Can I electronically make a payment for tax obligation previously established outside of the electronic filing program?
The Columbus Tax Division provides payment for taxpayers who are receiving a Delinquent Notice for past due taxes. Please watch our website for additional payment opportunities in the future. To access the Columbus Tax E-File/E-Pay system for payment of Delinquent Notices, the taxpayer must have an established City tax account and a City-assigned PIN.
Can I file a return now and pay later?
Yes. You can electronically file a return now and pay at a later date. The payments can be made up to the due date of the return without incurring a penalty. The Columbus Income Tax E-File/E-Pay program is designed to allow you to "warehouse" a payment if you desire to use that feature. If a payment can not be made until after the due date of the return there will be additional penalty and interest charges. Can I file an amended Declaration of Estimate Tax online?
Yes, the E-File/E-Pay program supports the filing of amended declarations for business (amended BR-21) and individuals (IR-21). These amended forms are listed separate on the Main Menu page and should be selected when an amended declaration is appropriate. Can I file an amended IT11 (Quarterly Return of Tax Withheld) online?
No, amended IT11 forms may not be filed online, but must be manually submitted to the Columbus Income Tax Division. Please clearly mark the face of the IT11 form as “amended” (when appropriate). Can I file my city income tax forms online for free?
Yes. All forms listed above can be electronically filed for free. Can I file my city tax return online?
The Columbus Tax Division provides for the electronic filing and paying of certain tax returns. The Columbus Tax E-File/E-Pay program presently allows for the online filing and paying of Forms IT11, IT15, BR42, IR42, BR21, IR21, BR18 and IR18. Please watch our website for additional filing opportunities in the future. To access the Columbus Tax E-File/E-Pay system for the filing of these forms, the taxpayer must have an established City tax account and a City-assigned PIN. Can I file my return now and have the payment delayed until a later date?
Yes. The Columbus Income Tax E-File/E-Pay program is designed to allow you to “warehouse” a payment if you desire to use that feature. Can I use my debit card to pay my taxes?
If your debit card is branded (i.e. Master Card or Visa) it can be used to electronically pay the tax. Like the credit card, a convenience fee will be added to your debit card transaction. Can the user make the IT15 payment via the web, but still file a paper IT-11?
Yes. At this time you may elect to make the payments electronically by filing and paying only the deposits via the IT15 form on the E-File/E-Pay solution. Does it cost if I pay my taxes online?
There is no charge for paying any portion or all of the tax due if you pay by electronic check (ACH debit). However, if you choose to pay by credit card or debit card a convenience fee will be charged and added to your credit/debit card bill. Does participation in the E-File/E-Pay program require the user to file both the IT15 and IT11 via the web?
No, at this time you do "not" have to electronically file both the IT11 and IT15. Does this E-File/E-Pay program provide for bulk filing of tax forms?
Yes. Preparers and payroll services should be advised that the E-File/E-Pay program of the Columbus Income Tax Division has a feature facilitating the import of like transactions for multiple accounts from a single source such as a spreadsheet. This multi-account import feature is referred in the program as the Dynamic Web Import. Please refer to the Main Menu screen for Practitioners for instructions and file layout of the Dynamic Web Import feature. How do I get a PIN number to access the Columbus Tax E-File/E-Pay system?
If you have an established tax account with the Columbus Income Tax Division or are a registered tax practitioner or payroll service on file with our office you are eligible to receive a unique PIN for accessing the E-File/E-Pay program. If you do not already have an established account you may complete the online IT47 New Account Questionnaire. It may take up to thirty (30) days after your tax account has been successfully established for you to be eligible to receive a City-assigned PIN. If you have an existing tax account and have not received your PIN by U.S. Mail or have lost the PIN you may request one by sending an email with you name, address and City tax account number to taxdata@columbus.gov After receipt of this complete information your unique PIN for your tax account will be sent to you by U.S. mail. No PIN numbers will be distributed by phone or email. How far into the future can I set up a payment?
Payments can be set to occur at any date in the future up to the due date of the return or a maximum of three months. How many days does it take from the day that the taxpayer submits the payment on E-Pay until the payment is deducted from their bank account?
For e-check transactions, it generally takes about 2 business days. If I choose to file and pay via the Columbus Tax E-File/E-Pay program what is the latest date that I can file and pay the return?
Payments must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. on the due date to be considered as paid timely. If I electronically file the forms currently available will any paper documents need to be mailed to the Columbus Income Tax Division?
Generally the answer will be “no”. The Division of Income Tax may need to request supporting documentation on certain returns but it is not anticipated that a paper copy of the electronic forms will need to be retained by you for possible submission to the Columbus Income Tax Division. If my return indicates tax due, when is the latest I may file my return and make payment to have both considered timely?
E-filings showing no liability will be considered timely filed if submitted no later than 11:59 p.m. Eastern Standard Time on the actual due date of the return. A timely filed return will not equate to a timely paid liability if the return is accompanied by an e-payment and submitted later than 5:30 p.m. Eastern Standard Time on the due date. What can I do when the system locks me out of the E-File/E-Pay program for too many attempts using the wrong City Tax ID and PIN?
