Navigating the process of filing your 2013 Montana tax return can be challenging if you are not well-acquainted with the state requirements. This guide was created to help residents, part-year residents, and nonresidents with Montana income understand the process. It explains who must file, where to get official forms, and how to avoid common mistakes that could delay your refund.
All information in this guide comes from the Montana Department of Revenue and official state publications. It follows the same steps tax professionals recommend when preparing returns by paper or electronically. You will find instructions for completing your tax return, paying any taxes owed, and tracking your refund status after filing.
You will learn how to file, what forms to use, what deadlines to meet, and how to avoid errors that slow processing. Whether you want an exact refund estimate, need help finding the proper form, or wish to confirm your bank account details for direct deposit, this guide keeps the process simple and beginner-friendly.
Montana requires most residents and certain nonresidents to file a state tax return for the 2013 tax year if they earned income connected to the state. Montana's filing rules closely follow federal guidelines but include Montana-specific income adjustments, credits, and deductions that can affect the total taxes owed or the refund amount.
You must file a Montana tax return for the year 2013 if any of the following conditions apply:
Montana’s filing requirement follows federal filing rules but applies after Montana-specific additions, subtractions, and deductions have been considered.
The following shows the income tax rates for Montana in 2013. Taxpayers calculate their tax by applying the rates to their Montana taxable income after exemptions and deductions.
The tax rate you pay depends on your income bracket. Here's how the rates apply:
Exemptions and Deductions for 2013:
Taxpayers could also deduct federal income taxes paid, subject to certain limitations, when itemizing deductions.
Several changes in Montana law impacted the 2013 tax year:
Review all 2013 Montana tax legislation through the official Montana State Legislature site.
You must have the correct forms before filing your tax return for Montana for the year 2013. Rejecting your return due to using the incorrect version can result in processing delays, additional letters from the Department of Revenue, or even penalties.
Montana residents used Form 2 to file state income taxes for 2013. This form applies to full-year residents, part-year residents, and nonresidents with Montana income. The form includes several schedules for reporting income, deductions, and credits:
Each schedule ensures your tax return is complete, accurate, and reflects all applicable adjustments and deductions.
You can obtain Form 2 and instructions through several free and convenient sources:
Using only official sources helps maintain the accuracy and security of your tax filing documents.
Tax forms change from year to year. Always use forms labeled for the 2013 tax year to avoid miscalculations or extra reviews that could delay your exact refund. Filing with incorrect forms often requires manual processing, increasing wait times for refunds and letters requesting corrections.
Filing your Montana tax return for 2013 requires a straightforward process. Using the correct forms, entering accurate details, and submitting everything by the deadline will help avoid penalties, delays, or letters requesting corrections.
The steps below follow the official Montana Department of Revenue instructions to file confidently and correctly.
Before starting your return, you must collect all necessary documents to ensure accuracy and prevent missing information later. These include:
Having these documents ready helps you complete the return without stopping to search for missing information.
The top section of Form 2 requires your personal and filing information. You should:
If you are married, remember that Montana allows couples to file separately on their state return even if they filed jointly on their federal return. This sometimes lowers overall taxes for two-income households.
Exemptions reduce your taxable income and, in some cases, your overall tax liability. On Form 2, you will:
For the 2013 tax year, each exemption reduced taxable income by $2,280, lowering the tax owed.
Montana requires you to report all income earned in 2013. On Lines 7–22 of Form 2, you must:
Adding all income sources results in your total income, which the state of Montana uses to determine your adjusted gross income.
This step calculates your Montana Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) and applies deductions to lower taxable income. On Form 2, you will:
For 2013, the standard deduction equaled 20% of Montana AGI with these limits:
Itemized deductions allow you to deduct expenses like federal income taxes paid, mortgage interest, and charitable contributions.
After deductions, use the Montana tax tables to calculate your base tax. Then:
This step ensures you account for all possible deductions and credits before determining whether you owe or qualify for a refund.
The final section of Form 2 calculates whether you will receive a refund or owe additional taxes:
You are entitled to a refund if your total payments exceed your tax liability. For faster service, provide your bank account and routing numbers for direct deposit rather than waiting for a paper check. To avoid penalties and interest, include your payment with the return if you owe.
Understanding when and how to file your Montana state tax return for tax year 2013 helps you avoid penalties, processing delays, and additional fees. This section covers filing deadlines, payment options, and methods for submitting your return so you can complete the process correctly the first time.
Filing early also reduced processing times, especially for taxpayers expecting a refund.
