No quick answers for Virginia tax filers as state Senate rejects emergency legislation

[Yonnie3]

Virginia's News Leader 2/1/19

Hundreds of thousands of Virginians already have filed state tax returns on last year’s income, but the General Assembly appears unlikely to give them immediate answers on when the state will process the returns and issue refunds.

The Senate failed on Friday to pass emergency legislation to conform the state’s tax code with new federal tax laws, after Democrats insisted on keeping the issue separate from major proposed changes in state tax policy that Republicans embedded in the bill.

Conforming the tax codes would allow Virginia to match its tax law to the federal Tax Cuts and Jobs Act passed by Congress more than a year ago, and to rely on the Internal Revenue Service to verify and audit returns.

An emergency clause requires approval by 80 percent of each chamber in order to go into effect immediately after the governor signs the bill.

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https://www.richmond.com/news/virginia/government-politics/general-assembly/no-quick-answers-for-virginia-tax-filers-as-state-senate/article_a1ccd926-8a03-5c0d-a77f-7ad19bf6f5e5.html

[nitpicker]

1. They want people to file, but will when will the state respond?

https://www.whsv.com/content/news/As-lawmakers-quarrel-officials-unable-to-process-Virginia-tax-returns-505327731.html

As lawmakers quarrel, Virginia tax returns put on hold


By Jared Kline |

Posted: Mon 6:09 PM, Feb 04, 2019 |

Updated: Tue 2:54 PM, Feb 05, 2019

RICHMOND, Va. (WHSV) — The Virginia Department of Taxation is unable to begin processing 2018 state returns until lawmakers in Richmond reach an agreement on what to do with a multibillion-dollar windfall from changes to the federal tax code.
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In the meantime, taxpayers are left waiting.

Valley VITA, a free tax filing service, plans to begin its season on Tuesday.

"On our end, it's business as usual," said Nadina Pupic, the Director of Community Impact for the United Way of Greater Augusta. "We will prepare and e-file all returns and we don't anticipate any issues with federal. We have been advised that the Virginia State Returns will not be processed at this time but they are still encouraging people to file them on time. "
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