Briefcase
State offers amnesty on delinquent taxes
The Washington Department of Revenue is offering an amnesty deal to recover delinquent back taxes owed by state businesses.
The first-time program is expected to generate $24 million for the state and nearly $4 million for local government. The program was authorized during last weekend’s special session of the Legislature.
The deal applies to state business-and-occupation and public-utility taxes and state and local sales and use taxes. Registered and unregistered businesses can qualify to have penalties and interest waived on certain unpaid taxes. Taxpayers will apply for the program from Feb. 1 to April 18 and must pay back taxes by April 30. The revenue department plans on having application procedures ready by mid-January.
For information, go to http://dor.wa.gov/amnesty or call (800) 647-7706.
NIC offering course for truck driver’s license
The North Idaho College Workforce Training Center will begin offering in January a commercial driver’s license course that will prepare people for entry-level jobs as truck drivers in less than six weeks.
Truck-driving jobs are in high demand, a news release from the training center said. A free information session will be held from 1 to 3 p.m. Tuesday at the center in Post Falls. Call (208) 769-3333 for more information.
The class will be offered from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays, Jan. 24 to March 2. It includes 160 hours of training through the Professional Truck Driver Institute’s required curriculum. Those who finish qualify to obtain a class A commercial driver’s license.
Applicants must be 18 or older with a valid driver’s license and a good driving record.
Alison Boggs
Earnings roundup
• FedEx said Thursday its fiscal second-quarter earnings fell 18 percent, hurt by one-time charges and costs to integrate two trucking units.
• Oracle Corp.’s net income jumped 28 percent in the latest quarter, its biggest increase in more than two years and another sign that companies are spending more liberally on technology. Oracle, one of the world’s biggest software makers, demonstrated in its latest numbers that it is shielded somewhat from sudden market swings because nearly half of its revenue comes from support contracts that provide consistent revenue throughout the year.
• General Mills Inc. reported Thursday that its net income rose 9 percent while revenue was nearly flat during its second quarter. The company said it sold more cereal and snacks by volume during the period, but higher commodity costs and lower selling prices cut into the bottom line.
Associated Press