The District of Columbia Office of Tax and Revenue (OTR) reminds residents who requested an extension to file their 2015 District of Columbia Individual Income tax returns that they now have until Monday, October 17, 2016 to file and pay any amounts due. The tax year 2015 Individual Income Tax returns must be e-filed or postmarked on or before 11:59 p.m. on Monday, October 17, 2016. Final payments for tax year 2015 are also due by then.

The usual deadline, October 15, falls on a Saturday. As a result, the filing deadline for individual income tax returns on extension will move to the following business day, which is Monday, October 17.

OTR urges taxpayers to file their returns electronically. E-filing is convenient, reduces the chance for error, and generates refunds more quickly.

The Monday deadline also applies to the 2015 Partnership Return of Income, form D-65.

Reminder: Computer System Changeover Starts October 24
Online filing and payment options will be limited during the conversion period; customer service centers will remain open

The second phase of the Office of Tax and Revenue’s (OTR) changeover to a new agency-wide computer system will begin on October 24, 2016 and continue through October 31, 2016. These changes are being completed as OTR streamlines the process for individuals and businesses to view, pay and, for some tax types, file their taxes using its new web portal, MyTax.DC.gov.

During the October conversion period, OTR’s customer service Walk-In and Telephone Centers will remain open to the public; however, a few of its online services will not be available. Taxpayers and tax professionals should therefore plan ahead.

Beginning November 1, 2016, MyTax.DC.gov replaces the Electronic Taxpayer Service Center (eTSC) for specific functions, and  will offer all the benefits of the existing system, along with a host of new functionalities. Exceptions will be Sales and Use, Ballpark, Department of Health Care Finance, Personal Property, and Motor Fuel taxes, which will continue to be filed and paid using eTSC at www.taxpayerservicecenter.com.

Services Temporarily Unavailable – October 24 through October 31, 2016

• Taxpayers will no longer be able to complete the online business registration using eTSC. During this transition period, taxpayers who wish to register a new business, must complete the paper form FR-500 available at http://otr.cfo.dc.gov/node/500352. Beginning November 1, all business tax registrations must be completed online at MyTax.DC.gov.

• Individual Income Extension of Time to File and Estimated Payments: Extension filings and payments will not be available through eTSC. Taxpayers, however, can mail their payment by check or money order (US Dollars) to the Office of Tax and Revenue, PO Box 96018, Washington, DC 20090-6018 or visit OTR’s Walk-In Center at 1101 4th Street, SW, Suite 270, Washington, DC 20024. Beginning November 1, taxpayers must file and make payments online through MyTax.DC.gov.

• Withholding: Taxpayers will no longer be able to file or pay withholding taxes via eTSC. Late filers must download paper forms at http://otr.cfo.dc.gov/page/withholding-tax-forms-and-publications between October 24 and November 1.

Withholding payments can be submitted via mail to the Office of Tax and Revenue, PO Box 96385, Washington, DC 20090-6385, ACH Credit or at OTR’s Walk-In Center.

Taxpayers must sign-up to obtain access to their Withholding account via MyTax.DC.gov, which will be available on November 1, 2016.

•  Taxpayers will not be able to file an extension or make payments for Franchise taxes using eTSC. However, D20 filers can mail their payment by check or money order to the Office of Tax and Revenue, PO Box 96019, Washington DC 20090-6019 or for D30 filers, Office of Tax and Revenue, PO Box 96020, Washington, DC 20090-6020, or visit OTR’s Walk-In Center at 1101 4th Street, SW, Suite 270, Washington, DC 20024.

To learn more, visit MyTax.DC.gov or call (202) 727-4TAX (4829).

The Office of Tax and Revenue (OTR) will be conducting a “First-Come First-Served Special Deed Tax Sale.” OTR will receive offers to buy any of the real properties remaining bid back from the July 2016 Tax Sale and appearing in the link below.

The sale is on a first-come first-served basis, and will begin on Monday, November 14, 2016 and end on Friday, November 18, 2016. The hours are from 8:15 am to 4 pm each day, excluding Saturdays, Sundays and legal holidays. A purchaser must be registered in order to make an offer to purchase. Full-payment of the purchase price must be received at the time of registration in the form of cash, or certified check, cashier’s check or USPS money order payable to the DC Treasurer.

