April 15 still April 15 for some but not all

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — For the second year in a row April 15 is not the usual tax deadline day in West Virginia or around the country.

Revenue Secretary Dave Hardy (File)

Last year, because of the pandemic, the due date for taxes was pushed to July 15. This year, because of the pandemic, taxpayers have until May 17 to submit their federal and state returns for the 2020 tax year.

State Revenue Secretary Dave Hardy said it’s important to point out that if you pay estimated taxes, your first quarterly payment for the 2021 tax year is still due Thursday, April 15.

April 15 is usually the best day of the year for the state’s revenue collections because of estimates payments and payments due from the previous tax year but now the impact will be split because of the May 17 deadline, Hardy said.

“Everybody has to settle up for 2020 in May. The estimate (taxes due Thursday) will be a nice piece of change,” he said.

The state had $200 million on July 15 last year because the deadline was moved and that helped with a head start in revenue for the current fiscal year.

Those who were on unemployment in 2020 recently learned they won’t have to pay any federal or state taxes on the first $10,200. Congress provided the benefit in the latest pandemic funding at the state legislature followed suit after a request from Gov. Jim Justice.

“You had taxpayers that thought they would be paying taxes on unemployment but they found out much later in the game that they won’t be paying taxes on unemployment,” Hardy said.

The state hasn’t based any of its revenue numbers on those taxes that now won’t be paid.

Meanwhile, the state Tax Department is processing state returns at a good pace, Hardy said.

“Tax (Department) is not backlogged. They’re right up with the workload and I think we’re going to have a pretty smooth April and May which is much better than where we were a year ago,” Hardy said.





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