You can file your tax return using one of the following methods:
Most 2013 Montana returns were submitted on paper. You would mail the completed Form 2 and any required schedules to the Montana Department of Revenue, PO Box 5805, Helena, MT 59604-5805.
Many taxpayers could file electronically through approved software programs or tax professionals, which offered faster processing and fewer errors compared to paper forms.
Some local Montana Department of Revenue offices provided help with return preparation and submission.
Electronic filing typically resulted in faster confirmation that the department accepted the return.
If you owed taxes for the 2013 tax year, you had several ways to submit payment:
You could mail your payment with the paper return, making it payable to the “Montana Department of Revenue.”
Online payments through the Montana Department of Revenue website offered a secure and convenient way to pay by bank account transfer or credit card.
Taxpayers could call the department directly to make electronic payments by phone if they preferred speaking to a representative.
If you cannot pay the full balance by the deadline, you can contact the department to request a payment plan, avoiding larger penalties and interest charges.
All payments had to be completed by the April 15 deadline to prevent additional costs from accumulating.
After filing your Montana tax return for 2013, many taxpayers want to know when to expect their refund or how to correct errors discovered later. The Montana Department of Revenue provides simple options for tracking your refund status and filing amended returns if needed.
The Department of Revenue’s secure online system allowed taxpayers to check their refund status using a personal identification number and basic filing details. This service was compatible with most devices and could be accessed any day of the week, including Sunday, making it convenient for busy taxpayers.
Taxpayers could call the department directly to request updates on refund processing times. Calling benefited individuals who filed paper returns and wanted updates before the typical completion window.
For electronically filed returns, refunds were generally processed in two to three weeks, while paper returns often took longer because additional verification steps were required.
Using direct deposit ensured your exact refund amount was delivered straight to your bank account rather than waiting for a paper check to arrive by mail. For security, the department used an encrypted network to protect your banking information from potential fraud or unauthorized data exchange.
Montana allowed you to submit an amended return for the 2013 tax year if you discovered a mistake after filing. To achieve this, you would:
For example, if you received a late tax document after filing in January, you could amend your return to reflect the additional income or deductions.
Montana allowed taxpayers up to three years from the original filing deadline to amend a return and claim any refund owed. Any changes submitted after this period would not be processed for future refunds, so filing promptly was important.
Remember to sign the corrected forms when amending returns and mail them to the Department of Revenue before processing can begin. The department treats amended returns as formal contracts between taxpayers and the state, ensuring accuracy and compliance.
One frequent area where taxpayers make errors involves bank account details. Entering incorrect information can delay refunds or cause payments to be misapplied. To prevent problems:
Providing accurate banking information is one of the simplest ways to prevent processing errors and refund delays.
Simple mistakes can slow down the exact refund process and sometimes lead to penalty letters from the Montana Department of Revenue. Common issues include:
Reviewing each section carefully before filing helps ensure your refund is accurate and timely.
Completing a final review before mailing or electronically filing your Montana state tax return for tax year 2013 can prevent errors that delay processing or refunds. This checklist is designed to be helpful for both first-time filers and those with previous filing experience.
Completing this checklist before submission helps reduce errors, speeds up processing, and ensures your return is accurate.
The regular filing deadline for the 2013 Montana tax return was April 15, 2014. Taxpayers needing more time automatically received a six-month extension to file until October 15, 2014. However, all taxes owed still had to be paid by April 15 to avoid penalties, interest charges, or delays in processing any expected refund.
Yes, the Montana Department of Revenue allows late filing for previous tax years, including 2013. Although late penalties and interest may apply, filing as soon as possible helps limit additional costs. Taxpayers who expect a refund should still file taxes because Montana will not issue reimbursements once the statute of limitations expires, generally three years from the original filing deadline.
If you had no income in 2013 and no Montana tax withholding, you typically do not need to file a Montana return. However, filing a return may allow you to claim a refund if any state income tax was withheld from wages or other sources. Filing is also necessary if you qualify for certain Montana tax credits.
To amend a 2013 Montana return, complete Form 2 for that year and mark it as “Amended Return” at the top. Include all required schedules, plus any federal changes affecting your state return. Amended returns must be signed and submitted with supporting documents. Montana generally allows three years from the original filing deadline to claim a refund or correct errors.
Taxpayers should keep copies of their 2013 Montana tax return, all supporting documents, and proof of payments for at least three years from the original filing date. This recordkeeping period aligns with Montana’s statute of limitations for refunds and audits. Keeping records longer is recommended if you reported losses, claimed certain credits, or amended your return after the original deadline.
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