COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) -- Businesses that haven't been paying Ohio's "use tax" will have more than a year to comply and avoid punishment under an amnesty program in the new budget.

The Columbus Dispatch (http://bit.ly/pd6SGT ) reports that the use tax on the books for 75 years has long been ignored by many in the state and many are unaware of it.

Both businesses and individuals are required to pay the tax on goods bought outside the state that did not carry a sales tax. But the state Department of Taxation is targeting businesses first as Ohio seeks its share of money from the explosion of business over the Internet.

The amnesty program for businesses will begin Oct. 1 and continue until May 2013.

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Information from: The Columbus Dispatch, http://www.dispatch.com