99-12 | Virginia Tax

Bulletin Number

VTB 99-12

Tax Type

Individual Income Tax

Description

Telefile Program Begins January 13, 2000

Topic

Returns and Payments

Date Issued

12-14-1999

Telefile Program Begins January 13, 2000

A Telefile Pilot program will become available to selected Virginia taxpayers on January 13, 2000 and continue through the tax filing due date of May 1, 2000. The Telefile system will allow taxpayers to file 760S return information (the short form) using a touch-tone phone. To use the Telefile system, taxpayers will only need to follow three simple steps:

- - - - Complete a Telefile worksheet
        Dial the toll-free number
        File the 760S using a touch-tone phone

The Telefile system will be private and secure and available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. All computations will be performed automatically, and all participants will have the ability to verify all information as it is entered during the call. In order to be eligible to use Telefile, taxpayers must receive a Telefile instruction booklet and must file using the same filing status that was used when filing their 1998 760S return. In addition, the name and address of the taxpayers must be the same as the name and address printed in the Telefile instruction booklet. Telefile will accept only return information for the current period. Taxpayers submitting prior year or amended return information will be requested to send in a paper return.

Approximately 300,000 eligible Virginians will be selected to participate in the pilot program. The population was derived from taxpayers meeting eligibility criteria in direct file localities as well as six local file jurisdictions that agreed to participate in the pilot. The six local file jurisdictions are as follows: Chesterfield County, Fauquier County, Mathews County, and Wise County as well as the cities of Staunton and Norfolk. Since this is a pilot program, participation is limited to this initial group but, in the future, the program will be expanded.

Taxpayers who are due a refund will be encouraged to receive their refunds faster by arranging for their refunds to be deposited directly into their bank account. Taxpayers who have a tax due will have the flexibility of sending in their payment and payment coupon any time before the due date of May 1, 2000. With the exception of the payment coupon for tax due returns, Telefile is a paperless process. By introducing the Telefile Pilot, we are saving money for the Commonwealth by reducing printing and processing costs. The Telefile instruction booklets will be mailed to selected participants the last week in December. If you have any questions, contact the Telefile Administrator, Debbie Wilkinson at (804) 786-1424.

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