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State of Ohio & Cities Extend Tax Filing Deadline

Client Alert

On March 27, Governor DeWine signed a bill passed by the legislature to provide tax relief to Ohio taxpayers. 

Filing Relief

The law provides that taxpayers will have until July 15, 2020 (as opposed to April 15), to file and pay both any balance due on their 2019 income and school district taxes as well as the first and second estimated payments (April 15 and June 15) that is due. This extension is automatic and neither penalties nor interest will be assessed on these amounts.  However, if you are a net profits filer for city tax purposes and your federal return was filed by March 16, 2020, the extension IS NOT automatic, and you must file an extension to receive additional time. Because city tax filing deadlines are tied to the State filing deadline, cities should not have to take any further action. Many cities in Ohio have already posted the extended filing date on their websites. 

Withholding Changes for City Income Taxes

Also, part of the law is a change in the way employers calculate city income tax withholding. Employers are normally required to withhold city income taxes from wages for any municipality in which an employee spent 20 or more days working during a calendar year. This change provides that employees who are working from “a temporary location” (most notably their home) shall be treated as if they are working at their normal principal place of work. Thus, employers are able to withhold city taxes as if the employee were actually working in their normal location(s).

Commercial Activity Tax

Finally, the Tax Commissioner has been granted the authority to extend the due date for the filing of the Commercial Activity Tax (CAT) due on May 11, 2020. At the time of this release, no new extended date has been announced.

What It Is Not

There is no extension to file and/or pay sales tax. Of course, businesses that are closed due to any of the Orders issued by the State would, except for the month of March, only have a filing requirement as they would have made no taxable sales.

Other States

Some other states have released guidance as to relief that they are granting taxpayers. The most up-to-date information for this is available on the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants website.

For more information or questions, please contact Priscilla A. Grant, BMD Business, Corporate and Tax Member at pag@bmdllc.com or 330.253.5934.


DEA and HHS Issue its Third Extension of Telemedicine Flexibilities through 2025

The DEA and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) have extended telemedicine flexibilities for prescribing controlled medications through December 31, 2025. This extension builds on temporary exceptions made in 2020 due to COVID-19, allowing providers to prescribe Schedule II-V controlled substances based on a telemedicine evaluation alone. The extension ensures continued patient access to necessary prescriptions and provides time for providers to comply with future regulations.

Medicare Making Changes to Improve Behavioral Health Care Access

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has introduced changes to Medicare’s behavioral health coverage, including allowing Marriage and Family Therapists and Mental Health Counselors to enroll independently, increasing reimbursements for crisis psychotherapy and substance use treatment, and expanding services via community health workers. These updates address gaps in care and improve access to mental health services for Medicare beneficiaries.

The Ohio Department of Medicaid Announces Four Next Generation MyCare Plans

On November 1, 2024, the Ohio Department of Medicaid (ODM) announced four managed care organizations that will become ODM’s Next Generation MyCare plans starting January 2026. MyCare Ohio is a managed care program that supports Ohioans across 29 counties enrolled in both Medicare and Medicaid.

Corporate Transparency Act Reporting Deadline: December 31

The Corporate Transparency Act (“CTA”), which became effective January 1, 2024, imposes strict reporting guidelines on small business owners throughout the country.  The deadline for non-exempt businesses to submit reporting is December 31, 2024.

Permanent Injunction of “Heartbeat” Abortion Ban in Ohio

Hamilton County Common Pleas Judge Christian Jenkins has ruled Ohio’s six-week abortion ban unconstitutional, citing the state’s new reproductive rights amendment. This ruling emphasizes that Ohio law must fully reflect the will of voters, offering clarity for medical providers and safeguarding women's health care rights.