Iowa Department of Revenue officials yesterday outlined a two-month tax amnesty program it will offer from Sept. 1 through Oct. 31, the first such program in the state since 1986.

Under the Iowa tax amnesty bill passed during the 2007 legislative session, those who qualify can receive a waiver of 100 percent of penalties and 50 percent of interest accrued on unpaid taxes. The amnesty applies to all returns originally due on or before Dec. 31, 2006.

Collections from the 1986 program totaled $35 million, $9 million of which the department estimated would not otherwise have been collected. The department estimates it will collect nearly $54 million in the 2007 program, including $16 million that wouldn’t otherwise have been collected.

All taxes administered by the department are eligible for the program, including individual income, withholding, corporation income, sales and use and franchise taxes. Property taxes and motor vehicle use tax do not qualify.

Eligible taxpayers include those who did not file a required return, those who made mistakes on a previously filed return and those who may simply have tax debt, including taxpayers who agreed to a payment plan before the beginning of the amnesty period.