The sale amount for each property shall be the corresponding amount on the list; this amount generally represents (but not always) delinquencies from Tax Year 2015, including associated accruals and costs. Other liabilities may be owed and may have to be paid before a tax deed can issue. A purchaser acts at his or her own risk, and must exercise due diligence in selecting real properties to purchase.

Registration begins when the sale begins. Registration for the sale is mandatory, and purchasers with required documents and payment (only cash, certified check, cashier’s check, or USPS money order will be accepted) will be registered in order of arrival time based on the time the purchaser signs-in with OTR security, provided that purchaser is actively pursuing completion of the sale and processes the required documents and full payment. Purchasers must come to 1101 4th Street, SW, Suite 550W, to register. At registration, a copy of the purchaser’s Treas. Form W-9 must be submitted together with a Buyer Registration form. Purchasers are also required to have completed Form FR-500, Combined Business Tax Registration Application, prior to or at the time of registering. The Form FR-500 may be found at OTR’s website (taxpayerservicecenter.com) under “Tax Forms/Publications.”  

A person with a communication impairment requiring an interpreter for the sale shall notify OTR of the need for an interpreter no later than November 4, 2016. Please contact OTR at (202) 727-4TAX(829) or via email at taxsale@dc.gov, or visit our Customer Service Center at 1101 4th Street, SW, 2nd Floor, Washington, DC.
 

(Washington, DC) - The District of Columbia Office of Tax and Revenue (OTR) is excited to announce that beginning November 1, District taxpayers, both individual and business, can view real-time account information, file a variety of tax types, and design their own payment plans with its new tax portal, MyTax.DC.gov.

“MyTax.DC.gov will act as the new system of record for tax and revenue information for the District of Columbia,” said Jeff DeWitt, Chief Financial Officer. “This portal is part of a broader cultural, strategic, and technological investment that we are making to better serve all District taxpayers.” 

The initial application includes individual, franchise, and withholding taxes as well as registration for businesses. Other taxes and fees will remain in the existing Electronic Taxpayer Service Center (eTSC) until they are converted to the new integrated tax system over the next two and a half years.

“The new portal will make paying and filing taxes in the District faster, simpler, and more efficient than ever,” said Glen Groff, OTR’s Interim Deputy Chief Financial Officer.

As an organization committed to providing the highest quality customer service in a fiscally sustainable, responsive, and respectful manner, OTR also introduced its new e-Services unit on November 1. Housed within the Customer Service Administration, representatives are responsible for addressing inquiries received via MyTax.DC.gov. Additionally, they will assist taxpayers in creating and managing their online accounts, navigating the site, and resolving any tax-related issues.

“Collectively, our representatives bring to this team over 115 years of e-service experience,” shares Eva Liggins, Director of OTR’s Customer Service Administration. “We’re confident this unit will make our services more accessible, allowing us to build better relationships with our customers and share information more easily.”  

To learn more, visit MyTax.DC.gov/FAQ/faq.html.

Washington, DC - The Office of Tax and Revenue (OTR) announced that it is following the lead of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and opening the District of Columbia’s tax season on Monday, January 23, 2017.

While a new federal law prohibits the issuance of refunds for taxpayers claiming the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and the Additional Child Tax Credit (ACTC) before February 15th, OTR does not expect District refunds will be affected by this law.

DC taxpayers should be aware that identity theft protections and refund fraud measures put in place for the 2017 filing season by the OTR may mean additional review and longer processing times for some tax returns and associated refunds. OTR anticipates a processing window of up to 25 days for selected tax returns.

The fraud protection initiatives in place for 2016 have saved the District over $25 million and the Office of Tax and Revenue’s Compliance Administration will continue these enforcement efforts to safeguard the identity and tax dollars of the District’s taxpayers and government.

“As we move further into the holiday season, we’re informing taxpayers of the potential for extended processing times so they can plan ahead for early 2017,” said Keith Richardson, deputy chief financial officer for the Office of Tax and Revenue.

To help facilitate the processing of a return once it is submitted, taxpayers can check the status of a refund, provide substantiating documentation, or communicate with customer service by visiting the District’s new online tax portal, MyTax.DC.gov.

