Victims of Hurricane Hermine that took place beginning on Aug. 31 in parts of Florida may qualify for tax relief, according to the IRS.
Following the recent disaster declaration for individual assistance issued by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the IRS said individuals who reside or have a business in the counties of Citrus, Dixie, Hernando, Hillsborough, Leon, Levy, Pasco and Pinellas may qualify for tax relief.
The declaration permits the IRS to postpone certain deadlines for taxpayers who reside or have a business in the disaster area. For instance, certain deadlines falling on or after Aug. 31, and on or before Jan. 17 have been postponed to Jan. 17. This includes individual returns on extension to Oct. 17, the Sept. 15 deadline for making quarterly estimated tax payments, the 2015 corporate and partnership returns on extension through Sept. 15, and 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 Aug. 31 as long as the deposits were made by Sept. 15.
If an affected taxpayer receives a late filing or late payment penalty notice from the IRS that has an original or extended filing, payment or deposit due date that falls within the postponement period, the taxpayer should call the telephone number on the notice to have the IRS abate the penalty.
The IRS automatically identifies taxpayers located in the covered disaster area and applies automatic filing and payment relief. Affected taxpayers who reside or have a business located outside the covered disaster area must call the IRS at (866) 562-5227 to request this and other tax relief related to Hermine.
