Local officials are trying to remain flexible as the state decides how to react to a change in the federal income tax filing deadline.
Earlier this week the United States Treasury Department and Internal Revenue Service announced the federal income tax filing due date for individuals for the 2020 tax year will be extended from April 15, 2021 to May 17, 2021.
“We will follow what is dictated by the state, not the federal government, so as of right now, this doesn’t have any impact on us,” said Jackie Ward, income tax administrator for the City of Marysville.
By code, the City of Marysville’s income tax collection deadline mirrors that of the State of Ohio. So, if the state moves the deadline from April 15, the city deadline will also be moved. Ward agreed a move by the state is, “certainly a possibility.”
She said she has not seen any legislation yet to change the filing deadline for the state, but said it is likely in the works.
“Given what happened last year, it is probable because the state was pretty quick to follow,” Ward said.
Last year the federal government delayed the income tax filing by three months, moving the deadline to July 15.
Sandy Hoover, assistant finance director, said a 30-day delay would be easier to deal with than another 90-day delay. She explained that in the weeks leading up to the tax deadline, tax department employees are not to take vacation.
“Our staff knows it is all hands on deck during tax season,” Hoover said.
She added that other employees in other departments will pick up additional work to allow the tax department, which consists of Ward and three clerks as well as a temporary worker, to focus on processing returns and helping filers.
“We have a great team so everybody chips in where they can,” Hoover said.
She explained that as long as the deadline is delayed by 30 days, “we are still fine here.”
If the deadline is pushed back further, “we may have to play with people’s schedules a bit.”
She added that officials will need to look at the budget to see if there is available funding to extend the temporary worker’s time with the city.
City Manager Terry Emery said he believes that if the state does delay the deadline, it will be 30 days rather than 90.
“I think this year you will probably find it will be much less of a change,” Emery said. “People are back to work and we are getting back to a routine.”
Officials said they will be flexible to comply with whatever the state decides.
“We just do our best to plan and have contingencies in place,” Ward said.
For now, Ward said the city is seeing “the typical amount” of filing activity.
“We are starting to see the normal rate of increase,” Ward said. “We are getting several returns filed a day. I don’t feel like we are behind.”
Ward added the city is, “pretty much on track for a normal year,” though she stressed that normal is difficult to quantify. She said this year’s deadline postponement makes last year a better comparable than any other year.
Ward said that last year, “a few, but not a large number” of filers took advantage of the extended deadline in Marysville.
“A lot of people already had theirs filed or already in the works,” she said.
Emery said the delay was, “not as bad an issue as we thought it would be” for planning purposes.
Marysville finance staff is available from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, to provide city income tax assistance. Those with questions or wanting additional income tax information are being asked to email incometax@marysvilleohio.org or call (937) 645-7350.
The city is also offering extended hours for tax assistance at City Hall, 209 S. Main St., until 7 p.m. Wednesday, April 7 and from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., Saturday, April 10.
Officials said there is a way to avoid any deadline confusion.
“They don’t have to wait until the last minute,” Hoover said. “There is no reason to wait in line. They can file now and avoid any type of rush.”