The due date for filing your 2012 Virginia Individual Income Tax return 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. Payment for any tentative tax due must be submitted by May 1.
• The due date for returns filed under extension is November 1, 2013. You do not need to submit an application for the extension - it is applied automatically as long as you file your return by the end of the extension period.
• Interest will always apply to any tax amounts that are not paid by the original due date for filing. Interest will accrue from the original due date for filing through 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.  You will avoid the accrual of extension penalty by ensuring that 90 percent of your total tax due is paid by the original due date and by filing on or before the extended due date.
• 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 your 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. 

 

Extension payments to cover tentative tax due can be submitted by check or money order with Form 760 IP, or through the Online Services for Individuals area of the Department's Web site.

 

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