinquent taxes paid in full during a one week amnesty period. Also reinstates a suspended driver’s license upon payment in full.

Rhode Island Tax Amnesty Act of 2017

This bill would create a one-week "tax amnesty" period in Rhode Island, during which people who owe back taxes can pay what they owe without being charged extra fees. Normally, when someone falls behind on their taxes, the state adds interest charges and financial penalties on top of the original amount owed. During this special amnesty window, the state's tax administrator would have the authority to waive — or cancel — those extra charges, as long as the person pays their full original tax debt during that one-week period.

The bill also includes a benefit for people whose driver's licenses have been suspended due to unpaid taxes. If someone in that situation pays their tax debt in full during the amnesty period, their driver's license would be reinstated. This gives people an additional reason to take advantage of the amnesty window, especially those who rely on their license for work or daily life.

This bill would primarily affect Rhode Island residents and businesses that are currently behind on their state taxes. For those people, it represents a limited-time opportunity to clear their tax debt at a lower total cost by avoiding penalties and interest. For the state, the program could help recover tax money that might otherwise go uncollected. The bill has been referred to the Senate Finance Committee, where it will be reviewed before any further action is taken.