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Herrera’s bill to help
active duty military personnel with late tax payments passes House
Legislation would waive interest and penalties for
deployed service members
State
Representative Jaime Herrera’s bill that would relieve military
personnel serving in active combat areas of interest and penalties on
delinquent excise tax payments passed off the House floor today
unanimously.
“I’m pleased my bill has passed and I thank my fellow representatives
for their bipartisan support,” said Herrera, R-Ridgefield. “Our
service men and women put their lives on the line for us, and it’s
important we try to ease their burdens here at home. This would give
business owners who are called into active duty combat one less thing to
worry about.”
Testifying in favor of
House Bill 3283
during a committee hearing earlier this week was Lt. Col. John Perry
from Battle Ground. He is a small business owner and a reservist called
to active duty in 2004.
“Reserve and National Guard personnel deployed to combat zones suffer a
major disruption to their lives and businesses. While separated from
family, friends and livelihood, they must also tackle dangerous and
uncertain challenges in theaters of war,” said Perry. “House Bill 3283
recognizes this service to our great nation by relieving the pressure of
filing excise taxes while they are deployed. We who have served are
grateful for this token of support and understanding extended to those
called to give so much.”
Under current law, the state waives interest and penalties on delinquent
property taxes for military personnel stationed in active combat areas.
House Bill 3283 extends the same protections for excise tax.
The state Department of Revenue currently charges interest on unpaid
excise tax. It can also assess a 5 percent penalty on top of the unpaid
tax for filing a late tax return. This penalty can increase to 25
percent if taxes are unpaid for more than two months.
House Bill 3283 is now headed to the Senate for further
consideration.
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For more information, contact:
John
Handy, Assistant Director: (360) 786-5758
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