The District of Columbia Office of Tax and Revenue (OTR) reminds taxpayers and tax professionals that a number of changes will take effect for the 2017 tax filing season.

“These changes will affect the tax returns that individuals and businesses will file over the next few months, covering the 2016 tax year,” said Keith J. Richardson, deputy chief financial officer for the Office of Tax and Revenue.

View more at the pdf below:

Beginning January 2017, the Office of Tax and Revenue (OTR) is eliminating monthly withholding return filing for District of Columbia taxpayers. This will more closely align with the federal 491 withholding process and make tax filing simpler for District businesses/employers.

If you currently file the Employer/Payor Withholding Tax Monthly Return (FR-900M), you will no longer be required to file monthly withholding tax returns. Instead, you will be required to file the new Employer/Payor Withholding Tax- Quarterly Return, FR-900Q. However, you will still be required to make your tax payments on a monthly basis, with the due dates being the 20th of the following month, as they are now.

There will be an option of bulk filing the FR-900Q via MyTax.DC.gov beginning with the quarterly return due on April 30, 2017.

Additionally, beginning January 2017, another key feature will be a new standalone annual (Non-Payroll) return, FR-900NP. This new form aligns with federal regulations and IRS Form 945, and you can file it through MyTax.DC.gov. To report backup or income tax withholding on non-payroll payments such as pensions, annuities, and gambling winnings, use the FR-900NP only. In the event of an overpayment, a credit can be carried forward or a refund can be requested. Refunds will be issued by paper check once approved.

As a final reminder, the 2016 FR-900B (Employer/Payor Withholding Tax Annual Reconciliation and Report) will be the last reconciliation form filed and it is due by January 31, 2017 via mail to Office of Tax and Revenue P.O. Box 96385 Washington, DC 20090-6385.

Below are the due dates for the quarterly returns:

2017 FR-900A Due Date:

• The 2017 FR-900A (Employer/Payor Withholding Tax – Annual Return) is due January 31, 2018.

2017 FR-900NP Due Date:

• The 2017 FR-900NP (Annual Return for Withholding Reported on Forms 1099 and/or W-2G) is due January 31, 2018.

Note: A new 2017 FR-900P (Payment Voucher for Withholding Tax) will be available for any payments made during the 2017 calendar year.

To download the 2017 Withholding tax forms, visit http://otr.cfo.dc.gov/page/withholding-tax-forms-and-publications.

OTR Quick Links
MyTax.DC.gov FAQs
MyTax.DC.gov Tutorials
OTR Twitter Page – @DC_OTR

The Office of Tax and Revenue (OTR) reminds District residents that the tax filing season for individual income tax returns begins Monday, January 23, 2017.

On that day, OTR will officially begin processing individual income tax returns filed electronically or by paper submission. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) will launch the federal filing season on the same date.

OTR expects to receive and process more than 440,000 individual income tax returns this year.

File Electronically

OTR urges taxpayers and tax preparers to file returns electronically. E-filing is faster, helps to minimize errors, and provides filers with an electronic filing acknowledgement.

OTR offers two electronic filing methods:

• Free File: A service that allows taxpayers to choose from a number of free tax prep software options
• Fillable Form: An online version of the D-40/D-40EZ form and schedules that allows taxpayers to fill in their tax information, e-sign, and e-file their return

Tax Fraud Protection

At the 2015 Security Summit, the IRS partnered with state tax agencies and the electronic tax industry to address identity theft/tax refund fraud.

In keeping with the initiatives of the summit, OTR’s enhanced security measures to safeguard tax dollars and combat identify theft/tax refund fraud may result in longer processing times for some tax returns and associated refunds.  The processing window for selected tax returns could be up to 25 days.

To date, the District’s fraud protection program has saved over $25 million.

MyTax.DC.gov

In November 2016, OTR launched MyTax.DC.gov, an online portal created to make viewing and paying individual income and business taxes in the District simpler, faster, and safer.
Portal Functions:

• Check refund and return status 24/7
• View copies of notices sent from OTR
• Provide substantiating documents to OTR
• Grant secure third party access
• Contact e-Services for a swift response to online inquiries
• Make/schedule payments

Free Tax Preparation Assistance

Customer service specialists in OTR’s walk-in center, located at 1101 4th Street, SW, Suite W270, will prepare DC individual income tax returns at no cost.
No appointment is necessary. Please bring copies of the following:

• Completed federal tax return
• Applicable schedules
• W-2s or statements showing DC withholdings

Filing Deadline

Because April 15 falls on a Saturday and OTR will be closed on Monday, April 17 in observance of Emancipation Day, the deadline to file income tax returns for Tax Year 2016 is Tuesday, April 18, 2017.

