FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE	Contact: Rick Clayburgh, Tax Commissioner 701-328-2770
March 8, 2004	Jill Weigel, Supervisor of Individual Income Tax, 701-328-3277

Tax Extensions for North Dakota Active Duty Military

BISMARCK --- Tax Commissioner Rick Clayburgh announced today that North Dakota's military personnel called to active duty in a combat zone are eligible for a special extension of the April 15 filing and payment due date for their income taxes.

"My heartfelt thanks go out to all our men and women in uniform. The work they do is noble and their willingness to serve whether we are at war or at peace is inspiring," said Commissioner Clayburgh. "The last thing they should be concerned about at this time is whether or not their tax return is filed on time."

Federal tax law provides that personnel serving in a combat zone have 180 days after their last day of service in the zone to file their federal tax return. If hospitalized due to serving in a combat zone, they have 180 days after the last day of continuous hospitalization.

The special filing deadline under federal tax law is recognized by North Dakota tax law. North Dakota's military personnel serving in a combat zone have until the special federal due date to file their North Dakota income tax returns and pay without penalty and interest. This filing and payment relief applies to members of the regular U.S. Armed Forces, and to those Reserve and National Guard members called to active duty in a combat zone. Generally, this relief also applies to the members' spouses.

Clayburgh added that National Guard members might qualify for free online tax preparation and electronic filing through an agreement the Tax Department signed with the Free File Alliance, a consortium of state and federal government and private tax preparation software companies.

Last week Clayburgh contacted the North Dakota National Guard to let its military men and women know about the free tax preparation and electronic filing opportunities available through the Free File Alliance for eligible North Dakota taxpayers. North Dakota is the first state to work directly with its state National Guard offices to alert military members about those free services. Other states have since begun working with their military members.

For more information on extensions for the military and the Free File Alliance, visit the Tax Department's Web site at www.nd.gov/tax or contact the Tax Department at 701-328-2770.