13. a. Except as another payment method may be specified by law, a tax return, report, notice, petition, protest, claim or other document to be filed or remittance containing payment of tax, required to be filed within a prescribed period, or on or before a prescribed date, under the provisions of any State tax that, after the period or the date, is delivered by United States mail to the director, bureau, office, officer or person with which or with whom the document is required to be filed shall be deemed to be delivered on the date of the United States postmark stamped on the envelope. This shall apply only if the postmark date falls within the prescribed period or on or before the prescribed date for the filing of the document, determined with regard to any extension granted for filing, and the document was deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, properly addressed to the director, bureau, office, officer or person with which or with whom the document is required to be filed. If any document is sent by United States registered or certified mail, such registration or certification shall be prima facie evidence that the document was delivered to the director, bureau, office, officer or person to which or to whom addressed. This section shall also apply to postmarks not made by the United States Postal Service to the extent the Director of the Division of Taxation in the Department of the Treasury may prescribe.

b. Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, the director is authorized to permit or mandate the acceptable methods of filing any return required to be filed and making any payment required to be remitted within a prescribed period, or on or before a prescribed date, under the provisions of any State tax law. The director may prescribe reasonable methods for filing and payment, including electronic filing and payment methods, at the director’s discretion, by the promulgation of regulations. The provisions of this section shall not be deemed to authorize the director to require any individual taxpayer preparing the taxpayer’s own gross income tax return pursuant to the “New Jersey Gross Income Tax Act,” N.J.S. 54A:1-1 et seq., or any tax preparer preparing a gross income tax return pro bono, to file that return or to remit payment of the tax by electronic methods.

c. For returns required or permitted by law, or by regulation promulgated by the director, to be filed electronically, the date the return is transmitted to the division shall be deemed the date of filing.

L.1992, s.175, s.13; amended 2006, c.36, s.2.