Contact OTR

Assistance is available from 8:15 am to 5:30 pm, Monday through Friday.

• Walk-In Center: 1101 4th Street, SW, Suite W270
• Telephone Center: (202) 727-4TAX (4829)
• Email: Taxhelp@dc.gov

Please be aware that the Sales and Use Tax rate for the sale of inaugural ball ticket sales is 5.75% per ticket sold. Those that sell tickets to inaugural balls should prepare and file Tax Form FR-800SE. This form should be filed with remittance by February 20, 2017.

Please contact Marcus Addison with any questions: (202) 442-6858, marcus.addison@dc.gov.

The Office of Tax and Revenue (OTR) would like to inform taxpayers of the common errors to avoid when filing their individual income tax returns. Errors on tax returns delay processing times and issuance of refunds. Additionally, OTR strongly urges taxpayers to consider filing returns electronically. E-filing is faster and ensures less errors than mailing in returns.

Please read the helpful tips below to avoid common errors when preparing your tax returns this tax filing season.

Individual Income Tax Returns

• Failure to complete the tax return
• Failure to enter your complete and/or correct Social Security number
• Failure to double check math calculations
• Failure to select the correct filing status or not selecting a filing status (e.g. single, married)
• Failure to clearly print your name, current address, including zip code directly on the tax return
• Failure to enter on the form Schedule S (Supplemental Information and Dependents Return) your dependent(s)’ information – name, Social Security number, date of birth, and relationship to you
• Failure to sign and date the tax return. Both signatures are required when filing jointly
• Failure to staple required items to your tax return. Staple the following items to your tax return in the order and location shown in the D-40 instructions:
• Any Form 1009 showing DC Withholdings
• Form 1099 R – Distribution from Pension, Annuities, Retirement, etc.
• Form W-2 – Wage and Tax Statement
• Make sure that you receive written confirmation from the tax preparer that your electronically filed DC return was accepted
• Failure to include on your tax payment your Social Security number, the tax year and the number of the form you are filing
• Failure to prorate correctly or failure to subtract the income received during the period of non-residence

Deductions:

• Failure to take same type deduction (itemized or standard) on your District tax return as that taken on your Federal tax return
• Selecting the standard deduction when itemizing
• Entering the incorrect number of exemptions
• Not attaching form Schedule S (Supplemental Information and Dependents Return)

DC tax credits and payments:

• Computing the tax $100,000 or over incorrectly
• Failure to attach a completed Calculation J (Tax computation for married or registered domestic partners filing separately on the same DC return)
• Childcare credit amounts computed incorrectly
• Failure to attach a Form Schedule U (Additional Miscellaneous Credits and Contributions)
• Low income and Earned Income Credits (EIC) selected together
• Taxpayers can only claim 40% of the EIC not the entire credit

DC withholding:

• W-2s and 1099s not attached or filing without all of the W-2s and 1099s

Estimated tax:

• Claimed but not paid or paid to the IRS
• Refund issued because the overpayment was not designated as a carry forward

Extension payment:

• Overstated or not made at all

Amended return:

• Failure to check as an amended return (OTR’s system enters as a duplicated return)

Head of household:

• Head of household claimed without dependents or a qualifying child
• All supporting documents should be attached when submitting the tax return

Homeowner and Renter Property Tax Credit Return:

If you file a DC Schedule H (Homeowner and Renter Property Tax Credit Return) to claim a property tax credit:

• Include the square, suffix and lot numbers if you own the real property for which you are claiming the credit;
• Include your landlord’s name, address and telephone number and the dollar amount of your rent for the year if claiming the credit based on rent paid;
• Report income earned by all those living in your household, and include their names, Social Security numbers and telephone numbers; and
• Include a completed and signed physician’s certificate when claiming a credit for blindness or disability for the first time

Do not file a DC Schedule H to claim the property tax credit if you lived in public or subsidized housing during the year.

