Your 2012 Virginia Individual Income Tax is due on or before May 1, 2013. The Virginia Department of Taxation offers multiple ways for qualifying taxpayers to file their Taxable Year 2012 returns for free. The Department's e-File page can help you select the method that is best for you. Visit the Department's website to read all about the Department's Free File service, as well as the Department's Free Fillable Forms feature.

If you are planning to take advantage of Virginia's automatic six-month extension for filing your taxes, please read the section below titled "Virginia's Automatic Six-Month Filing Extension." It contains important information regarding the six-month extension.

The first Estimated Income Tax Payment for the calendar year 2013 income taxis also due May 1, 2013.  Paying your estimated income tax using the Department's free online system is the fastest and most efficient way.  For more information about whether you may need to make estimated payments, click here.

The due date for the 2012 Virginia Individual Income Tax is Wednesday, May 1, 2013.  If you're thinking of taking advantage of Virginia's automatic six-month extension to file your Virginia taxes this year, here are a few reminders about the rules for automatic extensions.

• The extension only covers time to submit your tax return.  It does not allow you additional time to pay any balance of tax due.
• You do not need to submit an application for the extension - it is applied automatically as long as you pay 90 percent of your tax due by May 1 and file your return by the end of the extension period.
• Interest will always apply to any unpaid tax amounts and will accrue from the original due date for filing until the date that all tax, penalty, and interest is paid in full.
• The extension penalty applies to unpaid tax if 90 percent of your total tax liability is not paid by the original filing due date and you file during the automatic extension period.  By ensuring that 90 percent of your total tax due is paid by the original due date, you will avoid the extension penalty accruing until you file as long as you file on or before the extended due date of November 1, 2013.
• Failure to file during the automatic extension period will void the extension and reset your due date back to the original due date.  The maximum late filing penalty of 30 percent will be assessed on the balance of tax due with the return.
• Even if you file on time during the extension period, failure to pay the tax due with your filing will cause the late payment penalty to be assessed.  In that circumstance, the late payment penalty will accrue at 6 percent per month on unpaid tax amounts, beginning with the date the return is filed.  This is in addition to any extension penalty that may have already been assessed.
• No penalty or interest are assessed on tax returns due a refund, regardless of whether they are filed during the extension period or after the extended due date.

The key to avoiding additional charges is to ensure that payment covering your entire tax due is submitted on or before the original due date for filing. 

Payment to cover tax due on returns that will be filed under extension can be submitted by check with Form 760 IP, or through the Online Services for Individuals area of the Department's website .

For additional information on the assessment of penalty and interest, please see the Department's website topic "Penalties and Interest."  For information on extension guidelines and making extension payments, see the Instructions for the 760 IP voucher.

If you have not done so yet, it is time to get ready to file your return.

• Gather your tax records in advance and make sure that you have all of your records, including W-2s and 1099s, before you begin filling out your return.
• Make sure that you have all of your information, all of your spouse's information if you are married, and all of the information for any dependents listed on your returns.
• Do not wait until the last minute to file your return. File early to avoid the last minute rush to meet the filing deadline. Even if you owe money, you can file early but do not have to pay until the due date. You can e-file your return and by using Direct Debit, schedule payment for any date in the future right up to, and including, the due date. This allows taxpayers to choose when they pay without the risk of forgetting to send their payment if they choose to wait. Visit the Department's website for more information.  

e-File to get your refund up to six weeks faster; it's fast, easy, secure and normally contains fewer errors that may delay your refund.

• Free File - If your federal adjusted gross income is less than $57,000,you qualify for this FREE program and can e-file your federal and state tax returns for free.
• Free Fillable Forms -If you do not qualify for Free File, this free, electronic, online version of the Form 760 resident return and schedules allow you to complete your Virginia return by entering your information as if you were completing a paper return.
• e-File - If one of the aforementioned options does not work for you, use another type of e-File software. Shop around to find the software that is right for you.  

The fastest way to get your refund is to e-File your return and to use Direct Deposit.

• Refunds using any e-File option requesting Direct Deposit take approximately 1 week.
• Refunds using any e-File option requesting a Refund Debit Card take approximately 2 weeks.
• Refunds from paper filed returns requesting Direct Deposit take approximately 6 weeks.
• Refunds from paper filed returns requesting a Refund Debit Card take approximately 7 weeks.  

The Virginia Tax Refund Debit Card Replaces Paper Refund Checks

• There are two options for receiving your refund: direct deposit and the new refund debit card.
• Requesting a paper refund check is no longer an option.
• Please visit the Department's website for complete information including where and how to use the refund debit card, how to use the refund debit card for free, what transactions and fees are associated, how the refund debit card works for joint filers, and more. 

Important Information for Military Spouses

• The Military Spouses Residency Relief Act provides an exemption from income and personal property taxes when certain criteria are met.
• Spouses of military service members do not automatically become liable for income and personal property taxes as Virginia residents in certain cases.
• Visit the Department's website for details. 

Common Individual Income Tax Filing Errors

• If you are filing electronically through paid software that you purchased, ensure you are using the most up-to-date version of the software. Tax-filing software programs must be updated annually using updates provided by the company. If you are using an online-only e-File program, this will not apply to you.
• When selecting Direct Deposit, always verify that the bank account information is correct when you file your return. If you use a Tax Preparer, make sure the preparer is using the most recent, correct bank account information and is not using information for an incorrect or closed account used on a previous tax return.
• Verify that all of the necessary SSNs and/or ITINs are on your return and that these are correct.
• If you are filing on paper, check your math. Simple arithmetic errors on paper returns are a common reason for further delays in getting your refund.
• If you are filing on paper and your name or your spouse's name(s) have changed for any reason since the filing of your previous year's return, please fill in the oval that states "Name has changed since last filing." If you are filing electronically, please ensure you note the name change where asked to do so.
• If you are filing on paper and your address is different from the previous year's return, please fill in the oval on the address line. If you are filing electronically, please ensure you note your address change where asked to do so.