Frequently Asked Questions

What is Sylvania’s tax rate?
What is the due date for the Sylvania return?
I pay taxes to another city. Do I receive credit for this?
Who must file an income tax return?
What must I attach to my return?
What income is not taxable?
My spouse and I file individual federal and state returns. Do we have to file individually with Sylvania?
I’m retired. Am I required to file a Sylvania tax return?
I’m attending college away from home. Do I still have to file as a Sylvania resident?
I’m a business. Do I have to withhold tax from my employees?
Are employers required to file their W-2s on a disk?
If I file a federal extension, does that automatically extend the due date for my Sylvania return?
Can I receive an extension for Sylvania even if I do not file for a federal extension?
If I file an extension, does my payment still have to be made by April 15?
Can I e-file my return?
Can your office help me prepare my return?
I did not receive a tax return in the mail. Do I still need to file?
Where do I mail my return?

Q: What is Sylvania’s tax rate?
A: Sylvania’s tax rate is 1.5%.
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Q: What is the due date for the Sylvania return?
A: The deadline for filing is April 15 or four months after the end of the fiscal year; or if it falls on a weekend or federal holiday, the first business day after.
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Q: I pay taxes to another city. Do I receive credit for this?
A: Yes. You receive a credit up to 1.5% of the taxed wages. You can calculate your credit using this chart. If you lived and worked in another city on behalf of your employer, you can file a claim for a refund of taxes withheld while you were a nonresident.
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Q: Who must file an income tax return?
A: Resident individuals who have earned income are required to file, even when no tax is due. Nonresident individuals who earned income in Sylvania that was not subject to withholding by an employer must file. Nonresident individuals who own rental properties or conduct business in Sylvania must file, even if no tax is due. Partnerships, limited partnerships, corporations, S-corporations and associations that conduct business in Sylvania must file, even if no tax is due.
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Q: What must I attach to my return?
A: You are required to submit copies of your W-2s, Federal 1040 pages 1 and 2, and Schedule 1.  Once your return and required documents are received, if it is determined that you have 1099 MISC, Schedule C, Schedule E, Schedule F, gambling, or 4797, you will be contacted to provide copies of those items.  If you file and pay another city, you will also be required to submit documentation for credit.
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Q: What income is not taxable?
A: Interest, dividends and capital gains (losses not deductible), military pay and alimony (payments not deductible), Social Security benefits, workers’ compensation, unemployment and other government allotments, pensions and qualified retirement benefits, section 125 and 129 benefits, nonqualified pension distributions reported on a W-2, and income from patents and copyrights.
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Q: My spouse and I file individual federal and state returns. Do we have to file individually with Sylvania?
A: No. You may file jointly or individually.
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Q: I am retired. Am I required to file a Sylvania tax return?
A: If your only earned income is from Social Security, pension, interest and dividends, you are not required to file. You must file a final return stating that you have retired. If you return to work, any earned income other than retirement income would be subject to tax and a return will be required.
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Q: I am attending college away from home. Do I still have to file as a Sylvania resident?
A: Yes, unless you have permanently changed your address.
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Q: I am a business. Do I have to withhold on my employees?
A: Any employer located within or conducting business within the Sylvania corporation limits must withhold and remit Sylvania tax. The employer should withhold tax from employees who work or perform services in Sylvania. The employer should withhold from employees who live in Sylvania, regardless of where they perform their duties, unless tax is withheld for another municipality which has a rate of 1.5% or greater. If the tax withheld is less than 1.5%, the difference should be withheld to Sylvania.
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Q: Are employers required to file their W-2s on a disk?
A: The Sylvania income tax office requires certain employers to file their W-2s on a disk. Federal guidelines are used to determine if an employer must file on a disk. The city requires the same information format that is required by the federal government. Please use SYLV as the local entity code.
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Q: If I file a federal extension, does that automatically extend the due date for my Sylvania return?
A: No, you must attach a copy of your federal extension to your Sylvania return when you file.
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Q: Can I receive an extension for Sylvania even if I do not file for a federal extension?
A: Yes. You may submit a written request by the original due date of the return.
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Q: If I file an extension, does my payment still have to be made by April 15?
A: Yes. An extension only extends the amount of time that you have to file. Your payment is still due by April 15 (or the original due date of the return). Statutory interest will be charged on payments made after the original due date.
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Q: Can I e-file my return?
A: Yes. Electronic filing for individuals is available on our website.
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Q: Can your office help me prepare my return?
A: Yes. Our auditors are glad to assist you. We are available from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Bring your federal return and all related schedules, along with your W-2s and 1099s, to our office.
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Q: I did not receive a tax return in the mail. Do I still need to file?
A: Tax returns are no longer mailed. Instead, you should have received a postcard indicating how you can file. You may use our online tax preparation tool to prepare your tax return, print a form with your name and address information already on it, or create a fill-in form. Any resident who has taxable income is required to file a tax return.
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Q: Where do I mail my return?
A: If you are making a payment, mail to:
City of Sylvania
Division of Taxation
PO Box 510
Sylvania, OH 43560-0510

If no payment is due, mail your return to:
City of Sylvania
Division of Taxation
6730 Monroe Street
Sylvania, OH 43560

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