Tax Relief Granted for Victims of Virginia Tornadoes

Those in Affected Areas Receive Filing and Payment Extensions

Tax Commissioner Janie E. Bowen announced today that those affected by the tornadoes that struck Virginia on April 28 will be granted a 30-day extension for filing returns and making payments.

This extension will apply to taxpayers located in the following localities: City of Colonial Heights, City of Suffolk, Brunswick County, Gloucester County, Halifax County, Isle of Wight County, James City County, Mathews County and Surry County.

To qualify for this special filing extension, taxpayers must be unable to meet their filing obligations because the financial books and records they need to file their taxes are located in these cities and counties or are otherwise unavailable because of severe tornado damage.

Individuals and businesses in these areas automatically have 30 additional days to file all returns and make all tax payments that had a due date, or an extended due date, on or after April 28, 2008, and on or before June 2, 2008.

In addition, taxpayers outside of these areas who suffered severe tornado damage may also request an extension. To receive the special filing extension, these taxpayers should write "Tornado Relief" at the top of their returns. The Virginia Department of Taxation will abate interest and any late-filing or late-payment penalties that would otherwise apply.

Taxpayers with additional questions should contact us at (804) 367-8031 for individual income tax questions or (804) 367-8037 for business tax questions. If there are further developments or announcements, information will be posted on the Department of Taxation's Web site at www.tax.virginia.gov.