The 2012 General Assembly passed a new mandate affecting Sales Tax dealers. Effective July 1, 2013, all dealers must file and pay Sales and Use Tax electronically. Dealers designated as Monthly filers were subject to electronic filing requirements beginning with their July 2012 returns.

Dealers who file on a quarterly basis will be required to file and pay electronically beginning with the July - September 2013 return, due October 21, 2013. Seasonal filers must file electronically beginning with the July 2013 return, due on August 20, 2013 or the first subsequent month the business has taxable sales. For those taxpayers transitioning to electronic filing and payment methods, please bear in mind the following information:

• Pre-printed sales tax return coupons will no longer be mailed to taxpayers.
• Sales tax returns must be submitted electronically each period they are due, even if there is no tax due for that month.
• Returns and payments must be submitted electronically on or before the due date to be considered filed and paid on time.

Not all of the Department's electronic filing options offer the same electronic payment methods. Taxpayers should consider their preferred method of payment when selecting an option for electronic filing. See the below comparison guide for information on the payment methods supported for each filing option.  

Click the name of any method in the above guide to start filing.

Corporation Income Tax returns for the taxable year ending on March 30, 2013, must be filed on or before July 15, 2013.  Virginia law also provides for an automatic six-month extension of time to file. However, the extension does not allow for additional time to pay any balance of tax due. Penalty and/or interest may apply to returns with a tentative tax due that was not paid by the original due date for filing.

The automatic six-month extension to file Corporation Income Tax returns for the taxable year ending on September 30, 2012, ends on July 15, 2013.   In order to take advantage of Virginia's automatic extension, the return must be filed on or before the end of the extension period.  Please bear in mind, the extension penalty may apply to returns filed during the extension period if 90 percent of the return's total tax liability was not paid by the original due date. For more details regarding Corporation Income Tax extensions and penalties, visit the Department's Corporation Income Tax page.

Remember: it is very important that the Department maintains accurate information regarding taxpayer businesses. Many tax account updates can be performed through the Department's Business iFile system. Visit the Online Services FAQ for information on what updates taxpayers can make through Business iFile.

Did you know that the Department offers a wide range of resources for tax professionals?  Be sure to put these tools to work for you!

The Department's Tax Professionals Hotline at (804) 367-9286 is open Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., to provide quick responses to your inquiries about client accounts or other tax questions.  This service is not limited to the individual income tax - the Department will respond to your questions on any tax administered by the agency.

For electronic filing information, early release forms, instructional materials, and special contact information, bookmark the Department's Tax Professionals Page.

The Department's Laws, Rules & Decisions webpage offers a variety of information, including Tax Bulletins, Legislative Summaries, and Rulings of the Commissioner. Use the Laws, Rules & Decisions webpage for researching the latest information on interpretations of Virginia tax law.

Other website features and services that you may find helpful are the Department's "What's New" pages for individuals and businesses, tax forms, online filing and secure messaging services, and agency publications, just to name a few.

The Department offers a number of online services for business taxpayers.  All business online services are free, secure, easy to use, available 24/7, and provide immediate confirmation of filings and payments!

Business iFile allows taxpayers to manage business tax accounts online by: 

• Updating address or contact information.
• Adding a new business location to an account.
• Reporting the closure of the business or a business location.
• Reporting when liability for an additional tax type begins or when liability for a current tax type ends.
• Adding or updating Responsible Officers for the business.
• Arranging certain types of payments for Corporation Income, Withholding, and Sales Tax accounts.
• Reprinting a Sales Tax Certificate.
• Sending a secure message to the Department's customer service representatives for account assistance. 

In addition, the following other services are available online.

1)      Live Chat: Communicate with Tax Representatives online regarding general or account specific tax questions.

2)      Quick Pay: Review existing tax bill amounts and recent bill payment histories or schedule current and future tax bill payments.

3)      Laws, Rules & Decisions: Search for sections of the Code of Virginia, Regulations, Rulings of the Tax Commissioner, Tax Bulletins, and other valuable information.

4)      FIPS Code Lookup: Search for which specific city/county FIPS Code to use in reporting Sales and Use Tax.

Visit the Department's website and take advantage of these services today!