As a reminder, you can check the status of your refund 24/7 via MyTax.DC.gov. Additionally, by signing up, you can make/schedule payments, view notices sent from OTR, and contact e-Services for a quick response to online inquiries.

OTR Quick Links

OTR Customer Service Administration

MyTax.DC.gov FAQs

MyTax.DC.gov Tutorials

OTR Twitter Page – @DC_OTR

The Office of Tax and Revenue (OTR) announced that in its continued efforts to combat identity theft tax fraud this filing season, additional verification will be required for selected tax returns.

OTR will issue notices to individual taxpayers whose returns have been selected for further review. The notice will contain a Personalized Identification Number (PIN) along with detailed instructions on how to verify a return using the PIN.

Taxpayers will have three options to complete the verification process:

1. Using OTR’s secure Taxpayer Access Portal, MyTax.DC.gov
2. Calling the Refund Response Unit at (202)741-8629 between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday
3. Visiting OTR’s Walk-in Center located at 1101 4th St. SW, Washington, DC 20024 between the hours of 8:15 a.m. and 5:30 p.m.

The protection measures taken by OTR during the 2016 tax filing season saved the District and its taxpayers more than $25 million from potentially fraudulent returns. The Office of Tax and Revenue’s Compliance Administration will continue these enforcement efforts to safeguard the identity and tax dollars of the District’s taxpayers and government.

In addition to verifying a return, taxpayers can also use the District’s new online tax portal, MyTax.DC.gov to check the status of a refund, provide substantiating documentation, or communicate with customer service.

The District of Columbia Office of Tax and Revenue, the Internal Revenue Service, tax agencies from other states, and the tax industry today warned tax professionals to be alert to a new phishing email scam impersonating software providers.
 
The scam email comes with the subject line, “Access Locked.” It tells recipients that access to their tax prep software accounts has been “suspended due to errors in your security details.” The scam email asks the tax professional to address the issue by using an “unlock” link provided in the email.
 
However, the link will take the tax professional to a fake web page, where they are asked to enter their user name and password. Instead of unlocking accounts, the tax professionals actually are inadvertently providing their information to cybercriminals who use the stolen credentials to access the preparers’ accounts and to steal client information.
 
The Security Summit partners, which includes the IRS, state tax agencies and the nation’s tax community, remind tax professionals and taxpayers to never open a link or an attachment from a suspicious email. These scams can increase during the tax season.
 
Tax professionals can review additional tips to protect clients and themselves at the Security Summit’s awareness campaign, Protect Your Clients, Protect Yourself, on IRS.gov.
 
For tax professionals who receive emails purportedly from their tax software providers suggesting their accounts have been suspended, they should send those scam emails to their tax software provider.  For Windows users, please follow this process to help the investigation of these scam emails:

1. Use “Save As” to save the scam. Under “save as type” in the drop down menu, select “plain text” and save to your desk top. Do not click on any links.
2. Open a new email and attach this saved email as a file
3. Send your new email containing the attachment your tax software provider, as well as copy Phishing@IRS.gov.

The District of Columbia Office of Tax and Revenue (OTR) announced today that it has begun to mail Tax Year 2018 assessment notices to all real property owners in the District of Columbia. A total of 198,956 taxable and exempt real properties have been reassessed to reflect current market values as of January 1, 2017. Property owners receiving new assessment notices will not be taxed on the new assessed value until March 2018.

The District’s real estate market remains steady as the average increase in residential properties was 5.52 percent. The commercial market also shows value increases of 3.28 percent.

The 2018 real property assessment notice contains the proposed assessed value for a property as well as the estimated taxable assessment and important information related to property tax relief programs such as the homestead benefit and senior citizen tax relief. In addition, included on the notice is the assigned appraiser’s contact information for taxpayers who wish to discuss their assessment.

District property owners who believe their proposed 2018 assessment does not reflect the market value of their property are encouraged to file an appeal on or before April 3, 2017. The appeal process begins when a property owner submits a First Level Appeal Application to OTR. This year, property owners can appeal their assessment online by visiting otr.cfo.dc.gov under “Real Property.”

Taxpayers with questions should contact OTR’s Customer Service Administration at (202) 727-4TAX (4829).

