Don't Mess With Taxes

Federal tax returns get most of the attention during the annual tax season. That's because Uncle Sam's individual income tax laws apply across the country.

But state taxes also are demanded of most Americans. And in most of the 43 states and District of Columbia that tax some type of individual earnings, April 15 also is the due date.

No individual income tax states: The only states with no personal income tax at all are Alaska, Florida, Nevada, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, and Wyoming.

Tax savvy readers probably noticed that the Evergreen State is not on that list. That's because while Washington State tax officials don't collect tax on wage income, the state now levies a capital gains tax on wealthier residents. So, technically, it's no longer a totally no-individual-income-tax state.

New Hampshire also doesn't tax wage income, but for now does impose a tax on individuals' dividends and interest earnings. That Granite Mountain State, however, is scheduled to go totally individual income tax free on Jan. 1, 2025.

State/U.S. filing deadlines: Most states with individual income taxes tend to be tied to our filings for Uncle Sam. In most cases, you need to finish your federal return first so you can use some of that information to complete your state (and, in some cases, more local jurisdiction) return.

Most of the states also follow the federal filing deadline, which this year is today, April 15. Five, however, don't. They are —

• Hawai'i, which wants state flings by April 20;
• Delaware and Iowa, with a tax deadline of April 30;
• Virginia, with a May 1 tax due date; and
• Louisiana, which has a May 15 filing deadline.

As with the federal Tax Day, when these states' not-April-15 due dates fall on a weekend or state holiday, they are moved to the next business day.

E-filing nationwide: Most states also are, like the Internal Revenue Service, going electronic as much as possible. They are requiring many tax filings, both individual and business, to be e-filed.

On Tax Day, most taxpayers nationwide use tax software to prepare and e-file their returns. Those with adjusted gross income of $79,000 or less can find a program this year at Free File, the no-cost online tax preparation and electronic filing program offered by the IRS and its Free File Alliance partners. For 2023 returns, eight tax software companies are participating.

At the strictly state level, most states offer free e-filing, either in partnership with private software manufacturers similar to or connect with Free File, or via their own Taxpayer Access Point, or TAP, portals.

This year, 12 states also are participating in the IRS' Direct File program. Where state taxes also must be filed, Direct File sends those taxpayers to state-supported tools where they submit their state tax returns.

Other levies online, too: While no-income-tax state residents don't have to worry about annual individual filings, their states do collect other levies. I know from personal experience, having lived most of my life in two such states, Texas and Florida, state officials always find some way to ding you.

That's why most of these states join their compatriots in collecting many of those other taxes and fees, such as payment of excise and sales taxes or business franchise tax fees, electronically.

Even some more local jurisdictions within states, like my local county tax assessor-collector who gets my property tax payments each year, allow and even encourage taxpayers to go online to those sites to take care of those obligations.

The Texas Comptroller's website has general property tax info and a link to my county tax office. Check your state's tax site to see if it has similar information about your local tax collectors' online accessibility.  

State tax data and payment options: Since all us taxpayers want to get our filings, federal and state, over as soon as possible it's easier to go with a tax return preparation and electronic filing option that consolidates them.

However, it doesn't hurt to check out all state preparation and e-filing possibilities, especially if you don't meet the federal free filing requirements.

Below as the state tax/revenue departments' online tax, both business and individual in some cases, that offer electronic options.

If you just want other tax information for your state, this state tax department directory has links to those home pages.

Finally, remember that if you can't get your federal or state returns finished by midnight today, you can get an extension. Just file that federal Form 4868 by today to get six more months to file.

Once you do that, most states automatically also give you until Oct. 15 to finish up those forms, too. But not all. So double check with your state tax officials.

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