Income Tax Deadlines Extended
State Tax Due Dates Remain Unchanged

Last week, the Delaware Division of Revenue (DOR) announced that the deadlines for taxpayers to file certain personal and corporate income tax returns and payments had been extended to July 15, 2020 due to “rolling conformity” with federal income tax rules adopted by the IRS in response to the COVID-19 emergency.

The new deadline of July 15, 2020 applies to corporate income tax tentative returns due April 15 as well as final personal income tax returns, estimated personal income tax payments, and fiduciary income tax returns each due April 30.

All State of Delaware agencies continue to process State tax filings, accept tax payments, and issue refunds, where applicable. The State is not extending the deadlines for filing returns and payments for other State taxes and fees, including but not limited to the following categories:

• Personal Income Tax Withholding
• Personal Income Tax Estimated Payment due 6/15/2020
• Corporate Income Tax Tentative Payment due 6/15/2020
• Unemployment Insurance Tax (Non-profits and other reimbursable organizations will receive a 90-day deferment on UI payments)
• Corporate Franchise Tax
• LLC, LP, and GP Annual Tax
• Gross Receipts Tax and Business License Renewals
• Realty Transfer Tax
• Tobacco and Cigarette Tax
• Bank Franchise Tax and Fees
• Insurance Taxes and Fees
• Public Utility Tax
• Alcoholic Beverage Tax
• Public Accommodations Tax
• Motor Fuel Tax

State staff are available to respond to taxpayer questions throughout the COVID-19 emergency. Taxpayers are urged to visit the websites of applicable agencies for additional COVID-19 information or call or email the following offices:

Division of Revenue Leslie A. Poland, Community Relations Coordinator leslie.poland@delaware.gov
Division of Unemployment Insurance DOL_UI_Employer_Tax_Questions@delaware.gov Kenneth Briscoe, Communications Coordinator & Public Information Officer kenneth.briscoe@delaware.gov
Division of Corporations Doug Denison, Director of Community Relations douglas.denison@delaware.gov
Delaware Bank Commissioner Dawn Hollinger, Public Information Officer dawn.hollinger@delaware.gov
Delaware Department of Transportation (302-744-2724) Charles McLeod, Director of Community Relations charles.mcleod@delaware.gov

 

State Continues Processing Returns – Taxpayers Urged to File

The Delaware Division of Revenue (DOR) today announced the deadline for taxpayers to file their 2019 Delaware personal income tax returns has been extended to July 15, 2020. DOR and the Internal Revenue Service remain open, and taxpayers are encouraged to continue to file their state and federal returns electronically or by mail.

“Although the filing deadline has been extended, individuals are still urged to file as soon as possible,” said Director of Revenue Jennifer Hudson. “Filing electronically with direct deposit remains the fastest way to get your refund. Although we are operating with modified staffing arrangements to ensure the health and safety of our staff and customers, the Division of Revenue continues to operate in support of the State and its taxpayers. We are continuing to process tax returns and issue refunds.”

DOR’s public service windows are currently closed, but staff are available to respond to taxpayer questions by e-mail. Inquiries may be sent to any of the email addresses listed on our website. DOR staff will respond by e-mail or phone.

The filing deadline has been extended at a time when Governor John Carney has ordered all non-essential businesses to close in order to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. Under Delaware law, the filing deadline for corporate income taxes is tied to the federal income tax due date which was recently extended to July 15, 2020. The Director of DOR has additional authority to grant reasonable extensions for other tax filings deemed to be appropriate. Under a Technical Information Memorandum 2020-01, DOR has also extended income tax filing deadlines for corporate final, corporate tentative, estimated personal income taxes, and fiduciary income taxes due in April to July 15, 2020. All other returns remain due without extension.

While DOR staff continue to process returns, some taxpayers with complex returns, filing errors, or paper submissions may experience delays. Taxpayers with questions about the status of their refund may use our online tool or e-mail DOR_PublicService@delaware.gov.

Individuals who are unable to meet the July 15 filing deadline may file an extension request online on or before July 15 at, by email to DOR_PublicService@delaware.gov, or through their tax preparer.

Taxpayers who have an outstanding balance and need assistance should contact DOR_Collections@delaware.gov. For additional information and updates about DOR’s response to the COVID-19 crisis, please visit our website.

