Filing Your 2021 State Income Taxes in Mississippi

Mississippi’s tax system is a simplified version of graduated tax rates. Income over certain modest thresholds is taxed at three different percentages, at least through the end of 2021. The tax increases by 1 percent for each of these income thresholds.

Governor Tate Reeves has indicated his intention to phase out the state’s income tax by ​2030​.

Single Mississippi residents must file a state tax return if they have gross income for the year of more than ​$8,300 plus $1,500​ for each of their dependents. “Gross” means your income before you claim any deductions or tax breaks. The filing threshold increases to ​$16,600 plus $1,500​ per dependent if you’re married and filing a joint return.

​Read more:​ Gross Income vs. Federal Taxable Gross

Nonresidents and part-year residents who earn income in Mississippi must file a state tax return as well as residents of the state who earn their incomes elsewhere.

You don’t have to file a return if you’re Native American and you lived the entire year on your reservation, you earned all your income on the reservation and you’re an enrolled tribal member. But you do have to file Form 80-340 instead of a return. File a nonresident return if you earned income both on and off the reservation.

Form 80-105 is the Mississippi state tax return for residents. Nonresidents and part-year residents who earned income in Mississippi should file the Form 80-205 tax return.

You may need additional forms as well. File Form 80-108 if you want to itemize your deductions. Form 80-160 allows you to claim a credit if you paid taxes to another state for income earned there. You must still report this income to the state of Mississippi, but the credit will let you avoid paying taxes on it there too.

File Form 71-661 if you’re unable to pay your tax bill in full and want to request an installment agreement.

Mississippi taxes income at rates of 0 percent, 3 percent, 4 percent and 5 percent as of 2021. The thresholds break down like this:

• ​0 percent​ on income ​up to $3,000​
• ​3 percent​ of income from ​$3,001 to $5,000​
• ​4 percent​ of income from ​$5,001 to $10,000​
• ​5 percent​ of income over ​$10,000​

These rates apply only to tax year 2021, which is the return you’ll file in 2022. Governor Reeves’ plan to phase out the state’s income tax begins by eliminating the 3 percent rate in tax year 2022.

You don’t have to include Social Security income in your gross income. Mississippi doesn’t tax these benefits. Those who serve in the National Guard or reserve forces don't have to include ​up to $15,000​ of salary received from these services. This includes payments made for active and inactive duty training and for emergency duty.

Tax Day in Mississippi is normally April 15, but this date falling on a weekend moves the deadline to ​April 18, 2022​. You must file your return and pay any taxes due by this date.

The state allows you to request an extension of time to file your return. Simply file Form 80-106 to submit payment for the tax you owe and check the box that says “extension payment.” This gives you until ​Oct. 17, 2022​, to file your return. You don’t have to do anything if you don’t owe any tax on the return.

You can also submit a copy of your federal extension, Form 4868, when you file your Mississippi income tax return if you request and receive an extension of time to file your federal return with the IRS. Approval of your extension is automatic in this case.

Mississippi imposes penalties if you file your return late without arranging for an extension of time and/or if you don’t pay the associated tax due in full by the initial tax filing due date. An extension of time to file doesn’t also extend the payment due date.

Mississippi’s late payment penalty is ​0.5 percent​ (one half of a percent) per month of what you owe, up to a total of ​25 percent​. The late filing penalty is ​5 percent​ of what you owe, up to a total of ​25 percent​, or ​$100​, whichever is more. But no penalty will be charged for late filing if you don’t owe any tax on the return.

You can use Form 80-320 to calculate the late payment penalty you’ll owe.

Your only option for e-filing your state tax return is to use a tax preparer that’s approved by the Mississippi e-file Program. But this includes most online tax preparation sites.

Otherwise, Mississippi provides two addresses for submitting your tax return by U.S.P.S. mail, one for returns that are claiming a refund, and one for those that are not. The refund address is P.O. Box 23058, Jackson, MS 39225-3058. The nonrefund address is P.O. Box 23050, Jackson, MS 39225-3050.

You always have the option of sending a paper check with your tax return if you snail-mail it to the state. Or you can set up an account with Mississippi’s Tax Access Point (TAP). There’s no fee for this service. You can go to www.ms.gov/dor/quickpay and make a payment by credit card or e-check, but you’ll have to pay a convenience fee in this case.

You can request an installment agreement for extra time to pay if you file Form 71-661, but your return has to be filed by the due date and you must have paid all taxes you owed for the past five years. You cannot have entered into another installment agreement in the past five years. The installment agreement allows you to pay what you owe in 12 monthly installments. You must owe ​at least $75​ but not more than ​$3,000​ to qualify.

​Read more:​ Filing an Extension for Taxes

TAP also lets you check online for the status of any refund you’re expecting. Or you can call the state at ​(601) 923-7801​. This line is available 24 hours. The state also provides another number for use from 8 a.m. through 5 p.m.: ​(601) 923-7700​.

Mississippi asks that you wait at least ​10 business days​ before calling about your refund if you e-filed, or ​10 weeks​ if you’ve requested a paper check rather than direct deposit. And direct deposit is only available for e-filed returns.

​Read more:​ How to Change the Way I Receive My Refund

Self-employed taxpayers should pay estimated tax, just as they do at the federal level, because they don’t have employers conveniently withholding taxes from their paychecks and transmitting the money to the government on their behalf. Mississippi requires estimated payments if you believe that you’ll owe at least ​$200​ in state tax. Estimated tax payment due dates are ​April 15​, ​June 15​, ​Sept. 15​ and ​Jan. 15​ of the year following the tax year.

Business tax returns must be sent to Mississippi’s Corporate and Franchise Board at P.O. Box 23191, Jackson, MS 39225-3050. TAP also accommodates corporate and franchise tax returns, as well as those for pass-through entities. You can pay excise taxes on the site as well, and handle employees’ withholding there.

Rates and dates in this article are correct as of publication. But check for any changes at the Kentucky Department of Revenue before you file.