Special State Tax Alert
Sales Tax Filing Deadline Changed
Although the CTCPA made a number of recommendations to the Department of Revenue Services in order to mitigate the burden placed on you and your clients by the sales tax filing deadline acceleration, the DRS decided against implementing any of those recommendations.
Excerpted from the DRS on November 20, 2014:
Legislation passed in 2014 changes the due date for filing and paying Connecticut sales and use tax from the last day of the month to the 20th of the month following the close of the reporting period. This change also applies to the business use tax, room occupancy tax, and prepaid wireless E 911 fee.
To provide fair notice of this change and a reasonable opportunity to make any required systems changes, the Department of Revenue Services (DRS) [implemented] this legislation for tax periods beginning on or after January 1, 2015. The filing and payment due date for taxes impacted by this change will be:
• MONTHLY: February 20, 2015
• QUARTERLY: April 20, 2015
• ANNUAL: January 20, 2016
________________________________________
Electronic Filing of Connecticut Forms W-2, 1099-R, 1099-MISC, and W-2G
On October 30, 2014, the DRS issued Information Publications 2014(16) and 2014(17) detailing the following requirements.
Effective tax season 2015, all 2014 Connecticut forms W-2, 1099-R, 1099-MISC, and W-2G will be required to be filed electronically through the DRS Taxpayer Service Center (TSC) website. This pertains to all Connecticut filers and represents a lowering of the electronic filing threshold from 25 forms to one.
An alternative method is to file by compact disc. In order to take advantage of that option, one must file a paper-filed waiver (Form CT-8508) denoting that s/he is “unable to file electronically due to a documented hardship.” Form CT-8508 must be filed by January 15, 2015.
________________________________________
If you have concerns about how these changes will have an impact upon your clients, we suggest both YOU and YOUR CLIENTS consider contacting your state senator and state representatives to explain how these mandates will affect their businesses. If you need further assistance in contacting your state legislators, feel free to contact CTCPA Public Affairs Director Mark Zampino at markz@ctcpas.org or 860-258-0212.
You and your clients can also express your concerns directly to the Department of Revenue Services by calling the following telephone numbers:
• 860-297-5962 (from anywhere)
• 1-800-382-9463 (Within Connecticut – outside Greater Hartford area only)
• 860-297-4911 (TDD/TT users only)
You can also email the DRS directly to voice your concerns.