Filing deadline extended for Caribbean victims of Maria

Victims of Hurricane Maria in the U.S. Virgin Islands and in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico have had their filing and payment activities delayed until June 29, the Internal Revenue Service said. The postponement applies to the islands of St. Croix, St. John and St. Thomas in the Virgin Islands and any of the 78 municipalities in Puerto Rico.

Affected individuals and businesses will have until June 29 to file their 2017 tax returns and pay any taxes due on those returns. This relief also includes individual estimated tax payments, payroll and excise tax returns, corporate income tax returns that were originally due or on extension during the relief period, and tax-exempt organizations required to file 990 series returns with an original deadline falling during this period.

The relief also applies to taxpayers who had a valid extension to file their 2016 return that was due to run out on Oct. 16, 2017, and which was already postponed until Jan. 31, 2018.

The IRS will abate any interest, late-payment or late-filing penalty that would otherwise apply for 2017 tax returns. The service automatically provides this relief to any taxpayer located in the disaster area; they need not contact the IRS to get this relief.

Beyond the relief provided to taxpayers in the FEMA-designated localities, the IRS will work with any taxpayer who resides outside the disaster area but whose books, records or tax professionals are in the areas affected by Hurricane Maria. Taxpayers who live outside of the impacted area and think they may qualify for the relief need to contact the IRS at (866) 562-5227.

Debris sits near the pool of the damaged Caribe Playa Beach Resort after Hurricane Maria in Patillas, Puerto Rico.
Debris sits near the pool of the damaged Caribe Playa Beach Resort after Hurricane Maria in Patillas, Puerto Rico. Photographer: Xavier Garcia/Bloomberg

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