WILMINGTON, Del. – Governor Carney on Friday announced the State of Delaware will host Government Efficiency & Accountability Review (GEAR) public meetings in each county as part of an ongoing review of state regulations. Governor Carney and members of his cabinet will host the meetings, and accept public comment on ways to improve state government and the delivery of state services.

The Delaware Departments of Labor; Health and Social Services; Education; Natural Resources and Environmental Control; and Transportation will be among the agencies participating. State of Delaware constituent relations staff also will be available to assist Delawareans with questions or concerns. 

“Since taking office, I have talked to Delawareans about our commitment to operating our state government as efficiently and effectively as possible – so we can focus on investing taxpayer dollars where they are needed most,” said Governor Carney. “These GEAR public meetings are another chance for us to hear directly from Delawareans on how we can improve our state government – and strengthen our work around education, public health, workforce training, and social service delivery. Members of our GEAR team have done important work to identify statewide improvements, and we are going on the road to hear directly from Delawareans about their priorities.”

Governor Carney established GEAR by Executive Order in February 2017 to identify ways for state government to operate more efficiently, and improve the delivery of state services for Delaware families.

A review of state regulations is required every four years by the Regulatory Flexibility Act. The following executive branch agencies of the State of Delaware are accepting public comments: 

• Department of Agriculture
• Department of Education
• Department of Finance
• Department of Health and Social Services
• Department of Human Resources
• Department of Labor
• Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control
• Department of Safety and Homeland Security
• Department of Services for Children, Youth & Their Families
• Department of State
• Department of Transportation
• Office of Management and Budget

Members of the public who would like to provide comments regarding state rules and regulations can submit comments online, by email, or by mail:

• • Online at: https://gear.delaware.gov/public-comment/ 
  • Email to: reg_review@delaware.gov
  • Mail comments to:

                       GEAR – Attn: James Myran
                       Carvel State Office Building
                       820 North French Street, 8th Floor, Office 813
                       Wilmington, Delaware 19801

 

Kent County – GEAR Town Hall

WHAT:          Governor John Carney and state agencies will host a GEAR Town Hall to accept public comment on which state regulations should be modified or eliminated.

WHO:             Governor John Carney

                        Secretary Rick Geisenberger, Delaware Department of Finance

                        James Myran, Executive Director, Government Efficiency & Accountability Review (GEAR)

                        Members of Governor Carney’s Cabinet

                        State Senator Trey Paradee

                        State Representative Bill Bush

                        State Representative Lyndon Yearick

                        Representatives from State of Delaware Agencies

WHEN:          Thursday, March 19, 2020

                        6:00 p.m.

WHERE:        Wilmington University, Dover Campus

                        Building A Auditorium

                        3282 N DuPont Highway

                        Dover, DE 19901

 

 

Sussex County – GEAR Town Hall

WHAT:          Governor John Carney and state agencies will host a GEAR Town Hall to accept public comment on which state regulations should be modified or eliminated.

WHO:             Governor John Carney

                        Secretary Rick Geisenberger, Delaware Department of Finance

                        James Myran, Executive Director, Government Efficiency & Accountability Review (GEAR)

                        Members of Governor Carney’s Cabinet

                        State Senator Brian Pettyjohn

                        State Senator David Wilson

                        State Senator Gerald Hocker

                        State Representative Ruth Briggs King

                        State Representative Daniel Short

                        State Representative Ronald Gray

                        State Representative Tim Dukes

                        State Representative Stephen Smyk

                        Representatives from State of Delaware Agencies

WHEN:          Tuesday, March 24, 2020

                        6:30 p.m.

WHERE:       Delaware Technical & Community College

                        Owens Campus – Arts and Science Center Theater

                        21179 College Drive

                        Georgetown, DE 19947

 

 

New Castle County – GEAR Town Hall

WHAT:          Governor John Carney and state agencies will host a GEAR Town Hall to accept public comment on which state regulations should be modified or eliminated.

