(a) Mandatory Filing. On or before April 15th of each year, every resident shall, except hereinafter provided, make and file with the Tax Commissioner a Municipal tax return on a form prescribed by and acceptable to the Tax Commissioner, whether or not a tax is due. When the return is made for a fiscal year or other period different from the calendar year, the return shall be filed on or before the fifteenth (15th) day of the fourth (4th) month following the end of such fiscal year or period. The Tax Commissioner is hereby authorized to provide by regulation that the return of an employer or employers, showing the amount of Municipal tax deducted by said employer or employers from the qualifying wages, commissions, other compensation, and other taxable income of a nonresident employee, and paid by him or them to the Tax Commissioner may be accepted as the return required of a nonresident employee whose sole income, subject to tax under this Tax Code, is such qualifying wages, commissions, other compensation, and other taxable income.
(b) A husband and wife may file either separate returns or a joint return for municipal purposes, even though one of the spouses has neither taxable income nor deductions included on the Municipal return regardless of whether their federal and state returns were filed separately or jointly. If a joint City return is made, the tax shall be computed on the aggregate taxable income and the liability with respect to the tax shall be joint and several.
(c) The return shall be filed with the Tax Commissioner on a form or forms furnished by or obtainable upon request from the Tax Commissioner; or on a generic form, if the generic form, when completed and filed, contains all of the information required to be submitted with the Municipality’s prescribed return and, if the taxpayer or return preparer filing the generic form otherwise complies with the Tax Code governing the filing of returns.
(d) The return shall set forth:
(1) The aggregate amounts of qualifying wages, commissions, other compensation received, allocated, apportioned or set aside, other income defined by statute as taxable, and gross income from any business, profession or other activity, less allowable expenses incurred in the acquisition of such gross income earned during the preceding year and subject to said tax;
(2) The amount of the tax imposed this Tax Code on such earnings and profits; and
(3) Such other pertinent statements, information returns, copies of federal or state tax returns and/or schedules, or other information as the Tax Commissioner may require, including a statement that the figures used in the return are the figures used for federal income tax adjusted to set forth only such income as is taxable under the provisions of this chapter.
(e) (1) Any taxpayer that has requested an extension for filing a federal income tax return may request an extension for the filing of a Municipal Income Tax Return by filing a copy of the taxpayer’s federal extension request with the Municipal Tax Division. Any taxpayer not required to file a federal income tax return may request an extension for filing a Municipal Income Tax Return in writing. The request for extension must be filed on or before the original due date for the annual return, if the request is granted, the extended due date of the municipal income tax return shall be the first day of the month following the month to which the due date of the federal income tax return has been extended.
(2) The Tax Commissioner may deny a taxpayer’s request for extension if the taxpayer:
A. Fails to timely file the request; or
B. Fails to file a copy of the federal extension request, (if applicable); or
C. Owes the Municipality any delinquent income tax, penalty, interest or other charge for the late payment or nonpayment of income tax; or
D. Has failed to file any required income tax return, report, or other related document for a prior tax period.
(3) The granting of an extension for filing a Municipal tax return does not extend the due date as provided in this section for payment of the tax; hence, penalty and interest may apply to any unpaid tax during the period of extension at the rate set out by Section 191.10. No penalty shall be assessed in those cases in which the return is filed and the final tax paid within the extension period provided all other filing and payment requirements to the Tax Code have been met. Any extension by the Tax Commissioner shall be granted upon the condition that declaration filing and payment requirements have been fulfilled; however, if, upon further examination it then becomes evident that declaration filing and payment requirements have not been fulfilled, penalty and interest may be assessed in full and in the same manner as though no extension had been granted.
(f) Payments with Returns.
(1) The taxpayer making a return shall, at the time of the filing thereof, pay to the Tax Commissioner the amount of taxes shown as due. However, credit shall be allowed for:
A. Any portion of the tax so due which shall have been deducted at the source pursuant to the provisions of Section 191.06
; and
B. Any portion of said tax which shall have been paid by the taxpayer pursuant to the provisions of Section 191.07; and
C. Credit to the extent allowed by Section 191.07 for tax paid to another municipality;
D. Unless the tax return is signed, dated, accompanied by payment if tax is due, and all schedules and W-2's are included, the tax return shall not be deemed to be legal filing and will be returned to the taxpayer;
E. Twelve (12) Day Occasional Entry Rule:
1. A non-resident individual who works in Bellefontaine twelve (12) or fewer days per year shall be considered an occasional entrant, and shall not be subject to Bellefontaine’s municipal income tax for those twelve (12) days.
2. For purposes of the twelve (12) day calculation, any portion of a day worked in Bellefontaine shall be counted as one day worked in Bellefontaine, whether it is an hour or eight (8) hours.
3. This rule is limited to individuals only. It does not apply to businesses or corporations.
4. Beginning with the thirteenth (13th) day, the employer of said individual shall begin withholding Bellefontaine income tax from remuneration paid by the employer to the individual, and shall remit the withheld tax to Bellefontaine.
5. If the individual is self-employed, it shall be the responsibility of the individual to remit the appropriate income tax to the City of Bellefontaine.
6. The twelve (12) day occasional entry rule does not apply to entertainers or professional athletes, their employees or individuals who perform services on their behalf, or to promoters and booking agents of such entertainment events or sporting events.
(Ord. 04-82. Passed 12-14-04.)
(2) Subject to the limitations contained in Section 191.16
of this Tax Code, any taxpayer who has overpaid the amount of tax to which the Municipality is entitled under the provisions of this Tax Code may have such overpayment applied against any subsequent liability hereunder or, at his election indicated on the return, such overpayment (or part thereof) shall be refunded, provided that no additional taxes or refunds of less than five dollars ($5.00) shall be collected or refunded.
(g) Amended Returns.
(1) Where necessary, an amended return shall be filed in order to report additional income and pay any additional tax due, or claim a refund of tax overpaid, subject to the requirements and/or limitations contained in Section 191.10 and 191.11. The Tax Commissioner shall provide by regulation the format in which such amended return shall be filed. A taxpayer may not change the method of accounting or apportionment of net profits after the due date for filing the original return.
(2) Within three (3) months from the final determination of any federal tax liability affecting the taxpayer’s Municipal tax liability, such taxpayer shall make and file an amended Municipal return showing income subject to the Municipal tax based upon such final determination of federal tax liability and pay any additional tax shown due thereon or make claim for refund of any overpayment.
(h) Information returns, schedules and statements required to support tax returns which are incomplete without such information shall be filed within the time limits set forth for the filing of the tax returns and the failure to file such information returns, schedules and statements shall be a violation of this Tax Code. Provided, however, that the taxpayer shall have ten (10) days after notification by the Tax Commissioner, or his authorized representative, to file the items required by this paragraph.
(Ord. 03-82. Passed 12-9-03.)