News Release: Further Explanation of Tax Extensions Announced By Comptroller Franchot

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MEDIA CONTACTS: SUSAN O'BRIEN:  MOBILE - 443-875-8540
                               ALAN BRODY:  MOBILE - 443-924-1473

Further Explanation of Tax Extensions Announced By Comptroller Franchot

Most Maryland tax payments extended due to economic impact of coronavirus

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (March 18, 2020) - In recent days, Comptroller Peter Franchot has announced several deadline extensions for income tax and business tax payments and would like to remind Marylanders of these changes. Comptroller Franchot could extend these deadlines further, due to prolonged economic distress caused by the coronavirus pandemic. 

“Extending these due dates for all Maryland state income tax payments and for business tax payments will help Marylanders to keep the cash flowing in our economy and offer small businesses a lifeline to survive this COVID-19 crisis,” Comptroller Franchot said.

The Maryland Comptroller’s Office will conform with the Internal Revenue Service’s 90-day extension of federal income tax payments from April 15 to July 15, 2020. Comptroller Franchot said Maryland individual and corporate income taxpayers will be afforded the same relief for state income tax payments. No interest or penalty for late payments will be imposed if 2019 tax payments are made by July 15, 2020. Taxpayers must file for an extension for the filing of FEDERAL taxes by April 15. Taxpayers should refer to the IRS for further details.

Fiscal year filers with tax years ending January 1, 2020 through March 31, 2020 are also eligible for the July 15, 2020 payment extension. The due date for March quarterly estimated payments is extended to July 15, 2020.  

Comptroller Franchot also extended business-related tax filing deadlines. The June 1 extension applies to certain business returns with due dates during the months of March, April and May 2020 for businesses filing sales and use, withholding, admissions & amusement, alcohol, tobacco, and motor fuel taxes, as well as tire recycling fee and bay restoration fee returns.

Business taxpayers who file and pay by June 1, 2020 will receive an automatic waiver of interest and penalties.

The agency has set up a dedicated email address — taxpayerrelief@marylandtaxes.gov — to assist businesses with extension-related questions. Business owners can also call the Comptroller's Ombudsman at 410-260-4020.

Comptroller's Office employees continue to answer general taxpayer questions on the 1-800-MD-TAXES phone line and via email at taxhelp@marylandtaxes.gov.

IN SUMMARY:

April 15 – Filing deadline for federal income tax or to file a federal extension.  No separate Maryland extension is necessary if you file a federal extension. 

June 1 – Returns and payments are due for Maryland business-related taxes not collected in March, April and May including sales and use tax, withholding tax, and admissions & amusement tax, alcohol tax, tobacco tax, and motor fuel tax, as well as tire recycling fee and bay restoration fee returns.

July 15 – Deadline for Maryland individual, corporate, pass through entity, and fiduciary income tax payments, as well as March quarterly estimated payments.

October 15 - Deadline for filing Maryland income tax returns if a federal extension was filed.

MEDIA CONTACTS:  Susan O'Brien -  sobrien@marylandtaxes.gov
                                        443-875-8540 (mobile)

                                        Alan Brody - abrody@marylandtaxes.gov 
                                        443-924-1473 (mobile)