FAQs • Grandview Heights • CivicEngage

Where do I file a Grandview Heights tax return?: All city tax returns are filed through the Regional Income Tax Agency (“RITA”) www.ritaohio.com, and can be submitted via U.S. Mail or electronically on the RITA website. To register as a new taxpayer, we recommend completing RITA Form 75 to get your new account set-up prior to filing your initial return. The RITA system requires individuals to have an account set-up in advance in order to quickly and conveniently file a tax return online during tax season.

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Finance Department

1. Am I required to file a city tax return?: Yes, Grandview Heights has mandatory filing. All individuals 18 years or older that resided in Grandview Heights for any part of the year must file a city tax return by April 15th (Exception – Retirees see #2). Businesses must also file returns if they have sales, payroll, or property in the City during the taxable year. Non-residents working in Grandview Heights are not required to file unless their city tax withholding is less than 2.5%.

2. Am I required to file if I have no tax liability to Grandview Heights?: Yes, there is still mandatory filing even with no tax liability due to Grandview Heights. This is important because many residents work outside Grandview Heights and now have zero tax liability due to the new 100% tax credit as of 1/1/17. Mandatory filing is necessary to maximize income tax revenue via auditing, and it is required by RITA.

3. Do retirees need to file?: No, as long as your income is strictly from retirement or investment sources such as pension, social security, IRA/401(k), interest, dividends, and capital gains.

4. Am I required to file if I worked but am under 18 years old?: No, you do not have a filing requirement, but you may wish to complete a refund claim in the city where any local taxes were withheld from your paycheck. If you worked in Grandview Heights, the refund claim form would be RITA Form 10A. If you worked in Columbus, the refund claim would be Form IR-25.

5. My address is Columbus, Ohio 43212, how do I know where to pay my taxes?: Unfortunately we live in a community that shares a zip code, which means people often get confused on where to pay their municipal income tax. Please refer to the map here to identify if you live in the Grandview Heights taxing jurisdiction. You may also give the local tax team a call to confirm whether you are in the City of Grandview Heights and should be paying Grandview Heights income tax. Scott (614)481-6207 / sgill@grandviewheights.org and Joe (614) 439-7778 / jcurtin@grandviewheights.org.

6. What should I do if I’ve filed and paid tax to the wrong city?: Contact the Tax Team in the City Finance Department. Scott (614)481-6207 / sgill@grandviewheights.org and Joe (614)340-5241 / jcurtin@grandviewheights.org are ready, willing, and able to assist you in filing for refunds to get that tax redirected to Grandview Heights for local programs essential to the City.

7. What is Taxable and what is Non-Taxable?: Click HERE for a list of Taxable Income and Non-Taxable Income.

8. Where do I file a Grandview Heights tax return?: All city tax returns are filed through the Regional Income Tax Agency (“RITA”) www.ritaohio.com, and can be submitted via U.S. Mail or electronically on the RITA website. To register as a new taxpayer, we recommend completing RITA Form 75 to get your new account set-up prior to filing your initial return. The RITA system requires individuals to have an account set-up in advance in order to quickly and conveniently file a tax return online during tax season.

9. What is RITA?: RITA was established in 1971 as a quasi-governmental service entity and now collects income tax for over 225 Ohio municipalities, including Grandview Heights since 1998.

11. How is my tax money used by the City?: Income tax is the most significant source of revenue for operations of the City, including safety services and parks and recreation.

12. If I’m working and paying municipal income tax to another city, will I owe tax to Grandview Heights?: Grandview Heights allows up to 2.5% credit for taxes paid to another municipality. For example, if your only income is a W-2 earned in a 2.5% municipality such as Columbus or Upper Arlington and you had correct withholding, you will owe no tax to Grandview Heights.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Prior to 2017, Grandview Heights allowed up to a 2.25% tax credit.

13. Do college students have a filing requirement when using their parents’ address for mailing purposes?: Yes, unless they can prove that they changed their permanent residence to their school address.

14. Who can I contact for assistance?: RITA can be contacted at 1-800-860-7482, but we also encourage anyone to take advantage of personalized local service available from our local Tax Team in the City Finance Department: Scott (614)481-6207 / sgill@grandviewheights.org or Joe (614) 439-7778 / jcurtin@grandviewheights.org.