Virginia Law

Insurance taxes, licenses on insurance companies, taxable intangible personal property, rolling stock of all corporations operating railroads and all other classes of property not specifically exempted or reserved for local taxation, are hereby segregated and made subject to state taxation only.

Code 1950, § 58-10; 1984, c. 675.

Where before the expiration of the time prescribed for the assessment of any tax imposed pursuant to this title and assessable by the Department both the Tax Commissioner and the taxpayer have consented in writing to its assessment after such time, the tax may be assessed at any time prior to the expiration of the period agreed upon. The period so agreed upon may be extended by subsequent agreements in writing made before the expiration of the period previously agreed upon.

Code 1950, § 58-45.1; 1971, Ex. Sess., cc. 48, 245; 1984, c. 675.

It shall be the duty of every taxpayer to retain suitable records and documents substantiating all information contained on any return required by this subtitle and any such other pertinent records or documents as the Tax Commissioner may require by regulation.

The records and documents shall be preserved for a period of three years from the required date for filing a return to which such records or documents pertain.

1984, c. 675.

All records and documents required by this subtitle or by rule or regulation shall be available during regular business hours for inspection by the Tax Commissioner or his duly authorized agents. Persons violating the provisions of this section shall be guilty of a Class 2 misdemeanor.

1984, c. 675.

Except as provided in Chapters 3 (§ 58.1-300 et seq.) and 6 (§ 58.1-600 et seq.) of this title, any tax imposed by this subtitle shall be assessed within three years from the last day prescribed by law for the timely filing of the return. In the case of a false or fraudulent return with the intent to evade payment of any tax imposed by this subtitle, or a failure to file a required return, the taxes may be assessed, or a proceeding in court for the collection of such taxes may be begun without assessment, at any time within six years from the last day prescribed by law for the timely filing of the return.

1984, c. 675; 1991, cc. 362, 456.

A. In all cases in which under the laws of this Commonwealth a prosecution is authorized for violation of the revenue laws and in all cases in which a penalty is imposed upon the taxpayer for failure to comply with the requirements of the tax laws, the Department shall in its discretion have authority to accept offers made in compromise of such prosecution and in compromise or in lieu of such penalties. An offer in lieu of the assessment of a penalty shall be deemed to be made by the filing of a return or payment of tax without payment of a penalty if information filed with the return or payment of tax or obtained from other sources demonstrates reasonable cause for the failure or omission for which the penalty would be imposed. The reason for the acceptance of such offers in compromise shall be preserved among the records of the Department.

B. The Tax Commissioner may compromise and settle doubtful or disputed claims for taxes or tax liability of doubtful collectibility. An offer in compromise shall be deemed accepted only when the taxpayer is notified in writing of the acceptance by the Tax Commissioner. Whenever such a compromise and settlement is made, the Tax Commissioner shall make a complete record of the case showing the tax assessed, recommendations, reports and audits of departmental personnel, if any, the taxpayer's grounds for dispute or contest together with all evidences thereof, and the amounts, conditions and settlement or compromise of same.

C. The Department may deposit into the state treasury all payments submitted with offers in compromise, unless the taxpayer specifically and clearly directs otherwise.

Code 1950, § 58-45; 1973, c. 446; 1984, c. 675; 1994, c. 800; 1996, cc. 640, 655.

Whenever in this title the Commissioner or the Department is required to send any mail or notice by certified mail and such mail or notice is sent certified mail, return receipt requested, then any subsequent, identical mail or notice that is sent by the Commissioner or the Department may be sent by regular mail.

2011, c. 566.

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Tax Commissioner may cause all or any part of the state tax returns, correspondence, documents, forms, statements, reports or working papers kept by or in the possession of the Department to be reproduced. As used in this title, the term "reproduction" shall be deemed to include photographs, microphotographs, microfilm, microcard, printouts, optical imaging or other reproductions of electronically stored data, or any other reproduction of an original from a process which forms a durable medium for its recording, storing, and reproducing.

Code 1950, § 58-48.1; 1972, c. 350; 1984, c. 675; 1985, c. 204; 1999, c. 103.

Whenever reproductions have been made pursuant to § 58.1-106 and provision has been made for preserving, examining and using the same, the Tax Commissioner may, notwithstanding any other provisions of law, cause the original tax returns, correspondence, documents, forms, statements, reports or working papers so reproduced, or any part thereof, to be destroyed. All other records of the Department may be destroyed after three years upon order of the Tax Commissioner.

