CHARLESTON, W.V.—Businesses flooded earlier this month in six West Virginia counties are now eligible for extensions of time for sales and use tax filing and remittance, Governor Joe Manchin and Tax Commissioner Christopher G. Morris announced today. For vendors operating in Boone, Logan, McDowell, Mingo, Raleigh and Wyoming Counties, the sales and use tax return filing and remittance deadline for the month of April is extended one month, until June 20, 2009, pursuant to Executive Order 11-09. The original deadline would have been May 20, absent the extension.
“Assuring the safety and health of our citizens is our primary concern. We want to clean up the debris and get life back to normal and businesses back in operation in the flooded areas,” Governor Joe Manchin said. “The sales and use tax filing and remittance deadline extension for flooded businesses is a simple change that can ease the burdens of business owners during this rebuilding period.”
For all other vendors outside the designated area, April sales and use tax returns and remittances were due on May 20, 2009. The Governor’s Executive Order allows the West Virginia State Tax Department to waive any penalties for the flood victims who did not meet the May 20, 2009 deadline prior to the extension.
Taxpayers filing returns under the extension should write “Flood Extension” on the top of the first page of the return, so the State Tax Department will not penalize the Taxpayer for late filing or paying.
“If an affected Taxpayer receives a penalty notice for the April reporting period, the Taxpayer should contact the Taxpayer Services Division,” Tax Commissioner Morris said.
Taxpayer Services Division can be reached by calling (304) 558-3333 or toll free at 1-800-982-8297. Taxpayer Services Division offices are located through out the state. Visit www.wvtax.gov for more information.
The IRS has also announced a postponement period for flood victims. To learn more about the IRS action, visit www.irs.gov.