Virginia Conformity Law Ends Tax Return Limbo

The processing of Virginia tax returns can finally start as Gov. Ralph Northam (D) has signed legislation to conform with the federal tax code.

Virginia taxpayers had been in limbo as the state legislature wrangled over how to address changes to the tax code even after the filing season began Jan. 28. But a compromise was recently reached in the form of an emergency bill (S.B. 1372) that took effect upon the governor’s Feb. 15 signature.

“We are now preparing our systems to begin processing those 2018 returns,” according to Craig Burns, the state’s tax commissioner. “We do ...