Today, the Office of Tax and Revenue (OTR) revoked the sales and use tax certificate of urban eatery Fast Gourmet located at 1400 W Street, NW. Failure to pay an obligation amounting to more than $330,000 of sales tax collected from patrons and withholding tax collected from employees has cost Fast Gourmet ownership, DC Gourmet LLC, its ability to conduct lawful transactions in the District.

OTR made numerous attempts to collect the outstanding taxes from DC Gourmet LLC without success. After the owners breached multiple payment arrangements and failed to respond to consequent collection notices, OTR was forced to revoke their sales tax certificate.

This action is part of an ongoing investigation of businesses that are not remitting sales and/or withholding taxes collected. Additional enforcement measures such as liens, seizures, bank levies, and further tax certificate revocations will be taken against businesses that fail to comply with the tax laws of the District of Columbia.

OTR urges businesses that are not in compliance to immediately pay any liability due or to contact the Collection Division at (202) 724-5045 to arrange a payment plan.

The District of Columbia Office of Tax and Revenue (OTR) reminds taxpayers and tax professionals that a number of changes will take effect for the 2017 tax filing season.

“These changes will affect the tax returns that individuals and businesses will file over the next few months, covering the 2016 tax year,” said Keith J. Richardson, deputy chief financial officer for the Office of Tax and Revenue.

View more at the pdf below:

Beginning January 2017, the Office of Tax and Revenue (OTR) is eliminating monthly withholding return filing for District of Columbia taxpayers. This will more closely align with the federal 491 withholding process and make tax filing simpler for District businesses/employers.

If you currently file the Employer/Payor Withholding Tax Monthly Return (FR-900M), you will no longer be required to file monthly withholding tax returns. Instead, you will be required to file the new Employer/Payor Withholding Tax- Quarterly Return, FR-900Q. However, you will still be required to make your tax payments on a monthly basis, with the due dates being the 20th of the following month, as they are now.

There will be an option of bulk filing the FR-900Q via MyTax.DC.gov beginning with the quarterly return due on April 30, 2017.

Additionally, beginning January 2017, another key feature will be a new standalone annual (Non-Payroll) return, FR-900NP. This new form aligns with federal regulations and IRS Form 945, and you can file it through MyTax.DC.gov. To report backup or income tax withholding on non-payroll payments such as pensions, annuities, and gambling winnings, use the FR-900NP only. In the event of an overpayment, a credit can be carried forward or a refund can be requested. Refunds will be issued by paper check once approved.

As a final reminder, the 2016 FR-900B (Employer/Payor Withholding Tax Annual Reconciliation and Report) will be the last reconciliation form filed and it is due by January 31, 2017 via mail to Office of Tax and Revenue P.O. Box 96385 Washington, DC 20090-6385.

Below are the due dates for the quarterly returns:

2017 FR-900A Due Date:

• The 2017 FR-900A (Employer/Payor Withholding Tax – Annual Return) is due January 31, 2018.

2017 FR-900NP Due Date:

• The 2017 FR-900NP (Annual Return for Withholding Reported on Forms 1099 and/or W-2G) is due January 31, 2018.

Note: A new 2017 FR-900P (Payment Voucher for Withholding Tax) will be available for any payments made during the 2017 calendar year.

To download the 2017 Withholding tax forms, visit http://otr.cfo.dc.gov/page/withholding-tax-forms-and-publications.

OTR Quick Links
MyTax.DC.gov FAQs
MyTax.DC.gov Tutorials
OTR Twitter Page – @DC_OTR

The Office of Tax and Revenue (OTR) reminds District residents that the tax filing season for individual income tax returns begins Monday, January 23, 2017.

On that day, OTR will officially begin processing individual income tax returns filed electronically or by paper submission. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) will launch the federal filing season on the same date.

OTR expects to receive and process more than 440,000 individual income tax returns this year.

File Electronically

OTR urges taxpayers and tax preparers to file returns electronically. E-filing is faster, helps to minimize errors, and provides filers with an electronic filing acknowledgement.

