What's New for the Tax Filing Season

Here are some of the most important changes and benefits affecting the approximately 3.5 million taxpayers working on their 2011 Maryland income tax returns due to be filed by April 17, 2012.

• Filing Deadline - Due to the celebration of Emancipation Day by Washington DC on April 16,2012, personal income tax returns are due by April 17, 2012.
• Electronic filing mandate for tax preparers - Paid tax preparers who prepared 100 or more qualified state income tax returns for tax year 2010 are required to file all original individual income tax returns electronically for tax year 2011. More
• Tax Booklets - Tax booklets will no longer be mailed after this year. For tax year 2012, you may file electronically or print the tax booklet from our web site or contact the nearest branch office. More
• Libraries and Post Offices - We will no longer be supplying area post offices and libraries with tax booklets. Each library will receive a CD Rom of all of our forms if requested.
• New Dependent Form 502B - Form 502B will be a required form to be attached to Form 502, Form 505 and Form 515 to determine what exemption you are entitled to claim. Taxpayers claiming more than 2 dependents on Form 503 must use Form 502.
• Increased pension exclusion - Maryland's maximum pension exclusion, which is available to qualifying taxpayers 65 or older, increased from $26,100 to $26,300 for tax year 2011. More
• Nonresident Form 505SU - This year, other certain subtractions for which you may qualify will be reported on Form 505SU. If multiple subtractions apply, be sure to indicate all of them on Form 505SU and attach it to the Form 505.
• Form 502SU - This year, other certain subtractions for which you may qualify will be reported on Form 502SU. If multiple subtractions apply, be sure to indicate all of them on Form 502SU and attach it to the Form 502.
• Splitting your direct deposit - If you would like to deposit portions of your refund to multiple accounts you can do so by using Form 588.
• Electronic 1099-G - This year at the bottom of the return in the signature area, we have provided a checkbox for you to indicate that you agree to receive your statement of refund electronically. Beginning in early 2012, electronic Form 1099-G may be downloaded and printed from our secure Web site. You can also request to receive a paper 1099-G at this web site.
• Local Tax Rate Increase - For tax year 2012 Anne Arundel County has decreased their local tax rate to 2.49% and Queen Anne's County has increased their local tax rate to 3.20%. Please note the change on the Form 502D.
• Earned Income Credit - Effective January 1, 2012 the Comptroller shall publish the maximum income eligibility for the State earned income credit, (EIC) on or before January 1 of each year. The Comptroller shall also notify the employers of such information, and the employers must notify each employee who may be eligible.