News Release
January 30, 2006 - Tax Filing
Delivers Income Tax Cuts to Ohio Taxpayers -
Savings on 2005 income taxes estimated at
$340 million
COLUMBUS, Ohio - – Every Ohio income tax
filer will find their tax rates cut 4.2% this filing season
and Tax Commissioner William W. Wilkins says the quickest way
to take advantage of that tax cut is to file electronically.
“Everyone who files this year should benefit from the cut,
“Wilkins said. “Those with refunds, who file online or use
TeleFile, and choose direct deposit, can expect the refund
back in 5-to-7 business days.”
Wilkins says people who owe tax can file early and choose to
pay at a later date, (anytime through April 17th) when they
file electronically. The filing deadline this year is April
17th because the traditional April 15th deadline falls on a
weekend.
This year’s tax cut is the first of five scheduled as part of
a cut totaling 21% or nearly $2.2 billion annually when fully
phased in five years. Taxpayers with taxable income of
$10,000 or less will pay no tax. The cut, and many
other major tax reform initiatives, was part of the most
recent state budget bill passed by the Ohio General Assembly
and signed by Governor Bob Taft last summer.
In addition to those tax cuts, certain taxpayers who are
delinquent in their taxes, can realize another break offered
by the Ohio Tax Amnesty program that runs through Feb. 15.
Taxpayers who voluntarily report and pay delinquent tax,
avoid penalty and pay only half the normal interest due. More
information on tax amnesty can be found on the Ohio
Department of Taxation (ODT) web site at
tax.ohio.gov or by calling 1-888-405-4039.
In addition to those real and potential tax breaks,
individual income tax filers this year will see other changes
including:
- an increase of $50 to $1,350 in the personal and
dependent exemption
- an increase of $88 to $3,731 in the deduction for
deposits to Ohio Medical Savings Accounts
- a new fund accepting donations from tax refunds. The
Military Injury Relief Fund will provide grants to members of
the military injured while participating in Operation Iraqi
Freedom or Operation Enduring
Freedom.
Wilkins says taxpayers who file electronically using Ohio
I-File (it’s free), TeleFile, a tax preparer, or commercially
available software help hold down everyone’s cost. “It costs
us about $1.15 to process an electronic return compared to $3
to process a paper one," Wilkins said. “When the tax
department saves money, taxpayers do, too."
Taxpayers who pay school district income tax can also file
that tax return online this year using Ohio I-File.
Taxpayers with questions or otherwise needing assistance are
encouraged to visit the ODT web site
(tax.ohio.gov) for information, answers to
Frequently Asked Questions, or to e-mail questions to
taxpayer service agents. Taxpayers can also call
1-800-282-1780 (toll-free) for assistance. Beginning Monday,
January 30th telephone assistance will be available for
extended hours from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday.
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(For more information contact Gary Gudmundson, Communications
Director, Ohio Department of Taxation at (614)
644-6903.)