When the system locks you out of the E-File/E-Pay program you will need to phone the Income Tax Division (614) 645-7370 and ask to speak to a staff member who can “unlock” the E-File accounts. You will be asked account specific questions before the account will be unlocked. What credit cards are accepted?
Currently, MasterCard and Visa are accepted for paying any remittances with these electronic returns. What do I do if I discover that I have filed to the wrong city on the form after I have submitted the filing?
If you discover that you have reported information to the wrong city, you will need to file an amended return. You cannot electronically file an amended Form IT11. Amended forms can be faxed to the Tax Division but should be accompanied by a copy of the printed Confirmation page. What do I do if I forget my password after I have established it?
The E-File/E-Pay system will ask you to answer a question you have pre-selected and pre-set the proper response. Please click on “Have you forgotten your password” on the Welcome Screen and follow the prompts to determine your last password. What if my bank account has a Debit Blocker but I want to be able to make e-payments for my city income taxes?
If you have a Debit Blocker on your account and you wish to have your bank allow e-payments for city incomes please call the Tax Office at (614) 645-8152 and inquire as to the specific procedures for removing the Debit Blocker for these particular e-payments. There is a specific ID that you will need to provide to your bank. What is the latest I can submit an e-payment and still have it processed on the day of submission?
The processing cut-off for each day is 5:30 p.m. Eastern Standard Time. Transactions posted after this time will be processed the next business day. What must I do when I need to change the previously saved information on my bank account information?
If you need to change any information on previously saved banking information (routing number, bank account number, checking/saving designation, and/or the name as currently appears on the saved file) you must re-enter all data, not just the information that needs to be changed. The new information as re-entered will override all previously entered information. What name should I enter on the ACH Debit Payment page?
Individuals should enter the first and last name on the tax account. Filings on joint accounts can enter either spouse's first and last name. Businesses should enter the name of the company in the spaces provided. You will need to split the business name so that something is entered in both fields. There may need to be several words in each of these fields for it to fit. Do not use spaces to separate words but use the "_" as a separator instead. What needs to be done if I receive a letter from the Tax Division stating that I have entered an Invalid Account?
Even though you entered your banking account information twice it may be that you inadvertently entered an incorrect number. This would be further complicated if you elected to save your (incorrect) banking information in the program. The rejection of your transaction did not come from the Columbus Tax Division or the vendor who administers our e-payment engine. The rejection of the payment actually comes from your own bank because in this case the account number and corresponding routing number are invalid. As the letter states, it is important that you take steps to correct this information. For security reasons the Columbus Income Tax Division does not have access to your banking account information as you entered it. As the letter states, an important step in clearing up this discrepancy will be for you to contact TeleCheck at 1-877-678-5898 or write TeleCheck Customer Care at P.O. Box 4513, Houston, TX 77210-4513. Please provide the complete banking numbers printed on the bottom of your check. Individuals will also be required to provide TeleCheck with your driver's license number and the state where it was issued. What needs to be done if I receive a letter from the Tax Division stating that there has been a "Stop Payment" placed on one of my E-payments?
Usually a "Stop Payment" on a checks or an e-payment would be initiated by the taxpayer. In these cases the taxpayer is obviously aware of the transaction and realizes that the tax account will be adjusted to show that that payment will no longer appear on your tax account. If after the adjustment is made to your account there is an unpaid liability, then penalty, interest and late charges will be assessed, if applicable. Another trigger for a "Stop Payment" is when the bank indicates that there is a "Debit Blocker" on the specific bank account. ACH Debit payments will not generally be accepted for that bank account unless the account owner has specifically stated that ACH debits will be allowed from a particular entity (such as the Columbus Income Tax Division). What should I do if I want to E-File my return but want to send a check via the U S Postal Service for the related payment?
E-filing and mailing the payment to the Tax Division is permitted but taxpayers will need to send a copy of the printed confirmation page with the check so assure that the check will be applied properly. Taxpayers should always retain a copy of the printed confirmation page for their own records. What should I do if the logon screen will not accept my City Tax ID (account number)?
To access the Columbus E-File/E-Pay program you must have a valid City tax account number. The first nine digits of this number is usually the Federal Identification Number, Social Security Number or Employer Identification Number followed by an account type of W, C, E F, I. In a few cases there is a 11th character in the account number. Examples of this account number are; 987654321W, 111223333CA, and 123456789I. Please refer to a recent pre-printed for from the Columbus Income Tax Division for your specific City Tax Account Number. When entering the City Tax Account Number on the logon screen make sure that you do not enter the number with any hyphens or spaces. Why won't the PIN change program accept my personally designated PIN?
The E-File/E-Pay program will only accept PINs which are a combination of six numbers. Alpha characters and non-numeric characters are not allowed.