Amnesty Program Runs from October 1 to December 31, 2022

City of New Orleans Offers Amnesty Late Fee Forgiveness Program for Residents and Taxpayers

The Mayor’s Office and Department of Finance is offering a late fee forgiveness or “amnesty” program for residents to take advantage of from October 1 until December 31, 2022. Residents will be allowed, in certain circumstances, to pay fees without late penalties or additional fees when paying for City services. This includes past-due accounts with parking and camera tickets, sales and hotel/motel taxes, code enforcement violations, and library fees. Additionally, the Sewerage and Water Board of New Orleans (SWBNO) will waive certain late fees for eligible residential customers wishing to reduce – and ultimately eliminate – their delinquent SWBNO bills.

Questions about Amnesty?

Call the information hotline at (504) 658-2019 or dial 311.

A message from the Mayor

For the second time my Administration is offering residents the opportunity to participate in an Amnesty Late Fee Forgiveness Program. This program allows us to meet our residents where they are and help them clean the slate as it relates to past due accounts. Providing this relief to residents now is critical as we continue to feel the impacts of COVID-19, inflation, and rising prices.

The Amnesty Late Fee Forgiveness Program in 2019 was a success – saving residents almost $6M in fines and fees – and I hope that residents will take advantage of this opportunity before the end of the year.  The program is designed to create a situation where everyone is able to get their Fair Share - it gives residents a chance to pay what they owe the City without the constraint of additional fees and allows the City to put additional dollars into providing services for residents.

I encourage our residents to take advantage of the Amnesty Late Fee Forgiveness Program so that we can all move forward to help make the City of New Orleans a better place to live, work, and do business.

Parking and Camera Tickets

 

Learn more

Sales & Hotel/Motel Taxes

 

Learn more

Code Enforcement Violations

 

Learn more

Library
Fines

 

Learn more

Sewerage &
Water Board

 

Learn more

Parking and Camera Tickets

The City of New Orleans is offering a limited opportunity to pay delinquent parking and/or photo safety citations without late penalties. Anyone that owes money for parking tickets more than 30 days old, or photo safety citations more than 60 days old will be able to pay them minus any late fees.

This opportunity ONLY lasts October 1–December 31, 2022 and does not apply to any late penalties paid before or after the program period. All previously paid late fees are non-refundable, and full penalties and interest will be assessed after midnight on December 31, 2022. 

Who Qualifies

Any citizen who owes late fees on parking and/or photo safety citations (camera tickets). This does not apply to moving violations (tickets from NOPD). For information about moving violations, please visit our traffic court website.

Benefits

No late fees! Citizens will have the chance to pay initial fees only, on late parking and photo safety citations from October 1–December 31, 2022. Immobilization of vehicles will be suspended, and no vehicles will be booted during the program period.

How to Participate

  1. Pay online
  2. Pay by phone
    • ​​For parking tickets call (504) 525-0088
    • For camera tickets call (504) 658-8082
  3. Pay in person at the following locations:
    • City Hall: 1300 Perdido St., 1st Floor, Room 1W09
    • City Auto Pound: 400 N. Claiborne Ave.

Payment Methods

Payments must be made in the form of check, money order, VISA or Master Card. (Cash cannot be accepted.)

Questions

For more information, please call one of the following numbers.

  • Hearings Center - 504-658-8250
  • Parking Division - 504-658-8200

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Sales & Hotel/Motel Taxes

The City of New Orleans is giving business owners and operators the chance to support the Cantrell Administration’s initiatives to help you pay your ‘Fair Share’. The City anticipates recovery of millions of dollars of unpaid back taxes and fees which are critical to fund infrastructure repairs, support City-provided services.  

This is your opportunity to settle your delinquent tax accounts, by only paying the base tax amount due and a portion of the interest. You may obtain amnesty on outstanding sales, use, hotel/motel, parking, alcoholic beverage gallonage, occupational license taxes and various permits without penalty, negligence and only 50% interest.  

Critical City services are funded by the revenues that you pay. When not received, it creates a budgetary shortfall in all City departments. Sales tax revenues make up approximately 40 percent of the City’s General Fund budget, which fund public safety, infrastructure repairs, New Orleans Recreation, Sanitation and more. 

