Tax Deadline Extended for Residents Affected by Storms

By Amber Lester Kennedy Wednesday, April 20, 2011

James City County residents affected by the severe storms that struck on April 16 will be granted a 30-day extension for filing returns and making payments on their state taxes.

The extension applies to 18 localities across the state, including James City, Isle of Wight and Gloucester counties. If Gov. Bob McDonnell declares any additional localities as disaster areas, they will also qualify for this tax relief. The extension does not apply to federal filing, which was due Monday.

To qualify for this special filing extension, taxpayers must be unable to meet their filing obligations because the financial records they need to file their taxes are located in the affected areas or are otherwise unavailable because of severe storm damage.

Individuals and businesses in these areas automatically get 30 additional days to file all returns and make all tax payments that had a due date, or an extended due date, on or after April 16 and on or before May 2. These include Sales and Use Tax returns, Withholding Tax returns, Income Tax returns, and estimated tax payments.

To receive the special filing extension, taxpayers affected by the severe storm damage should write “Severe Storm Relief" at the top of their paper returns. The Virginia Department of Taxation will not charge interest and any late-filing or late-payment penalties that would otherwise apply.

Taxpayers with additional questions should contact Tax at (804) 367-8031 for individual income tax questions or (804) 367-8037 for business tax questions.