WHO:             Governor John Carney

                        Secretary Rick Geisenberger, Delaware Department of Finance

                        James Myran, Executive Director, Government Efficiency & Accountability Review (GEAR)

                        Members of Governor Carney’s Cabinet

                        State Senator Darius Brown

                        State Representative Kendra Johnson

                        Representatives from State of Delaware Agencies

WHEN:          Monday, March 30, 2020

                        6:00 p.m.

WHERE:       Route 9 Library & Innovation Center

                        Black Box Theater and Multipurpose Room A

                        3022 New Castle Avenue

                        New Caste, DE 19720

 

 

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Division of Revenue Director Jennifer R. Hudson has announced that Delaware will begin processing 2019 individual income tax returns on Monday, January 27, 2020. To expedite this process, citizens are encouraged to file their 2019 State of Delaware Personal Income Taxes online at de.gov/filetax or through their tax software provider.

The 2019 tax year filing deadline is Thursday, April 30, 2020. On average, refunds from electronically filed returns are issued within 2 weeks, while refunds from paper-filed returns average seven weeks or more. Last year, the average time to issue a refund for all tax filing methods combined was approximately 25 days.

If you still owe taxes from prior years, you may find yourself listed on Delaware’s Delinquent Taxpayers web page. To address outstanding balances, please contact the Division of Revenue’s Account Management Department at (302) 577-8785 and ask to speak to your account assignee. By legislative order, larger balances are targeted first for publication. Each quarter, the next 100 business taxpayers and 100 personal taxpayers who have balances over $1,000 are posted to this site.

Taxpayers should be aware that Delaware does not maintain reciprocity agreements with other states. As a result, anyone who is not a Delaware resident, but who has worked in Delaware, must file a Delaware tax return. Delaware Residents who work out-of-state are required to file returns with Delaware in addition to a return in the state where they worked. By law, Delaware employees should receive their W-2 employment forms by January 31, 2020 for any job worked during the 2019 calendar year. Those who haven’t received a W-2 by January 31st should contact their employer.

For filing information and more, please visit revenue.delaware.gov.

WILMINGTON, Del. – As Delaware officials prepare to issue $300 million of General Obligation Bonds later this month, the State has again received the highest possible bond ratings.  One of only a handful of states granted Triple-A status from each of the four major bond rating agencies, January’s ratings from Fitch Ratings, Moody’s Investor Services, S&P Global and Kroll Bond Rating Agency (KBRA) all cited Delaware’s long history of proactive fiscal management and recent efforts to boost reserves.

The agencies noted the successful efforts of Governor John Carney and the Delaware General Assembly to bolster reserves by creating a new Budget Stabilization Fund that has a current balance of $126 million with S&P stating that “we believe the state can maintain better credit characteristics than the U.S. in a stress scenario.”  

“Over the last three years, we have climbed out of a $400 million budget deficit to create a $200 million dollar surplus,” said Governor John Carney. “These are funds that will ensure Delaware has the flexibility to continue making improvements to our schools, our local economy, and the overall health of our state.”

The ratings agencies cited Delaware’s improving economy including the State’s growing banking, health care, and incorporations industries, as well as the acceleration of investment activity at the Port of Wilmington, the STAR Campus at the University of Delaware, and logistics facilities in Newport and Delaware City. 

Moody’s stated that “Delaware has exhibited strong budget management throughout this extended period of national economic expansion. Its conservative budgeting practices helped to rapidly rebuild its financial resilience after the Great Recession and to maintain strong balances and financial cushion.”

KBRA’s rating noted Delaware’s “strong financial position and liquidity and a diverse economy anchored by financial services, chemicals and related industries, the healthcare sector and higher education.”   Fitch stated that Delaware “has exceptional financial resilience and institutionalized protections are designed to ensure surplus operations.”

Ratings agencies assign status based on criteria that includes trends in that state’s economy, its government’s financial performance and management, debt load, long-term costs, and political structure. States whose status indicates that they have the ability to meet debt obligations during periods of recession or fiscal stress, or are able to adapt quickly to such conditions, are granted the highest ratings. Additionally, the higher a state’s credit rating, the lower their cost to repay the bonds.

“Delaware’s triple-A ratings are the result of the sustained hard work of all three branches of State government, all of whom share the same goal, to operate our State as efficiently as possible while ensuring the financial security of current and future generations of taxpayers,” said Finance Secretary Rick Geisenberger.

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