<?xml version="1.0"?>
<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>59212</law_id><section_number>58.1-312</section_number><catch_line>Limitations on assessment</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>58.1-322.02</reference><reference>58.1-322.03</reference><reference>58.1-399.7</reference></referred_to_by><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="58.1">Taxation</unit><unit label="subtitle" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="I">Taxes Administered by the Department of Taxation</unit><unit label="chapter" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="3">Income Tax</unit><unit label="article" level="4" order_by="1" identifier="1">General Provisions</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> The tax imposed by this chapter may be assessed at any time if: <a id="paragraph-217052" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/58.1-312/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A1" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> No return is filed; <a id="paragraph-217053" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/58.1-312/#A1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A2" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> A false or fraudulent return is filed with <span class="dictionary">intent</span> to evade tax; <a id="paragraph-217054" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/58.1-312/#A2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A3" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">3.</span> The <span class="dictionary">taxpayer</span> fails to comply with &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Report of change in federal taxable income" href="/58.1-311/">58.1-311</a> in not reporting a change or correction increasing his federal taxable income as reported on his federal income tax return, or in not reporting a change or correction which is treated in the same manner as if it were a deficiency for federal income tax purposes, or in not filing an amended return; or <a id="paragraph-217055" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/58.1-312/#A3"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A4" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">4.</span> The <span class="dictionary">taxpayer</span> fails to comply with &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Report of change in taxes paid to other states" href="/58.1-311.1/">58.1-311.1</a> by not reporting a change or correction decreasing the tax paid to another state for which a credit was claimed on his Virginia income tax return as a result of an examination conducted by any other state or an amended income tax return filed with any other state. <a id="paragraph-217056" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/58.1-312/#A4"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> The tax may be assessed within six years after the return was filed, whether such return was filed on or after the date prescribed, if the <span class="dictionary">taxpayer</span> knowingly failed to disclose on his state income tax return a transaction identified by the <span class="dictionary">Tax Commissioner</span> as an abusive tax avoidance transaction and published as provided in &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Publication of rulings, decisions, orders and regulations" href="/58.1-204/">58.1-204</a>. A return of tax filed before the last day prescribed by <span class="dictionary">law</span> for the timely filing thereof shall be considered as filed on the last day. If such return is false or fraudulent, an assessment may be made at any time whether or not the falsity or <span class="dictionary">fraud</span> is related to the abusive tax avoidance transaction. <a id="paragraph-217057" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/58.1-312/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> If the <span class="dictionary">taxpayer</span> pursuant to &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Report of change in federal taxable income" href="/58.1-311/">58.1-311</a> or <a class="law" title="Report of change in taxes paid to other states" href="/58.1-311.1/">58.1-311.1</a> reports a change or correction or files an amended return increasing his federal taxable income, decreasing the tax paid to another state, or reports a change or correction which is treated in the same manner as if it were a deficiency for federal income tax purposes, the assessment (if not deemed to have been made upon the filing of the report or amended return) may be made at any time within one year after such report or amended return was filed. The amount of such assessment of tax shall not exceed the amount of the increase in Virginia tax attributable to such federal change or correction. The provisions of this paragraph shall not affect the time within which or the amount for which an assessment may otherwise be made. <a id="paragraph-217058" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/58.1-312/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="D"><p><span class="prefix-number">D.</span> If a deficiency is attributable to the application to the <span class="dictionary">taxpayer</span> of a net operating loss carry-back, or to a net capital loss carry-back, it may be assessed at any time that a deficiency for the taxable year of the loss may be assessed. <a id="paragraph-217059" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/58.1-312/#D"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="E"><p><span class="prefix-number">E.</span> An erroneous refund shall be considered an underpayment of tax on the date made, and an assessment of a deficiency arising out of an erroneous refund may be made at any time within two years from the making of the refund, except that the assessment may be made within five years from the making of the refund if it appears that any part of the refund was induced by <span class="dictionary">fraud</span> or misrepresentation of a <span class="dictionary">material</span> <span class="dictionary">fact</span>. <a id="paragraph-217060" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/58.1-312/#E"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="F"><p><span class="prefix-number">F.</span> If a return is required for a decedent or for his <span class="dictionary">estate</span> during the period of administration, the tax shall be assessed within eighteen months after written request therefor (made after the return is filed) by the executor, administrator or other person representing the <span class="dictionary">estate</span> of such decedent, but not more than three years after the return was filed, except as otherwise provided in this subsection. <a id="paragraph-217061" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/58.1-312/#F"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>Code 1950, &#xA7; 58-151.0104; 1971, Ex. Sess., c. 171; 1984, c. 675; 2006, c. 234; 2007, c. 524.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
