What was supposed to be a rubber-stamp vote in the House to extend the Arizona income tax filing deadline this year to April 17 hit a snag.
A technical mistake prevented lawmakers from voting on the legislation and sending the bill to the governor.
House Republican spokesman Barrett Marson said an aide to House Speaker Jim Weiers put the wrong bill on the Feb. 19 voting calendar. The plan was to substitute an identical Senate bill, S1157, for H2627. However, the substitution was not indicated on the calendar.
The Senate bill was expected to be approved the next day, but another technicality again prevented the substitution from being made. For one bill to be substituted for another, they must be identical. Marson said that while the text of the bills are the same, they have different titles and, thus, are not identical.
“Sometimes even we don’t get the rules correct, but we adhere to the rules as soon as we find out,” Marson said.
The House approved H2627 unanimously Feb. 20 and sent the bill to the Senate. Marson said S1157 will be voted in the House as soon as possible.
Gov. Janet Napolitano called for the legislation earlier in the session to bring the state in compliance with the federal government.
Income taxes are generally due April 15, but because that day falls on a Sunday this year, tax filings must be postmarked by April 16. However, the Internal Revenue Service has extended the deadline for filing federal income taxes to April 17 because District of Columbia government offices will be closed April 16 for Emancipation Day.