OTR offers two electronic filing methods:

• Free File: A service that allows taxpayers to choose from a number of free tax prep software options
• Fillable Form: An online version of the D-40/D-40EZ form and schedules that allows taxpayers to fill in their tax information, e-sign, and e-file their return

Tax Fraud Protection

At the 2015 Security Summit, the IRS partnered with state tax agencies and the electronic tax industry to address identity theft/tax refund fraud.

In keeping with the initiatives of the summit, OTR’s enhanced security measures to safeguard tax dollars and combat identify theft/tax refund fraud may result in longer processing times for some tax returns and associated refunds.  The processing window for selected tax returns could be up to 25 days.

To date, the District’s fraud protection program has saved over $25 million.

MyTax.DC.gov

In November 2016, OTR launched MyTax.DC.gov, an online portal created to make viewing and paying individual income and business taxes in the District simpler, faster, and safer.
Portal Functions:

• Check refund and return status 24/7
• View copies of notices sent from OTR
• Provide substantiating documents to OTR
• Grant secure third party access
• Contact e-Services for a swift response to online inquiries
• Make/schedule payments

Free Tax Preparation Assistance

Customer service specialists in OTR’s walk-in center, located at 1101 4th Street, SW, Suite W270, will prepare DC individual income tax returns at no cost.
No appointment is necessary. Please bring copies of the following:

• Completed federal tax return
• Applicable schedules
• W-2s or statements showing DC withholdings

Filing Deadline

Because April 15 falls on a Saturday and OTR will be closed on Monday, April 17 in observance of Emancipation Day, the deadline to file income tax returns for Tax Year 2016 is Tuesday, April 18, 2017.

Contact OTR

Assistance is available from 8:15 am to 5:30 pm, Monday through Friday.

• Walk-In Center: 1101 4th Street, SW, Suite W270
• Telephone Center: (202) 727-4TAX (4829)
• Email: Taxhelp@dc.gov

Please be aware that the Sales and Use Tax rate for the sale of inaugural ball ticket sales is 5.75% per ticket sold. Those that sell tickets to inaugural balls should prepare and file Tax Form FR-800SE. This form should be filed with remittance by February 20, 2017.

Please contact Marcus Addison with any questions: (202) 442-6858, marcus.addison@dc.gov.

The Office of Tax and Revenue (OTR) would like to inform taxpayers of the common errors to avoid when filing their individual income tax returns. Errors on tax returns delay processing times and issuance of refunds. Additionally, OTR strongly urges taxpayers to consider filing returns electronically. E-filing is faster and ensures less errors than mailing in returns.

Please read the helpful tips below to avoid common errors when preparing your tax returns this tax filing season.

Individual Income Tax Returns

• Failure to complete the tax return
• Failure to enter your complete and/or correct Social Security number
• Failure to double check math calculations
• Failure to select the correct filing status or not selecting a filing status (e.g. single, married)
• Failure to clearly print your name, current address, including zip code directly on the tax return
• Failure to enter on the form Schedule S (Supplemental Information and Dependents Return) your dependent(s)’ information – name, Social Security number, date of birth, and relationship to you
• Failure to sign and date the tax return. Both signatures are required when filing jointly
• Failure to staple required items to your tax return. Staple the following items to your tax return in the order and location shown in the D-40 instructions:
• Any Form 1009 showing DC Withholdings
• Form 1099 R – Distribution from Pension, Annuities, Retirement, etc.
• Form W-2 – Wage and Tax Statement
• Make sure that you receive written confirmation from the tax preparer that your electronically filed DC return was accepted
• Failure to include on your tax payment your Social Security number, the tax year and the number of the form you are filing
• Failure to prorate correctly or failure to subtract the income received during the period of non-residence

Deductions:

• Failure to take same type deduction (itemized or standard) on your District tax return as that taken on your Federal tax return
• Selecting the standard deduction when itemizing
• Entering the incorrect number of exemptions
• Not attaching form Schedule S (Supplemental Information and Dependents Return)

DC tax credits and payments:

• Computing the tax $100,000 or over incorrectly
• Failure to attach a completed Calculation J (Tax computation for married or registered domestic partners filing separately on the same DC return)
• Childcare credit amounts computed incorrectly
• Failure to attach a Form Schedule U (Additional Miscellaneous Credits and Contributions)
• Low income and Earned Income Credits (EIC) selected together
• Taxpayers can only claim 40% of the EIC not the entire credit

