Overview - What's Changing?
What is changing with Virginia Tax online services? 

Starting in September 2026, Virginia Tax is launching a new, modernized Online Services platform. This is the beginning of a multi-year process designed to make filing and paying your taxes easier and more secure. The new platform will look and feel a lot different from what you may be used to, but once the transition is complete, you will be able to file, pay, and manage all your state taxes in one centralized location.

How long will the implementation process take?

The entire transition for all tax types will take 4 years. Because it is a phased rollout, different tax types will migrate to the new Online Services platform each year. See tax.virginia.gov/modernize for an overview of which tax types will move, when. 

What happens in September 2026?

Starting in September 2026, businesses can begin to voluntarily transition accounts for Sales and Use taxes, Employer Withholding taxes, Vending Machine Dealer's taxes, Digital Media fees, and Tire Recycling fees to our new Online Services platform. Businesses will also need to use the new platform for business registrations, account updates, and paying bills. 

What happens in November 2026? 

Beginning in November 2026, businesses will no longer be able to use their old online business account in our existing platform (iFile) for Sales and Use taxes, Employer Withholding taxes, Vending Machine Dealer's taxes, Digital Media fees, and Tire Recycling fees. Businesses that manage those tax types in iFile will need to use the new platform to file and manage those accounts. eForms and Web Upload will remain unchanged for this first phase. 

Migrating an Existing Online Account
What will I need to transition my existing online account to the new platform?

To transition your existing online account, you will need to verify yourself with the same credentials you use to sign into your current account today. 

  • For businesses, that's your EIN, User ID, and Password
  • For tax professionals or tax preparers, that's typically your Tax Preparer Unique ID, User ID, and Password

After you verify yourself with your existing credentials, we will ask you to set up a new username and password for this new platform.

Can I use my existing online account username for the new platform? 

Yes. You can use your existing login credentials as long as it remains unique within the new system (meaning no other user has already claimed that specific username). 

Can I return to my old online account after I transition to the new system? 

Yes, you can continue using your old online account at any point during the transition period. After November 9, you will no longer be able to complete certain tasks, like filing and paying sales and withholding taxes, in your old account, but you will still be able to access it. 

What will I have access to in this new account?  
  • For this first year, you will be able to see your account history and file and pay for any sales, withholding, vending machine, digital media, or tire recycling fee accounts you have registered with us. 
  • You will be able to view account filing history 3 years back for these same tax types in the new Online Services platform. Or as far back as you’ve had a business registered with Virginia Tax.
What's new for the new Online Services platform?

You will immediately notice a different look and feel. For an overview and help navigating for the first time, see our Account Overview video here. 

In addition to the design and navigation changes:

  • Account filing history goes back 3 years now. 
  • You can also view letters we sent you in your new account as long as you're a full access user. 
  • 2-factor verification and verifying your email is also new for this account (see more about those in the following FAQs if you have questions). 
  • You may have shared bank account information with other account users in your old account. That functionality is no longer available in the new Online Services platform. 
Why is Virginia Tax asking me to verify my email address? 

Email verification is a new security requirement for our new Online Services platform. 

What should I do if I encounter an error or get stuck on email verification? 

The email may take a few moments to arrive. Check back in a few minutes and refresh your email. If you still do not see the email, check to make sure the email didn’t end up in your spam folder by mistake. If you receive an error blocking you from proceeding, ensure that you have clicked the "Verify Email" button. Skipping this validation step will prevent you from moving forward with the verification process. 

Do I have to sign up for email notifications during my first login? 

No, you are not required to set up your email subscriptions. You can skip this step if you prefer. To select emails, you must click directly inside the provided table data fields.  

Two-Factor Authentication
What is two-factor authentication (2FA)?

Two-factor authentication (2FA) is a security process that requires you to provide two distinct forms of identification before you can access your account information.  

What are my options for setting up two-factor authentication (2FA)?

During the registration or migration process, you will be required to establish a security question. Additionally, you must select at least one secondary authentication method: 

  • Passkey on a device (fingerprint, face, or PIN) 
  • Authentication App 
  • Text (SMS) 
  • Email 

While you may choose any of these as your 2FA method, text/SMS messaging and passkeys are typically the most convenient choices. 

Why am I required to set up two-factor authentication (2FA)? 

Two-factor authentication (2FA) is a method used to protect your tax accounts from unauthorized access. To help maintain the security of your account information, you will need to use two-factor authentication every time you log in. 

Creating a New Online Services Account
What information do I need in order to validate my identity during account setup?

If you have an existing online account, see our previous FAQs on migrating existing online accounts.

If you don't have an existing online account, to verify your business identity, you will need: 

  • Your 15-digit Virginia Tax account number for one of the following tax accounts: sales (in-state, out-of-state, or business consumer's use), withholding, vending machine, digital media, or tire recycling fee. 
  • The dollar amount of your last tax payment or your last filed tax return amount due. 
Why isn’t the system recognizing the previous payment or return amounts I’m entering during the verification process? 

The system is checking the numbers you enter against the exact amounts originally reported on your tax returns, as you submitted them. When validating, use the originally reported amounts, even if these amounts have been adjusted or otherwise changed. 

Making Payments and Paying Bills
Can I make payments from my new Online Services account? 

You can make payments for each of your tax accounts that have moved to the new system (sales, withholding, digital media, vending machine, and tire recycling fee) once you have logged in. 

  • If you have not yet set up your online services account in the new platform, you will need to enter your bank account information before you can begin making payments.
  • This is the case, even if you transitioned your old online account to the new system. We did not transfer banking information for security reasons. We are also not able to allow users to share banking information like you may have been accustomed to in our old system.
How do I pay a bill? 

The easiest way to manage your tax accounts—including paying bills—is by logging into your online services account. You can view and pay multiple bills across all your tax accounts that have transitioned to the new platform, and, if necessary, set up a payment plan. 

You can pay all business tax bills—including for tax types that haven't transitioned to the new platform yet—without logging into Online Services by navigating to the Payments section. To pay a bill or notice we sent you, you will need: 

  • Your bill number as it appears on the notice we sent you 
  • Your bank account and routing numbers 

Please note: With our new guest payment method, you can only access and make payments to one bill at a time. See all of your bill payment options here.   

I have a debit block on my bank account—are there any changes to your company or originating ID?

If you have a debit block on your account, you will need to add our new Company ID (5546001745) to your bank’s list of approved payees before making your next ACH debit payment through our website. This ID is in addition to the Company ID numbers we already have. Find a full list here. 

Managing My Tax Accounts
Where can I find copies of my previously filed tax returns? 

You can view detailed records of your filed tax returns directly on your main Account Summary tab. The new system will show your filing history for the last 3 years. 

How do I amend or change a tax return I’ve already filed?

Navigate directly to the same section on your Account Summary tab where you view your filed returns to make changes within the platform or to file an amended return. We cannot calculate any penalty and interest you may owe after amending if it’s after the original due date and you owe more. You can pay this separately.

How do I access my tax accounts that have not yet moved to the new Online Services platform?
  • If you have an online account in our older platform (iFile): Log in and manage your tax type-specific account(s) as normal.
  • If you do not have an active online account: You will need to use paper forms (Form R-1 or Form R-3) to process business account modifications for tax types that have not yet been moved to the new Online Services platform.
Will I be able to see a copy of the letters I’ve received in the mail in the new Online Services platform? 

Yes. If you have full access to the account, you will be able to see copies of all of the letters sent to you by Virginia Tax since the online services account was created. 

Still have questions?

Check out Online Services Help for video and training resources