Tax Relief Available For Victims Of Severe Storms
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NORTH TEXAS (CBSDFW.COM) - It's been a rough last month for thousands of Texans impacted by severe weather, but some help in the form of tax relief has arrived.
Victims of the severe storms, tornadoes, straight-line winds and flooding that took place beginning on May 4, 2015 in parts of Texas may qualify for tax relief from the Internal Revenue Service.
Following recent disaster declarations for individual assistance issued by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the IRS announced Monday affected taxpayers in Texas will receive tax relief.
President Obama has declared Bastrop, Blanco, Caldwell, Denton, Eastland, Fort Bend, Gaines, Guadalupe, Harris, Hays, Henderson, Hidalgo, Johnson, Milam, Montague, Navarro, Rusk, Smith, Travis, Van Zandt, Wichita, Williamson, and Wise counties a federal disaster area. Individuals who live or have a business in these counties may qualify for tax relief.
The declaration permits the IRS to postpone certain deadlines for taxpayers who live or have a business in the disaster area.
For instance, certain deadlines falling on or after May 4, and on or before Nov. 2, have been postponed to Nov. 2, 2015. This includes the May 15 deadline for many tax-exempt organizations to file their annual Form 990. It also includes the June 15 and Sept. 15 deadlines for making quarterly estimated tax payments. A variety of business tax deadlines are also affected including the July 31 deadline for quarterly payroll and excise tax returns.
In addition, the IRS is waiving the failure-to-deposit penalties for employment and excise tax deposits due on or after May 4, as long as the deposits were made by May 19, 2015.
If an affected taxpayer receives a penalty notice from the IRS, the taxpayer should call the phone number on the notice to have the IRS abate any interest and any late filing or late payment penalties that would otherwise apply. Penalties or interest will be abated only for taxpayers who have an original or extended filing, payment or deposit due date, including an extended filing or payment due date, that falls within the postponement period.
The IRS automatically identifies taxpayers located in the covered disaster area and applies automatic filing and payment relief. But affected taxpayers who reside or have a business located outside the covered disaster area must call the IRS disaster hotline at 866-562-5227 to request this tax relief.
Affected taxpayers who are contacted by the IRS on a collection or examination matter should explain how the disaster impacts them so that the IRS can provide appropriate consideration to their case.
Taxpayers may download forms and publications from the official IRS website or order them by calling 800-829-3676. The IRS toll-free number for general tax questions is 800-829-1040.
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