Commissioner Fong: Tax Department Extends Filing Deadline to April 17

BISMARCK, N.D. - Tax Commissioner Cory Fong announced today that the North Dakota Tax Department will follow the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) extended due date of April 17 for filing income tax returns or payments that are traditionally required by April 15. The IRS has announced that taxpayers across the nation will have until April 17, 2007, to file 2006 federal returns, extensions, and payments that would have been due April 16, 2007.

"North Dakota will match the April 17 extended filing date and consider any returns and payments that are normally due on April 15 as timely if postmarked by April 17," said Fong. "For North Dakota, this includes individual taxpayers as well as corporations and financial institutions that would have had an April 15 deadline."

Whenever the April 15 deadline is on a Saturday or Sunday, taxpayers have until the next business day to send in their payment or return and still meet the deadline. This year taxpayers will have extra time to file and pay because April 15 falls on a Sunday and the following day, Monday, April 16, is Emancipation Day, a legal holiday in the District of Columbia. For 2007, the April 16 holiday in D.C. affects the entire nation and extends the deadline to April 17.

"Because April 16 is not a holiday in the State of North Dakota, the Tax Department will be open and ready to help taxpayers with their questions," said Fong. "In 2008 the deadline will return to the normal April 15 date."

The extended due date applies to any income tax return filing or payment usually due by April 15. It also includes applying for an extension as well as making payments of estimated tax due. The April 17, 2007 due date will apply to returns and payments whether submitted electronically (e file) or by mail.

"Even though the date is extended this year, April 17 will be here quickly. Taxpayers should get started early preparing their returns so that they have plenty of time to double-check their entries, including social security and bank routing information," said Fong. "By double-checking the information taxpayers make sure that the information is correct, and prevent delays in receiving their refund."

Taxpayers can contact the Tax Department if they have questions or need assistance. The Tax Department provides many forms and other tax information, including a Frequently Asked Questions section, on their web site at www.nd.gov/tax.

Taxpayers may contact the department during the hours of 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday:

Bismarck-Mandan area: 701.328.3450
Toll-Free: 800.638.2901
E-mail: individualtax@nd.gov
In person at the State Capitol, 16th Floor, 600 E Boulevard Avenue, Bismarck.