Only One Week Away from the Deadline for Arizona Individual Income Tax Returns

Phoenix, AZ—With just one week until the April 18 filing due date, the Arizona Department of Revenue (ADOR) would like to remind taxpayers to file and pay before this year’s deadline of April 18, 2023. It is also the first-quarter deadline for those who file individual estimated tax payments quarterly. 

In Arizona, full-year resident or part-year resident individuals must file a tax return if they are:

• Single or married filing separately and gross income (GI) is greater than $12,950;
• Head of household and GI is greater than $19,400; or
• Married and filing jointly and GI is greater than $25,900.

Note: For non-resident individuals, the threshold numbers above are prorated based on the individual's Arizona gross income to their federal adjusted gross income.

To expedite the processing of a return and reduce errors, ADOR strongly encourages taxpayers to e-file, which is faster, more secure, and is free for individuals who meet the criteria. Over 95 percent of individual tax returns have been e-filed so far this year. Please note: If you submit a paper return, it can take 8-10 weeks to process, whereas e-filed returns take on average 2 weeks.

Tips to avoid delays in processing your returns:

• Submit all the same individual income tax year forms together. Do not use the front page of the current tax year form and include it with a different tax year form or cross out the tax year and mark another tax year. 
• Make certain key fields like first and last name, address, filing status, and tax ID number or social security number are fully entered and correct in all appropriate boxes.
• Verify all the necessary lines and forms are filled out accurately, then correct information or miscalculations. Fillable, calculating forms or e-file can do the math for you and allow for quicker processing.
• Ensure all forms, carryover totals, and supporting documents are correctly stated and included, such as tax credit codes, recapture credit forms, schedules, and continuous pages.
• Look over all income, withholding, and payments to ensure they are reported accurately.
• Double-check bank routing and account numbers used on tax forms. You, as the taxpayer, are responsible for this information. 
• If sending a paper return, use the fillable forms and print with black ink on white paper to reduce ADOR keying errors that may occur when interpreting a taxpayer's handwriting. 
• Make sure to send the ADOR payment with your state return to the correct ADOR P.O. Box and the IRS payment with your federal return sent to the IRS address.
• Ensure the paper check contains the written amount on the amount line and amount box, along with the tax identification numbers and tax period on the check memo line. When sending a payment, ensure it is sent with the original tax return or a payment voucher so it can be applied to the correct account and tax period promptly. 
• Remember to sign and date the return.

Duplicate returns cause ADOR to process another return, resulting in ADOR receiving an informational return and delaying processing. Duplicate payments result in ADOR withdrawing multiple payments and will be used to pay other outstanding liabilities. If no liabilities exist, the amount will be returned as a refund. Do not send another check electronically if a payment has been mailed.

Taxpayers requiring more time to file their returns can request an extension by submitting Form 204. The due date to file an extension is April 18, and your tax return would be due on October 16. As a reminder, an extension does not grant you more time to pay the tax owed. If you have already been granted an extension through the IRS, an Arizona extension is not required but should be indicated on box 82F when filing the income tax return.

Visit ADOR’s website at https://azdor.gov/individual-income-tax-information for additional tax filing requirements, instructions, and important tax filing tips. 

To receive income tax updates by email or text message, subscribe to the Individual Income Tax list or stay up-to-date through ADOR’s social media accounts.

Tuesday, April 11, 2023