IRS Announces New Tax Relief for Those Affected by Disasters

The IRS has announced filing and payment deadline extensions for taxpayers affected by Hurricane Ida and the California wildfires. These tax relief measures include a later due date for taxpayers who requested a 6-month extension for their 2020 tax returns, and an extension for estimated tax payments. Some affected taxpayers may also qualify for a waiver of penalties. If you receive an IRS penalty notice but may possibly qualify for disaster penalty relief, you can call the number on the notice to ask about an abatement.

In general, the IRS offers various forms of relief to taxpayers in regions covered by federal disaster declarations. Relief programs include providing free transcripts of past tax returns to those whose records have been damaged or lost. To learn about federal tax relief measures in your region, visit the IRS Around the Nation webpage (link below) and click on your state.   https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/tax-relief-in-disaster-situations

The IRS also reminds taxpayers of steps they can take to prepare for a disaster before it strikes. They include scanning paper records to create digital copies that can be stored in the cloud or on USB drives, and photographing rooms to document important belongings. If you or your loved ones have been affected by a disaster, a tax professional can help you determine your IRS relief rights.

IRS Around the Nation Resource Page: https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/around-the-nation