When Is the Virginia Tax Return Due Date?

Fulfilling the obligation to file a Virginia income tax return is a yearly requirement for residents and nonresidents who earn income from Virginia sources. This responsibility involves navigating a set of specific deadlines for both filing the necessary forms and paying any tax that is owed. Understanding these distinct timelines is important to managing state tax duties correctly and avoiding potential financial repercussions for non-compliance.

Primary Filing Deadline for Individuals

The primary due date for filing a Virginia individual income tax return, Form 760, is May 1st. Taxpayers must submit their completed returns to the Virginia Department of Taxation by this deadline to be considered on time. The date a return is postmarked by the postal service is used to verify if it was mailed on time.

A “look-back” rule applies if the May 1st deadline happens to fall on a Saturday, Sunday, or a legal holiday. In such cases, the filing deadline automatically shifts to the next business day. For example, if May 1st were a Saturday, the true filing deadline would become Monday, May 3rd. This provision ensures that taxpayers are not disadvantaged by weekend or holiday closures.

Requesting an Extension to File

Virginia provides an automatic six-month extension for filing an individual income tax return, which moves the final filing deadline to November 1st. This extension is granted automatically, meaning a taxpayer does not need to file a specific form to request it. This grace period is designed to give individuals more time to gather their necessary documents and complete their tax forms accurately.

This extension of time is strictly for filing the return, not for paying any tax due. If a taxpayer anticipates owing money, the payment is still required by the original May 1st deadline. To make this payment without a completed return, use Form 760IP, the Tentative Tax Return payment voucher. To avoid penalties, filers must pay at least 90% of their final tax liability by the original due date.

Tax Payment Deadlines

The deadline for paying any Virginia income tax owed is May 1st, a date that holds firm regardless of whether a taxpayer uses the automatic filing extension. This separation of payment and filing deadlines is a point of emphasis in Virginia’s tax system. Failure to pay the owed amount by this date will result in penalties and interest.

For individuals with income not subject to withholding, such as from self-employment or investments, estimated tax payments are required throughout the year. These payments are made using Form 760ES and are due in four quarterly installments. The due dates for these payments are:

• May 1
• June 15
• September 15
• January 15 of the following year

Penalties for Missing Deadlines

Failing to meet Virginia’s tax deadlines can lead to specific financial penalties. The consequences are structured differently for late filing versus late payment. A late payment penalty is assessed at a rate of 6% per month on the unpaid tax balance, with a maximum penalty of 30%. This penalty applies if the tax is not paid by the May 1st due date.

An extension penalty may apply if a return is filed during the extension period without meeting the prepayment requirement. This penalty is calculated at 2% per month on the outstanding balance, capped at 12%. If a return with tax owed is filed more than six months after the due date, a late filing penalty is applied at the maximum rate of 30% of the tax due. Interest is also charged on any underpayment from the original due date until the tax is paid in full.