$5 MILLION-PLUS COLLECTED BUSINESS-TAX AMNESTY BRINGS IN MUCH MORE THAN CITY OFFICIALS EXPECTED.Byline: Rick Orlov Orlov (Орлóв) is the name of a Russian noble family which produced several distinguished statesmen, diplomatists and soldiers. The family first gained distinction in the person of four Orlov brothers, of whom the senior was Catherine the Great's Staff Writer A six-month amnesty amnesty (ăm`nəstē), in law, exemption from prosecution for criminal action. It signifies forgiveness and the forgetting of past actions. program waged by the city of Los Angeles
2. The indorsement of a note or bill overdue, is equivalent to drawing a new bill payable at sight. 2 Conn. 419; 18 Pick. business taxes brought in an estimated $5 million - some $2 million more than anticipated, officials said Tuesday Tuesday: see week. . While final figures were unavailable, city officials said the payments show there were a number of firms that were either purposely pur·pose·ly adv. With specific purpose. purposely Adverb on purpose USAGE: See at purposeful. Adv. 1. avoiding or were ignorant of the city's business tax laws. ``We have argued for years that you can have increased compliance if you have programs like this,'' said Mel Kohn, a vice chairman of the Valley Industry and Commerce Association and head of Mayor James Hahn's Business Tax Advisory Committee. ``It's good for all of business,'' Kohn said. ``What it means is that people like me who are paying their taxes aren't paying for the scofflaws as well.'' The city's gross-receipts tax on businesses generates about $360 million a year, making it the city's fifth-largest source of revenue. City officials have estimated they lose as much as $60 million a year due to business-tax scofflaws. This year, a state law gave the city, for the first time, access to state Franchise Tax Board records to identify companies in Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. that don't pay the city business tax. The law was expected to help the city boost its tax revenues by several million dollars in the first year alone. Hahn also was pleased with the results, Deputy Mayor Matt Middlebrook said. ``This worked better than we expected,'' Middlebrook said. ``Having more people on the tax roles not only increases revenue, but it will allow us to offset some of the other costs in the business tax code for additional reform.'' Pam Mooney, assistant director of the city Office of Finance, said the state legislation allowed the city to have access to Franchise Tax Board records of Los Angeles-based businesses. As a result, the city sent out notices to 151,000 firms in January notifying no·ti·fy tr.v. no·ti·fied, no·ti·fy·ing, no·ti·fies 1. To give notice to; inform: notified the citizens of the curfew by posting signs. 2. them of the city's business tax laws and giving them until June 30 to pay back taxes without having to pay any additional penalties. ``We thought it would serve to encourage businesses to come forward, pay their taxes without penalty and then be part of the system,'' Mooney said. ``So far, it seems to be working.'' Mooney said it is doubtful whether the city will offer a similar program in the immediate future. ``Like with amnesty programs, it's only effective if you don't offer it every year,'' Mooney said. ``Otherwise, people will just wait for an amnesty program to come into effect before they pay their taxes.'' Rick Orlov, (213) 978-0390 rick.orlov(at)dailynews.com |
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