After this limited time offer, the Bureau of Revenue will employ all resources available to identify the non-filer and collect delinquencies. This includes, but not limited to:

  • Discovery analytics utilizing data matching techniques
  • Social media presence
  • Increased audit efforts
  • Collaboration with the State of Louisiana, Department of Revenue and Taxation
  • Garnishments, Liens
  • Lawsuits, Seizures

HOW DOES IT WORK?

Between October 1 and December 31, 2022 all penalties, negligence and 50 percent of interest will be waived.  

Who qualifies?

  • Individuals who failed to file a tax return and pay the tax due
  • Individuals who failed to register and/or file sales or any other type of tax, license or permit
  • Taxpayers who are currently under an installment agreement or have defaulted on an installment agreement
  • Taxpayers who underpaid tax or have any outstanding sales tax balance
  • Taxpayers who have failed to pay for or renew an Occupational License or permit
  • Taxpayers currently under audit or in litigation for sales tax matters
  • Taxpayers who misrepresented or omitted tax due
  • Taxpayers who have sales tax liens on personal or business property
  • Taxpayers who claimed incorrect credits or deductions on tax returns

Benefits

During Amnesty, all penalties, negligence fees and 50% of interest will be waived for all filers participating in the program.  You can realize substantial savings because penalty and 50% of interest is waived.

Must I pay all tax and interest in full to receive Amnesty?

Yes, but taxpayers will be afforded the opportunity to pay in installments. The amnesty agreement terms are a 50 percent down payment and two (2) equal remaining payments (a total of 3 installments).

All installment agreements MUST be paid in full by January 31, 2023. If agreements are not paid, all penalties and interest are restored to original liability amount.

If I already paid a penalty, can I get a refund?

No.  The program does not permit a refund of previously paid penalties or interest.

How to Participate

In Person

  • Taxpayers can make an appointment or complete this application (Excel) and come into the Bureau of Revenue office, Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm, City Hall, 1st floor, Room 1W15, 1300 Perdido St. New Orleans, LA 70112.
  • Provide gross sales information for months under consideration by completing the monthly sales tax returns.
  • Taxpayers must be ready to pay all delinquencies qualified under the Amnesty period.

Online

New Filers with Existing Revenue Accounts:
  • If you are new to the City of New Orleans EGov site, please setup your profile, add your account number and the City will approve the request within 24 hours.  You will receive an email confirmation once you are approved to file your return. 
  • Additionally, as an existing business, you should have received an Amnesty letter detailing your liability.  The letter contains a coupon code which is a requirement to file online and receive the discounted tax calculation.  Please make sure to have the letter and coupon code ready when you go online to pay. 
New Filers with No Existing Account:
  • If you do not have a City of New Orleans Revenue account number, you will need to make an appointment with the Bureau of Revenue to get registered.

Payment Methods

The City of New Orleans will only accept certified funds for payment, this includes cashier’s checks and money orders.  The City will make available a spreadsheet to help you calculate what your liability to obtain the amount to submit in certified funds.

Savings Calculator

We've created this 10-year spreadsheet to help you estimate your savings by participating in the Amnesty Late Fee Forgiveness Program.

Download the Savings Calculator 2015-2022 (Excel)

Questions?

For more information, please call (504) 658-1TAX (1829) or (504) 658-1637, or email salestaxamnesty@nola.gov.

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Code Enforcement Violations

The Amnesty Fee Reduction Program for Code Enforcement is a limited opportunity for owners, of properties previously found in violation of the City of New Orleans Chapter 26 Minimum Property Maintenance standards Code, to satisfy liens at a reduced cost.

During Code Enforcement Amnesty, upon successful correction of all violations, fines will be reduced, on a case by case basis.  Actual costs, such as demolition cost, grass cutting costs or administrative costs, cannot be waived.

Who Qualifies?

Anyone with an ownership interest in property with a Code Enforcement lien and anyone who has had a Sheriff Sale filed against their property based on an unpaid Code Enforcement lien between January 2011 thru December 2015.

Benefits

During Amnesty, all violations will be significantly reduced for all approved filers participating in the program.

How To participate

Submit this form, with the following attached documents:   

  • Proof of ownership
  •  If your name is not on the tax bill -- Copy of a recent tax bill    
  • Copy of ALL recorded liens to be considered  
  • Color photos, of the corrected property,  stamped with date, time and address, proving that the photos were taken within seven (7) days of the application submission

Missing documents will result in an automatic denial.

Must I pay all tax and interest in full to receive Code Enforcement Amnesty?

