THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, May 1, 1996 TAG: 9605010545
SECTION: BUSINESS PAGE: D1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY TOM SHEAN, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Short : 44 lines
With slightly more than 1.5 million state tax returns already filed and processed, the Virginia Department of Taxation is expecting another half-million returns to be filed by today's midnight deadline.
A half-million others probably will be filed after the May 1 deadline, bringing the expected total of state tax returns this year to 2.5 million, said Dianne L. DeLoach, a department spokeswoman.
As in past years, individuals who are due refunds on taxes withheld have been faster to file than those who owe additional amounts. So far this tax season, the department has distributed slightly more than 1.4 million refunds amounting to $365.77 million, DeLoach said.
After testing it on a small scale in 1995, the Department of Taxation made electronic filing available throughout Virginia this year. About 105,000 returns have been filed electronically so far, DeLoach said Monday.
For individuals who need more time to compile their returns, the state offers an extension program much like the Internal Revenue Service program for federal taxpayers. To apply for an extension, fill out Form 760E (Virginia Tentative Tax Return and Application for Extension of Time to File) and mail it by midnight tonight.
And like the IRS, Virginia requires taxpayers to pay the estimated taxes owed, if any, by the filing deadline at midnight today.
The extension allows a Virginia taxpayer four additional months - until Sept. 1 - to file a return. If necessary, a taxpayer can seek another extension of two months, or until Nov. 1. That requires submitting a second Form 760E.
For assistance, taxpayers can call their local commissioner of the revenue. The commissioners' telephone numbers are listed on the back of the Department of Taxation's instruction booklet.
In addition, the department's customer services office in Richmond is open until 7 p.m. today, DeLoach said. The number for that office is 804-367-8031. by CNB