Montana Department of Revenue

Filing Season Begins January 28, 2019

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Filing Season Begins January 28, 2019

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The Montana Department of Revenue will open the state Individual Income Tax filing season on Monday, January 28, 2019.

“We encourage Montanans to get started early with their returns, and to file electronically,” said Montana Department of Revenue Director Gene Walborn. “E-filing is the easiest and most secure way to file your returns and the best way to get your refund as quickly as possible.”

Nearly 90 percent of Montanans already file electronically. Tax software providers and tax professionals will be accepting and preparing tax returns before January 28, and will submit those returns when the IRS and state systems open.

Montana filers should allow up to 90 days to receive their refunds.

Free and low-cost help is available for Montanans who qualify, with tax help events in dozens of communities across the state.

Taxpayers will see a few changes this year.

  • For those who file on paper, the federal Form 1040EZ has been discontinued, and with that change the corresponding Montana Form 2EZ is also discontinued. Filers who would have used form 2EZ can now file just the first page of the new, streamlined Form 2.
  • Copies of the 1099-G form will not be mailed. This form documents payments from Montana, such as income tax refunds, for use in federal returns. Starting this year, filers can find the information online at Get1099.mt.gov.
  • The former separate paper form for the Elderly Homeowner/Renter Tax Credit (Form 2EC) is now included in Form 2. Those with no obligation to file can still claim the credit online at dor.mt.gov, or on Form 2, using just Pages 1 and 9.

The department also urges those filing a Montana return for the first time to keep their mailing address current with the department to avoid possible delays in receiving their refunds. Visit revenue.mt.gov or call (406) 444-6900 for more information.

Tax returns must be filed by April 15.

Montana Individual Income Tax Return Form 2 Available in My Revenue

Department of Revenue Urges Montanans to Check for Unclaimed Cash and Property

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Thousands of Montanans have assets waiting in trust.

HELENA – Every year in Montana, millions of dollars and other personal assets go unclaimed. And every year, the Montana Department of Revenue encourages individuals and businesses to check whether some of that might be theirs.

The unclaimed property can come from a variety of sources such as forgotten bank accounts, uncashed checks and money orders, insurance policy payments and unused gift certificates, as well as stocks, bonds and the contents from safe deposit boxes. By law, the Montana Department of Revenue holds unclaimed property in trust indefinitely for owners to claim.

Montanans can check their local newspapers over the next few months for ads and inserts from the department listing the owners of property that’s been reported as unclaimed during the last year.

Anyone can also check online for property that may be theirs, regardless of how long ago it was originally reported as unclaimed. Go to tap.dor.mt.gov and click on the “Search for Unclaimed Cash” link to look up names. Follow the on-screen instructions to create and submit a claim.

“This unclaimed property belongs to thousands of individuals across Montana and the country, and the department is committed to returning these assets to their rightful owners,” said Gene Walborn, director of the Montana Department of Revenue. “All Montanans should check their local paper or go online and look for their names, as well as those of their loved ones and recently deceased family members. You never know what you’ll find.”

The department reminds Montanans that while some businesses may offer to help people find their property – for a fee – those commercial services are not necessary. Montanans and others do not have to pay to reclaim their own property, and can submit their claim online in just a few minutes.

For help with a claim or for more information, visit tap.dor.mt.gov, call the department at (406) 444-6900 or email UnclaimedProperty@mt.gov.

Extended Tax Deadline for 2018

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 18, 2018
CONTACT
Mary Ann Dunwell, Public Information Officer, MT Dept. of Revenue
(406) 444-6700, MDunwell@mt.gov

MT Dept. of Revenue Extends Tax Filing Deadline to Midnight Tonight, Follows IRS Lead

HELENA – The Montana Department of Revenue is following the lead of the federal IRS and extending the deadline for taxpayers to file their state individual income tax returns and make payments. The deadline is tonight at midnight.

The IRS announced that it is providing income taxpayers with an additional day to file and pay their taxes after experiencing electronic system issues yesterday. These issues did not affect the state system.

“Montana income taxpayers who filed yesterday are good to go. The IRS system glitch did not affect Montana’s electronic filing,” said Mike Kadas, Director, Montana Department of Revenue. “The reason we’re extending is simply to match the IRS timeline and make filing state taxes as easy and understandable as possible.”

Customer service representatives are available Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The number is (406) 444-6900. Taxpayers can also visit revenue.mt.gov for more tax information or send an email to DORCustomerAssistance@mt.gov. The department replies to emails within 24 business hours.

