Delaware personal income tax season to begin Jan. 29
Division of Revenue Director Jennifer R. Hudson announced that the Delaware individual income tax season will begin Monday, Jan. 29, concurrently with the opening of the federal individual tax season announced by the IRS.
While this is slightly later than previous years, the Jan. 29 date was set to ensure the security and readiness of key tax-processing systems, and to assess the potential impact of tax legislation on 2017 tax returns. Delaware will begin issuing income tax refunds Monday, Feb. 19. The State of Delaware will begin to accept business tax returns Tuesday, Jan. 16.
Electronic filing remains the fastest and safest way to file personal income tax returns. Delaware will continue to offer taxpayers the opportunity to file for free through the Division of Revenue website. Delaware's user-friendly system is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and allows taxpayers to file their returns and schedule payments to be made close to the Monday, April 30 deadline. State of Delaware taxes may be paid with a credit card or bank account debit.
Those who prefer to use tax-preparation software can electronically file their federal and state income tax returns for a fee. Many of these products also offer free-filing options for Delaware taxpayers who meet one of the following qualifications: those with adjusted gross income that is less than the software's established means criteria; active-duty military with an adjusted gross income of $60,000 or less (including Reservists and National Guard); or those who qualify for the Federal Earned Income Tax Credit.
Returns filed in hard copy are processed using a modernized system that identifies tax filings based on the return type. Any taxpayer who files a 2017 tax return using a prior-year return, or who modifies the paper return in some way, could experience significant delays. Paper tax returns will be available at local libraries or Revenue's three public service offices.
To download a tax return, go to www.de.gov/17taxforms.
Delaware individual income tax returns will be due on or before Monday, April 30. It is important to remember that anyone who has worked in Delaware must file a Delaware tax return, even if they are not a Delaware resident. Similarly, Delaware residents who work in another state are required to file returns with Delaware in addition to the state in which they worked.
By law, Delaware employees should receive their W-2 forms from their employers no later than Wednesday, Jan. 31, for any job worked during the 2017 calendar year. If people have not received a W-2 by Jan. 31, they should contact their employer.
