17 NCAC 06D .0102         REQUIREMENTS FOR FILING

(a)  A married couple may make joint payments of estimated income tax even if the couple is not living together; however, the married couple may not make joint estimated tax payments if the couple is separated under a decree of divorce or of separate maintenance.  The married couple may not make joint estimated tax payments if either spouse is a nonresident alien or if either spouse has a different tax year.  Whether a married couple makes joint estimated tax payments or separate payments shall not affect the couple's choice of filing a joint income tax return or separate return.  If the married couple makes joint payments and then the couple files separate returns, the spouses may determine how to divide the estimated tax payments between them.

(b)  A taxpayer filing a short period return because of changing his or her income year shall make estimated income tax payments on the installment dates that fall within the short period and 15 days after the close of the short period that would have been due had the taxpayer not changed his or her income year.  Interest on an underpayment of estimated income tax for a short period shall be computed for the period of underpayment based on the tax shown due on the short period return and computed in the same manner as it would have been computed had the taxpayer not changed his income year.

(c)  An individual may elect to have his or her income tax refund applied only to estimated income tax for the following year.  A return reflecting an election to apply a refund to estimated tax for the following year shall be filed by the last allowable date for making estimated tax payments for that year for the election to be valid.

(d)  If an individual makes a valid election, that individual may not revoke the election after the return has been filed in order to have the amount refunded or applied in any other manner, such as an offset against any subsequently determined tax liability.

History Note:        Authority G.S. 105‑163.15; 105‑262;

Eff. February 1, 1976;

Amended Eff. May 1, 2006; June 1, 1993; October 1, 1991; June 1, 1990; February 1, 1988;

Readopted Eff. May 1, 2016.