On Friday, Governor DeWine signed HB 197, a technical tax corrections and COVID 19 bill that provides instruction and relief in many areas regarding the impacts of the coronavirus. Of significant importance to us was the provision authorizing the State Tax Commissioner to change the due date for filing Ohio income tax returns to July 15, 2020. Since the individual municipal income tax due date was directly tied to this date, we could not take official action until this was accomplished. Thankfully, within hours of the Governor signing this bill, the State Tax Commissioner made an official declaration regarding due dates. The press release is in the link below, and indicates that more guidance will follow.
https://www.tax.ohio.gov/Portals/0/communications/news_releases/Incometaxfilingextended03272020.pdf
While the press release provides relief for individual tax payers and net profit filers opting to file directly with the Ohio Department of Taxation, extending each group’s filing and payment date to July 15, 2020, it could not provide equitable relief for those calendar year municipal net profit filers who continue to file directly with each municipality. In an effort to create equitable treatment for these taxpayers, the City of Athens, has decided to allow the same extended due date for calendar year municipal net profit tax filers.
Therefore the due date for the 2019 Athens Income Tax Return is being extended until July 15, 2020. If you have questions please contact the Income Tax Department at 740-592-3337.