Filing Season Central
This page serves as an online headquarters for taxpayers looking for more information about the Ohio individual income tax. Below you will find answers to many common questions as well as resources to help you through filing season.
Need more help? You can always send us an e-mail; our goal is to respond to e-mails within 24 hours. For live help, taxpayer service agents are available at (800) 282-1780 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, with extended hours (until 7 p.m.) during filing season from April 5 through April 15, 2010. For face-to-face help, taxpayers may visit one of our taxpayer service centers between 8 and 5 p.m. on Monday through Friday.
Key filing season resources:
- Electronic filing options — Ohio offers several ways to cut to the front of the line and get your refund fast. Nearly two-thirds of Ohioans already file electronically. Why wait weeks for a refund when you can have it in days?
- NEW Income taxes and the military — A recent change in federal law affects the spouses of military men and women. Get the low down on this and other income tax issues facing service members and their families.
- Where’s my refund? — If you submitted your state income tax return the old-fashioned way (by mail), it will take some time to process. Check on the status of your refund here or by calling (800) 282-1784. Improvements to our system this year will help us provide you with detailed information on your refund status.
- Make a payment — If you owe, you have options, including the Department of Taxation's online ePayment system for making payments by credit card or electronic check. Learn more about ePayment here.
- 2009 IT 1040 / IT 1040-EZ instruction booklet — This is the official instruction booklet and tax tables for completing a 2009 Ohio individual income tax return.
- 2009 SD 100 instruction booklet — This is the official instruction booklet and tax tables for completing a 2009 school district income tax return. More resources on this tax are available at our School District Income Tax page.
- 2009 IT 1040 TeleFile instruction booklet - If you want to file your return by touchtone telephone, it may be an option for you. Check the instructions to see if you're eligible, then call us at (800) 282-1780 to obtain your taxpayer identification number (TIN) before you TeleFile.
- Other tax forms — Need a form or instructions not listed here? No need to leave home. A complete database of state tax forms and instruction booklets is available here.
State income tax basics:
Additional resources:
- Employer withholding — Employers that do business in Ohio are responsible for withholding state income tax from their employees' pay. Learn more here.
- Interest rates — The interest rate that applies to overdue taxes changes each year.
- Refund checks, up close — The look of official state checks changed in 2007. Get the details here.
- Tax rates and brackets — Need information on past or present income tax rates and brackets? It's here.
- Offer in compromise — This program that offers some delinquent taxpayers a chance to settle their debts.
- Tax tips — Here's some helpful information to get you through this filing season smoothly.
- Voluntary disclosure programs — These programs are designed for taxpayers who believe they have income tax liabilities and wish to resolve them:
- Contact us
Resources for preparers:
- Information releases — Information releases are technical advisories that offer detailed explanations of the laws, rules and rulings that govern the taxes administered by the Ohio Department of Taxation.
- 2009 Tax Form Line-item Law References — Coming soon.
