Tax Department

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Income Tax Department is open Monday - Friday 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. 

The Tax Office is available to assist you by telephone (513) 733-0300 and by email rgrein@readingohio.org, or shoelmer@readingohio.org.  You may put your tax documents in the night drop box or mail to the tax office for calculation.
 
Brenda Owens has been the City Treasurer since January 1, 2022. She can be reached at bowens@readingohio.org or by calling (513)733-3725 Extension 135

The due date for filing your City of Reading Income Tax return is April 15 or the Federal due date.  The City of Reading will continue to comply with Federal and State law mandates.

Filing deadline for tax year 2023 is April 15, 2024
Electronic Filing Now Available

PLEASE NOTE

We will not print W2s, tax related documents or work from your electronic device.  In order to have your Reading tax return prepared by our tax office, you must have all necessary paperwork or documents in hand when you come to the tax office.

GENERAL INFORMATION


WHO MUST FILE

The City of Reading has a mandatory filing requirement. The Earnings Tax of 2.0% applies to all who are 18 years of age and older who live, work, operate a business within or do business within the City of Reading. This tax must be paid to the City of Reading regardless of level of income. 

All City of Reading residents are required to register with the Tax Office and to file an annual Reading income tax return even if no tax is due. Any student 18 years of age and older with earned income is also required to file.

All non-residents with income earned within Reading or with income taxable to the City of Reading that is not fully withheld by an employer are required to file a Reading income tax return.

All non-residents engaged in a business within the City of Reading who have sales, services performed or rental property must file a tax return whether or not tax is due.

All entities operating a business within or doing business within the City of Reading must file an annual Reading income tax return on net profits/losses.

The State of Ohio made significant changes to the Ohio Municipal Income Tax Laws (Chapter 718 of the ORC), effecting tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2016, including changes to Interest Rates and Due Dates of Individual Estimated Payments. Annual Income Tax Returns are due on or before April 15th or the Federal Due date.

INTEREST RATE – Interest rates apply per annum to all unpaid income tax and withholding tax balances.  Effective January 1, 2016, interest rate is 5%.  Effective January 1, 2017, interest rate is 6%.  Effective January 1, 2019, interest rate is 7%. Effective January 1, 2021, interest rate is 5%.  Effective January 1, 2022, interest rate is 5%. Effective January 1, 2023, interest rate is 7%.  Effective January 1, 2024, interest rate is 10%.  Effective January 1, 2025, interest rate is 10%.  This rate is being published in accordance with Ohio Revised Code 718.27(F).

FILING and/or PAYING LATE – Penalties and interest are imposed on taxes remaining unpaid when due. A late filing fee for all tax returns and forms is $25.00. A late payment penalty is imposed in the amount of 15% of the amount not timely paid. Interest is imposed at the rate in effect on all tax not timely paid. 

WHEN TO FILE

* If the due date falls on a weekend, the due date will be the following business day.

EXTENSIONS

A federal extension granted to an individual or business is honored by the City of Reading Income Tax Bureau. The extension only extends the filing date of the return. The extension does not extend the due date for payment of the tax. Payments are due on or before April 15* each year or the 15th* day of the 4th month following the end of the fiscal year.

TAXABLE INCOME

Qualifying wages (see below), tips, commissions and other compensation including sick pay, vacation pay, employer paid premiums for group term life insurance, supplemental unemployment benefits paid by the employer (SUB PAY), severance pay, settlements, income from wage continuation plans (includes retirement incentive plans and buyouts), contributions made by or on behalf of employees to non-qualified or qualified deferred compensation plans (e.g. 401K plans), bonuses, directors fees, jury duty income, precinct election official income (if over $1,000), fringe benefits (e.g. car allowance), stock options as indicated by amount on Form W-2. If you have any questions on taxable wages, please call the tax office at (513) 733-0300.

Gambling winnings as reported on Form W-2G.

Net profits from profession and/or business operations, rental property, partnerships, enterprise or other business activity.

Qualifying wages: Usually the amounts in the Medicare wage box of the W-2s are the qualifying wages. Qualifying wages for the municipality includes wages defined in Section 3121(a) of the IRS code plus any amounts not included in the Medicare wage due to some Medicare exemptions (e.g. government employees employed by an entity prior to April 1, 1986).

Note: Income taxable by the city may differ from income taxed by the IRS.

CREDITS

Credit for taxes withheld/paid to other municipalities is available to residents of the City of Reading and is limited to 2.0% of the amount of taxable income on which tax was withheld / paid. No credit is given for county taxes paid.

DECLARATION OF ESTIMATED TAXES

A declaration of estimated tax must be filed by all individuals and business entities who may reasonably expect to have taxable income, if the tax on this income is not or will not be withheld by an employer or employers.

A taxpayer’s final return for the preceding year may be used as the basis for computing the declaration of estimated tax for the current year.

The declaration and first quarterly payment are due by April 15 or the 15th day of the 4th month following the end of the fiscal year.

The remaining quarterly payments are due by June 15, September 15-Individuals and Businesses, and January 15(individuals), December 15(businesses) for calendar year taxpayers or the 15th day of the 6th, 9th, and 12th months after the beginning of the taxable year for fiscal year taxpayers.

Estimated tax payments are required and penalties are assessed for insufficient declaration payments.

Note: If at least 90% of a taxpayer’s tax liability is not paid by the 4th quarter due date, the difference between 90% of the tax liability and the amount of estimated tax paid on or before the 4th quarter due date shall be subject to the interest and penalty provisions of Section 880.10 of the City of Reading Income Tax Ordinance.

OBTAINING READING INCOME TAX RETURNS

Download the appropriate tax forms on this webpage or paper forms are available in the lobby of the Reading Municipal Building at 1000 Market Street.

ITEMS TO BE INCLUDED WITH THE RETURN (IF APPLICABLE)

W-2 form(s).

1099 MISC form(s).

1099 NEC form(s).

Copy of Federal 1040.

Payment of tax due (checks/money orders are to be made payable to City of Reading Tax). We also accept Visa – MasterCard – Discover. Payments can be made online at www.readingohio.org. City Departments, Tax Department.

EMPLOYERS' RESPONSIBILITIES

All employers within or doing business within the City of Reading are responsible for withholding the tax of 2.0% on the qualifying wages of their employees and remitting the withheld tax on a monthly basis to the City of Reading on or before the 15th day of the month following such withholding. In addition, employers are required to withhold the tax of 2.0% on 100% of the wage amount for all employees who are Reading residents.

All employers who do business both inside and outside the jurisdiction of the City of Reading are required to withhold the tax of 2.0% on all compensation earned by their employees who work within the City of Reading. Generic withholding forms are available on this website.

Employers who conduct no business activity within the City of Reading may choose to voluntarily withhold the Reading tax for those employees who reside within the City of Reading. Withholding for Reading residents should be an amount sufficient to bring their total local withholding to 2.0% (credit is given to Reading residents for local taxes paid to other municipalities up to 2.0%). Courtesy withholding registration forms are available on this website.

PROPERTY TAXES

The collections of property taxes (whether it is for residential property or business property) are the responsibility of Hamilton County. The City of Reading does not collect property tax dollars from city residents or businesses.

For further information on the collection and payment of property taxes, please contact the Hamilton County Auditor’s office at (513) 946-4000.

SCHOOL DISTRICT

The City of Reading is within the Reading School District. The code for the Reading School District for state income tax form purposes is 3117.