File MS Taxes with MS Department of Revenue

State income taxes in Mississippi are divided into three graduated rates: 3% on the first $5,000 of taxable income, 4% on the next $5,001 to $10,000, and 5% on all taxable income over $10,000.

The state generated $1.9 billion in revenue from state income taxes in a recent fiscal year. This represents about 25% of the state's $7.24 billion total in tax collections. Compared to most states, it receives a lower share of its total tax revenue from income taxes, however, the ratio is similar to other southern states.

Individuals must file a MS tax return if they have had any state taxes withheld from their wages. Nonresidents and partial-year residents must file Mississippi state taxes if they have income that was taxed by the state. In addition, residents who work out of state must file a return and report their gross income, no matter the source.

The easiest way to track a tax refund is to use the Taxpayer Access Point (TAP) portal on the Department of Revenue website.

Those who receive additional tax information or discover an error after filing a return should complete either the Amended Resident Return Form 80-170 or Amended Non-Resident/partial-year Return Form 80-270. These forms must be filed within three years of the original due date including extensions. If money is owed to the taxpayer, individuals can expect to get a refund within six to 10 months.

Those who owe tax payments and cannot meet the filing deadline qualify for an automatic six-month extension. Individuals will need to attach a copy of the federal extension along with their state return when submitting to the MS Department of Revenue. This does not extend the time to make any tax payments. Individuals who owe more than 20% of their tax liability must pay 1% interest on the underpayment until it is paid.

Creating a TAP Account for Quarterly Payments

Taxable income that isn't subject to withholdings, such as self-employment earnings, alimony, or rent, may be subject to quarterly estimated tax payments. Residents can make estimated payments online by creating a TAP account on the Department of Revenue (DOR) website. Individuals can also send payments to the Department of Revenue at: P.O. Box 23075, Jackson, MS 39225.

Checks or money orders should be made payable to the Mississippi Department of Revenue. Amended tax returns can be tracked via the TAP portal. State tax refunds can be tracked by visiting the DOR website and selecting "Individual Income" from the left hand navigation area. When you get to the correct page you will see a question, "Where’s my Refund?" Click to the right of this question to track your refund.

Note: States & U.S. territories may make changes to their tax laws with little notice. We do our best to keep this information up-to-date, but it is provided on an "AS IS" basis. For more see our terms.