DC withholding:

• W-2s and 1099s not attached or filing without all of the W-2s and 1099s

Estimated tax:

• Claimed but not paid or paid to the IRS
• Refund issued because the overpayment was not designated as a carry forward

Extension payment:

• Overstated or not made at all

Amended return:

• Failure to check as an amended return (OTR’s system enters as a duplicated return)

Head of household:

• Head of household claimed without dependents or a qualifying child
• All supporting documents should be attached when submitting the tax return

Homeowner and Renter Property Tax Credit Return:

If you file a DC Schedule H (Homeowner and Renter Property Tax Credit Return) to claim a property tax credit:

• Include the square, suffix and lot numbers if you own the real property for which you are claiming the credit;
• Include your landlord’s name, address and telephone number and the dollar amount of your rent for the year if claiming the credit based on rent paid;
• Report income earned by all those living in your household, and include their names, Social Security numbers and telephone numbers; and
• Include a completed and signed physician’s certificate when claiming a credit for blindness or disability for the first time

Do not file a DC Schedule H to claim the property tax credit if you lived in public or subsidized housing during the year.

As a reminder, you can check the status of your refund 24/7 via MyTax.DC.gov. Additionally, by signing up, you can make/schedule payments, view notices sent from OTR, and contact e-Services for a quick response to online inquiries.

OTR Quick Links

OTR Customer Service Administration

MyTax.DC.gov FAQs

MyTax.DC.gov Tutorials

OTR Twitter Page – @DC_OTR

The Office of Tax and Revenue (OTR) announced that in its continued efforts to combat identity theft tax fraud this filing season, additional verification will be required for selected tax returns.

OTR will issue notices to individual taxpayers whose returns have been selected for further review. The notice will contain a Personalized Identification Number (PIN) along with detailed instructions on how to verify a return using the PIN.

Taxpayers will have three options to complete the verification process:

1. Using OTR’s secure Taxpayer Access Portal, MyTax.DC.gov
2. Calling the Refund Response Unit at (202) 741-8629 between the hours of 8:30 am and 4:30 pm, Monday through Friday
3. Visiting OTR’s Walk-in Center located at 1101 4th Street SW, Washington, DC 20024 between the hours of 8:15 am and 5:30 pm.

The protection measures taken by OTR during the 2016 tax filing season saved the District and its taxpayers more than $25 million from potentially fraudulent returns. The Office of Tax and Revenue’s Compliance Administration will continue these enforcement efforts to safeguard the identity and tax dollars of the District’s taxpayers and government.

In addition to verifying a return, taxpayers can also use the District’s new online tax portal, MyTax.DC.gov to check the status of a refund, provide substantiating documentation, or communicate with customer service.

• En Español (PDF)

The District of Columbia Office of Tax and Revenue, the Internal Revenue Service, tax agencies from other states, and the tax industry today warned tax professionals to be alert to a new phishing email scam impersonating software providers.
 
The scam email comes with the subject line, “Access Locked.” It tells recipients that access to their tax prep software accounts has been “suspended due to errors in your security details.” The scam email asks the tax professional to address the issue by using an “unlock” link provided in the email.
 
However, the link will take the tax professional to a fake web page, where they are asked to enter their user name and password. Instead of unlocking accounts, the tax professionals actually are inadvertently providing their information to cybercriminals who use the stolen credentials to access the preparers’ accounts and to steal client information.
 
The Security Summit partners, which includes the IRS, state tax agencies and the nation’s tax community, remind tax professionals and taxpayers to never open a link or an attachment from a suspicious email. These scams can increase during the tax season.
 
Tax professionals can review additional tips to protect clients and themselves at the Security Summit’s awareness campaign, Protect Your Clients, Protect Yourself, on IRS.gov.
 
For tax professionals who receive emails purportedly from their tax software providers suggesting their accounts have been suspended, they should send those scam emails to their tax software provider.  For Windows users, please follow this process to help the investigation of these scam emails:

1. Use “Save As” to save the scam. Under “save as type” in the drop down menu, select “plain text” and save to your desk top. Do not click on any links.
2. Open a new email and attach this saved email as a file
3. Send your new email containing the attachment your tax software provider, as well as copy Phishing@IRS.gov.