IRS Provides Additional Relief to Hurricane Sandy Victims

Posted by Terri Eyden on Nov 7 2012 2423 printer friendly

Following recent disaster declarations for individual assistance issued by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the IRS has announced that affected taxpayers in Connecticut, New Jersey, and New York will receive tax relief. Other locations may be added in coming days based on additional damage assessments by FEMA.

The tax relief postpones various tax filing and payment deadlines that occurred starting in late October. As a result, affected individuals and businesses will have until February 1, 2013, to file these returns and pay any taxes due. This includes the fourth quarter individual estimated tax payment, normally due January 15, 2013. It also includes payroll and excise tax returns and accompanying payments for the third and fourth quarters, normally due on October 31, 2012, and January 31, 2013, respectively. It also applies to tax-exempt organizations required to file Form 990 series returns with an original or extended deadline falling during this period.

The IRS will abate any interest, late payment, or late filing penalty that would otherwise apply. The IRS automatically provides this relief to any taxpayer located in the disaster area. Taxpayers need not contact the IRS to get this relief.

More from the IRS

The IRS has also issued the following Hurricane Sandy news releases:

IR-2012-86, Treasury and IRS Expand Availability of Housing for Hurricane Sandy Victims
IR-2012-85, IRS Waives Diesel Fuel Penalty Due to Hurricane Sandy
IR-2012-84, IRS Announces Qualified Disaster Treatment of Payments to Victims of Hurricane Sandy

Beyond the relief provided by law to taxpayers in the FEMA-designated counties, the IRS will work with any taxpayer who resides outside the disaster area but whose books, records, or tax professional are located in the areas affected by Hurricane Sandy. All workers assisting the relief activities in the covered disaster areas who are affiliated with a recognized government or philanthropic organization are eligible for relief. Taxpayers who live outside of the impacted area and think they may qualify for this relief need to contact the IRS at (866) 562-5227.

In addition, the IRS is waiving failure-to-deposit penalties for federal payroll and excise tax deposits normally due on or after the disaster area start date and before November 26, if the deposits are made by November 26, 2012. Details on available relief can be found on the disaster relief page on IRS.gov.

The tax relief is part of a coordinated federal response to the damage caused by the hurricane and is based on local damage assessments by FEMA. For information on disaster recovery, individuals should visit disasterassistance.gov.

The IRS wants to assure taxpayers, businesses, and tax preparers that it is working aggressively to monitor the situation and provide additional relief as needed.

So far, IRS filing and payment relief applies to the following localities:

In Connecticut (starting October 27): The counties of Fairfield, Middlesex, New Haven, and New London. The Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation and Mohegan Tribal Nation located within New London County.
In New Jersey (starting October 26): Atlantic, Bergen, Cape May, Essex, Hudson, Middlesex, Monmouth, Ocean, Somerset, and Union.
In New York (starting October 27): Bronx, Kings, Nassau, New York, Queens, Richmond, Rockland, Suffolk, and Westchester.

Related item: Help for Victims of Hurricane Sandy

IR-2012-83, November 2, 2012

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