Tax amnesty is a limited-time opportunity for a
specified group of taxpayers to pay a defined
amount, in exchange for forgiveness of a tax
liability (including interest and penalties) relating to a
previous tax period or periods without fear
of criminal prosecution. It typically expires when
some authority begins a tax investigation of the pastdue
tax. In some cases, legislation extending amnesty
also imposes harsher penalties on those who are eligible
for amnesty but do not take it.