“The department realizes that filing taxes is not the most pleasant task and we would like to take this opportunity to thank taxpayers,” Kadas said. “State and local governments and their communities depend on public revenues to fund Montana’s public services and assure its quality of life.”

Alcohol License Competitive Bidding Postponed

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The Montana Department of Revenue is postponing the competitive bid process for a Bozeman beer license and a Belgrade all-beverage license that was scheduled to close at midnight on Thursday, March 8.

The department based its decision to postpone bidding on feedback from the Montana Legislative Economic Affairs Interim Committee regarding administrative rules.

Anyone who has submitted a bid for one of the alcohol licenses and paid the processing fee will be refunded the fee. Bidders will need to resubmit a bid when the department offers the licenses later, if they want their bid to be included.

The department has drafted administrative rules and a rules public hearing is scheduled for April 9. Once the rules are adopted in early May, the department will reschedule the competitive bid process for these licenses.

You can download a copy of the Economic Affairs Interim Committee Letter (PDF, 324 KB), or read the text of the letter below.

A Rule Hearing on Quota Areas and the Competitive Bidding Process is scheduled for April 9, 2018.

Economic Affairs Interim Committee Letter

Dear Director Kadas:

The Economic Affairs Interim Committee of the Montana Legislature has voted to send a letter to the Department of Revenue voicing concerns about the process being used to implement Senate Bill No. 5 from the 2017 Special Session.

The committee’s concerns include the lack of rulemaking and a public comment period before the department opened the auction for new liquor and beer and wine licenses in the Bozeman and Belgrade areas. The committee also heard that the department had decided that licenses could be auctioned in fiscal years, when the bill did not specify a fiscal year and, in fact. 1-1-301, MCA, indicates that if a fiscal year is not specified then the term “year” means “calendar year.”

The committee appreciated testimony provided to the committee by the Department staff stating on the record that none of the licenses would include gaming, which had been another concern.

The committee requests that no license be issued until the rules are released and adopted after the public has the opportunity to comment. There is concern that failure to follow the rulemaking process could invalidate the auction.

Sincerely,

Sen. Gordan Vance
EAIC Presiding Officer

Rep. Nate McConnell
EAIC Vice Presiding Officer

Congressional Changes Extend Tax Deductions

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President Trump signed the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018 on February 9, 2018. Tucked away in the bill are several federal extender provisions that expired but are now available through December 31, 2017.

What does this mean for the Montana tax return?

Two of the extended deductions impact the 2017 Montana Individual Income Tax return (Form 2):

  • Tuition and Fees deduction, line 35 on Form 2
  • Qualified Mortgage Insurance Premiums deduction, line 14 on Schedule III (Itemized Deductions)

The department previously voided and reserved these lines for future use, but will reactivate these lines to allow taxpayers to claim these deductions on the 2017 Montana Form 2.

Keep in mind that it may take a few weeks for tax software companies and tax agencies to update their products and systems to reflect these last-minute changes to the form. You can visit My Revenue to view the corrected version of the Montana Form 2 Booklet.

Please Contact Us for updates, developments, or if you have questions.

Alcohol Beverages License Competitive Bidding Opens

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Update March 7, 2018: Competitive bidding has been postponed.

The Montana Department of Revenue opens its first competitive bidding for alcohol beverages licenses since the new law was passed during the 2017 legislative special session in November. The first licenses being offered are for a Bozeman Retail Beer license (gaming restricted) with a minimum bid of $187,500 and a Belgrade All-Beverages license with a minimum bid of $350,000. Bidding opens on January 18, 2018 and closes at midnight MST on February 23, 2018. License bidding for other quota areas will follow in the future.

Competitive Bidding ProcessThe law replaces alcoholic beverages license lotteries with a competitive bidding process to determine which individual or business is eligible to apply for a license. The highest bidder will be granted the opportunity to seek a license. The law also separates the state’s six combined quota areas so that each incorporated city and incorporated town has its own allowable number of licenses or quota. Those areas were Bozeman/Belgrade, Whitefish/Columbia Falls, Helena/East Helena, Hamilton/Pinesdale, Eureka/Rexford and Red Lodge/Bear Creek.

To find bid information or submit a bid, visit myrevenue.mt.gov. All bids must be accompanied by a $100 processing fee and an irrevocable letter of credit for at least the amount of the bid.

For more information, visit revenue.mt.gov, email DORCustomerAssistance@mt.gov or call (406) 444-6900.

Mary Ann Dunwell
Public Information Officer
Montana Department of Revenue

The Montana Department of Revenue will be closed on for Lincoln's and Washington's Birthdays.

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