Code 1950, § 58-48.2; 1972, c. 350; 1981, c. 73; 1984, c. 675; 1985, c. 204; 1999, c. 103.

A reproduction or enlargement of any tax return, correspondence, document, form, statement, report or working paper, when duly attested by the Tax Commissioner, shall be received as evidence in any court or other proceeding for any purpose for which the original could be received without proof of the official character or the person whose name is signed thereto. The introduction of a reproduced tax return, correspondence, document, form, statement, report or working paper or of an enlargement thereof shall not preclude admission of the original.

Code 1950, § 58-48.3; 1972, c. 350; 1984, c. 675; 1999, c. 103.

The Tax Commissioner and each employee of the Department, when served with any summons, subpoena, subpoena duces tecum or order, directing him to produce any confidential tax returns kept by or in the possession of the Department, may comply therewith by certifying a reproduction or enlargement thereof in accordance with § 58.1-108 and mailing such reproduction or enlargement in a sealed envelope to the clerk of court. Such envelope shall not be opened unless and until a judge of such court determines that the information contained therein is of such importance that the ends of justice require that the secrecy and confidentiality of such returns be violated and no reproduction of said returns shall be allowed by the court. Unless otherwise directed by a judge of such court, the clerk shall return all such reproductions and enlargements to the Department after the entry of a final order in the case. A charge not exceeding one dollar per page may be made for each such copy and shall be paid by the party requesting such order. Upon good cause shown, any court may direct the Tax Commissioner or any employee of the Department to appear in person, notwithstanding any other provision of this section.

Code 1950, § 58-48.4; 1972, c. 350; 1984, c. 675.

In any judicial proceeding, civil or criminal, involving any tax administered by the Department, a duly executed affidavit by the Tax Commissioner may be accepted by the court as prima facie evidence as to whether or not a tax return has been filed or the tax has been paid.

Code 1950, § 58-48.5; 1972, c. 350; 1984, c. 675.

Whenever any taxpayer liable under the law to file a state tax return with the Department shall fail or refuse on demand to file a correct and proper return, the Department may make an estimate of the amount of taxes due the Commonwealth by such taxpayer, from any information in its possession, and assess the taxes, penalties and interest due the Commonwealth by such taxpayer.

Code 1950, § 58-40; 1984, c. 675.

A. In the case of any return or payment for a tax administered by the Department that is required to be filed or paid more often than annually, the Tax Commissioner shall have the authority to set thresholds or other conditions in which such returns or payments for all or any class of taxpayers may be filed or paid less frequently, but at least annually.

B. The Tax Commissioner shall have the authority to waive penalties and grant extensions of time to file a return or pay a tax, or both, to any class of taxpayers when the Tax Commissioner in his discretion finds that the normal due date has caused, or would cause, undue hardship to the class of taxpayers because of a natural disaster or other reason.

C. The Tax Commissioner shall have the authority to waive interest for any class of taxpayers when the Tax Commissioner in his discretion finds that imposing interest has caused, or would cause, undue hardship to the class of taxpayers because of a natural disaster or other reason. The Tax Commissioner may grant a waiver of interest only to the extent that the Governor declares a state of emergency to exist in the Commonwealth pursuant to subdivision (7) of § 44-146.17 with respect to such natural disaster or other reason.

D. Any action of the Department under this section shall be exempt from the Administrative Process Act and the Virginia Register Act, but the Department shall preserve the reason for its action among its records. The Department shall promulgate its action in a manner that is reasonably calculated to inform the affected class of the action.

1996, cc. 640, 655; 2021, Sp. Sess. I, c. 536.

Any hospital described under § 501(c) of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, shall provide to the Department of Taxation a copy of the hospital's federal 990 or 990-EZ tax form (or the successor form to such form) that was filed with the Internal Revenue Service for the relevant year. Such hospital shall provide the copy to the Department within 30 days following the filing of the federal 990 or 990-EZ tax form with the Internal Revenue Service. In addition, such hospital shall provide to the Department a copy of any interim tax form, report, or return that the hospital filed with or provided to the Internal Revenue Service for the relevant year pursuant to Title 26 of the United States Code or the rules and regulations thereunder. The copy of the interim tax form, report, or return shall be provided to the Department within 30 days following the filing of the same with, or the providing of the same to, the Internal Revenue Service.

2007, c. 746.