Georgia residents now get Hurricane Irma tax relief
Tuesday, September 19, 2017
Hurricane Irma got most attention when she threatened and eventually made landfall in Florida. Her destructive effects, however, were felt beyond the Sunshine State.
History of Hurricane #Irma: 1 September 2017 - 10 September 2017 #GOES16 pic.twitter.com/Z53paEmpIY
— NASA SPoRT (@NASA_SPoRT) September 11, 2017
That's why today the Internal Revenue Service announced that all of Georgia, which took its own hard hits as Irma moved across the Georgia-Florida border, is now eligible for disaster tax relief.
This latest hurricane related tax relief parallels that previously granted to Irma victims throughout Florida and in parts of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, and the added tax considerations provided victims of Hurricane Harvey in parts of Texas.
Hurricane Irma victims across all of the Peach State now have until Jan. 31, 2018, to file certain individual and business tax returns and make certain tax payments, according to the statement issued today.
This relief postpones for Georgia residents various tax filing and payment deadlines that occurred starting on Sept. 7.
Individuals get more tax time: For individuals, the delayed filing deadline applies to last week's Sept. 15 estimated tax filing deadline, as well as the 1040-ES payment due on Jan. 16, 2018.
It also covers extended 2016 income tax returns that originally were due on Oct. 16. Again, the IRS reminds folks that if you didn't pay all the tax due on last year's earnings, penalties and interest are still accruing on that amount since that payment was due by the April 18 deadline, well before Irma appeared.
Businesses, too: Business tax deadlines affecting Georgians include the Oct. 31 deadline for quarterly payroll and excise tax returns.
Businesses with extensions also have the additional time including, among others, calendar-year partnerships whose 2016 extensions ran out on Sept. 15, and calendar-year tax-exempt organizations whose 2016 extensions run out on Nov. 15.
The IRS' Hurricane Irma disaster relief page has details on other returns, payments and tax-related actions qualifying for the additional time.
Maria menacing PR: Meanwhile, Hurricane Maria has exploded into a Category 5 storm and is bearing down on Puerto Rico as I type. There's not much more the IRS can do for that U.S. island territory as far as deadlines et al relief.
The most any of us can do know is to urge folks in Puerto Rico and across the Caribbean to take cover and, if at all possible, evacuate.
It is trite to say, but you can rebuild your home. You only have one life.
You also might find these items of interest:
- Form 4684, a disaster victim's best friend
- Storm Warnings: tips on preparing for and recovering from disasters
- When the storm's over, don't forget to claim possible tax help for your losses
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