Each situation is different depending on any tax delinquency. Although Code Enforcement liens are placed on the tax bill, each Code Enforcement lien will be considered for reduction. However, if the Code Enforcement lien has been sold for tax delinquency or adjudicated on a tax sale certificate then that lien will not be able to be reduced. We will let you know what Code Enforcement liens are eligible and how they are eligible when you apply for reduction. We will also give instructions on how to make payment.

If I have already paid a penalty can I get it back?

No. The City's Amnesty Late Fee Forgiveness Program does not permit refund of penalties nor interest previously paid.

Questions?

Please feel free to call us at (504) 658-4346, and a Code Enforcement representative will assist you.

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Library Fines and Fees

The New Orleans Public Library is offering a one-time fine and fee waiver for any outstanding fine and fees up to $200. Cardholders with outstanding fines and/or fees can come into any library branch between October 1–December 31, 2022 and receive the one-time waiver. 

New Orleans Public Library recognizes that fines and fees can be a barrier to members of the community seeking essential library services. The Public Library serves all members of the New Orleans community and hopes that this program will welcome community members back to the library. 

Who qualifies? 

Any and all New Orleans Public Library cardholders with outstanding fines and fees are qualified to receive one waiver during the Amnesty Late Fee Forgiveness Program. 

Benefits 

During the program, fines and fees up to $200 will be waived one time for all cardholders that participate in the program. 

I don't think I have any fines or fees, but I don't know because I lost my card. What can I do? 

Stop by any branch location between October 1–December 31, 2022 to receive a new card at no cost. We'll check your account for additional fine or fee dismissal. 

How to Participate 

  • Bring a picture ID or Library Card to any New Orleans Public Library Branch between October 1–December 31, 2022. 
  • Ask about the Amnesty Late Fee Forgiveness Program at any library service desk. 
  • Card holders have the special opportunity to bring back overdue library materials fine-free one time during this program. 
  • Each cardholder only gets one waiver during the program. 

If I Have Already Paid a Penalty, Can I Get It Back? 

No. The Amnesty Late Fee Forgiveness Program only applies to unpaid outstanding fines and fees. 

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Sewerage & Water Board of New Orleans

The Sewerage & Water Board of New Orleans (SWBNO) is joining Mayor LaToya Cantrell’s effort to give New Orleanians a chance to catch up on outstanding debts.

SWBNO will host Fee Forgiveness Months beginning in October in partnership with Mayor Cantrell’s Amnesty Program. Between October 3 and December 30, 2022, SWBNO will waive certain late fees for eligible residential customers wishing to reduce – and ultimately eliminate – their delinquent water service bills.

We encourage any customer who have received a delinquent notice to call our Customer Service Center at 52-WATER to explore these programs and any other options to avoid service disconnection.

Who Qualifies?

To be eligible, a residential customer’s account must be considered delinquent, meaning more than $50 has been owed for longer than 60 days. This program applies to residential account holders only. (Commercial, Multi-Family and Industrial accounts are not eligible to participate.)

If you are unsure about the status of your account, or if you have a past due balance that you believe to be under dispute or are awaiting a hearing, please call 52-WATER or visit one of our Customer Service Centers to confirm the status of your account. Customers participating in the Fee Forgiveness Program can pay using cash, credit or debit cards, or money orders. Personal checks will not be accepted.

SWBNO has trained a team of Customer Service representatives to specifically administer this program at its locations in the Central Business District and Algiers. Staff will be on hand throughout this period to assist customers wishing to participate.

How to Participate

Eligible residential customers can participate through three easy steps:

  1. Get in touch with us.
    Visit us at 625 St. Joseph Street on the East Bank or 4021 Behrman Place on the West Bank, or call us at (504) 52-WATER (504-529-2837) – choose your language option (1 for English, 2 for Spanish, 3 for Vietnamese) and then press 4 for Customer Service. 
  2. Pay a minimum of 25% of your outstanding delinquent balance.
    Low-income customers who cannot pay 25% of their balance may qualify for a reduced down payment. Upon providing proof they participate in one or more low-income assistance programs, customers may qualify for a reduced down payment of 15%. Visit our Payment Assistance page for details about eligible assistance programs.
  3. Enter a payment plan for your remaining balance.

SWBNO will forgive unpaid fees assessed to participating customers’ accounts dating back to January 2021.

Please visit www.swbno.org for more information or call (504) 52-WATER. 

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