IRS provides tax relief to Texas flood victims; questions remain on pre- and post-disaster actions

July 12, 2025

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Rescue and recovery efforts continue in the Kerrville, Texas, area, which was the hardest hit when the Guadalupe River flooded as the July 4 holiday period was beginning. (Photo by World Central Kitchen, whose volunteers were among the earliest responders, CC BY 4.0)

Thousands of Texans are now dealing with the deadly, tragic flooding across the state. My regional backyard, the Hill Country, was the hardest hit. As of today, the catastrophic count from the July 4 flooding is at least 129 killed, and around 170 people missing.

Obviously, no one even remotely affected by the disaster is thinking about taxes. But, as is usual procedure when the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) determines there is a major natural disaster, the Internal Revenue Service also acts.

The IRS has announced tax relief for Texas taxpayers impacted by the Independence Day adjacent severe storms, straight-line winds, and flooding that began pummeling the region on July 2.

They now have a Feb. 2, 2026, deadline for various tax matters.

The new deadline applies to individuals and households residing or having a business in Burnet, Kendall, Kerr, Kimble, Menard, San Saba, Tom Green, Travis, and Williamson counties.

These affected individuals and businesses now have until next Feb. 2 to file tax returns and pay any taxes that were originally due when the deadly weather system hit.

Specifically, the IRS notes that the Feb. 2, 2026, filing deadline applies to —

Any individual, business or tax-exempt organization that has a valid extension to file their 2024 return due to run out on Oct. 15, 2025.
Quarterly estimated income tax payments normally due on Sept. 15, 2025, and Jan. 15, 2026.
Quarterly payroll and excise tax returns normally due on July 31, Oct. 31, 2025, and Jan. 31, 2026.
Calendar-year partnerships and S corporations whose 2024 extensions run out on Sept. 15, 2025.
Calendar-year corporations whose 2024 extensions run out on Oct. 15, 2025.
Calendar-year tax exempt organizations whose extensions run out on Nov. 17, 2025.

Note, however, that payments for tax returns on a filing extension are not eligible for additional time to pay those amounts due, since the extensions are only for filing the return, not for paying tax owed. Those payments should have been made by the original April 15 deadline.

The IRS tax relief announcement has more information on the flooding tax relief. This includes how taxpayers might be eligible to claim uninsured disaster losses as itemized deductions, and special tax treatment for disaster-related distributions from workplace retirement plans or IRAs.

You also can find out about other relief at the FEMA page dedicated to the Texas flood disaster. FEMA will update its information if other areas are added to the official disaster declaration (DR-4879-TX). Similarly, the IRS’ online tax relief in disaster situations page will be updated as conditions warrant.

FEMA, NWS issues arise: In every disaster, questions are raised about warnings and relief. When you’re affected by horrific weather, it’s normal to wonder whether earlier information could have helped you escape some of the worst damage. Afterwards the storms pass, help never seems to come quickly enough.

However, those concerns have been exacerbated since Donald J. Trump began his second presidential term.

Even before returning to the Oval Office, Trump questioned the need for FEMA. After his inauguration, the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) starting making cuts to the National Weather Service (NWS).

Now, some lawmakers and officials, as well as Texans struggling in the devastated areas, are questioning the actions of federal — and, to be fair, the local — government operations they previously had relied on for alerts and assistance.

Since disasters mean our tax dollars, at all government levels, are used, coverage of the Texas flooding warning and response questions earn this weekend’s Saturday Shout Outs.

Shouts and questions: And before you comment on this post or shoot off an email or social media item saying that blame setting is not warranted, especially now when families are grieving, please don’t.

I hear this argument every time a disaster strikes. But I’ve covered enough such events as a journalist and blogger, as well as lived through a few, to know that asking hard questions and getting real answers is necessary so that we all can better prepare for and recover from future disasters.

That’s my take. Below are the shout outs to others who have looked into the matter.

National newspaper columnists David Brooks and Jonathan Capehart joined PBS New Hour host Amna Nawaz last week to discuss the disaster. You can watch the video of Brooks and Capehart on the federal response to the Texas flooding disaster, and/or read the broadcast’s transcript.

4 questions that are still unanswered about Texas’ deadly floods, by Hannah Fingerhut and Jim Vertuno for the Associated Press (AP).

FEMA’s response to Texas flood slowed by Noem’s cost controls, by Gabe Cohen and Michael Williams for CNN.

Trump cuts questioned as role of Fema in Texas highlights agency’s importance in natural disaster response, by Robert Tait for The Guardian.

In Texas, Trump Consoles, Takes a Victory Lap for Disaster Response, by Tarini Parti, Benoît Morenne, and Annie Linskey for The Wall Street Journal.

Trump administration rhetoric on FEMA moves toward reform rather than termination, by Rachel Frazin for The Hill.

After Texas Disaster, Trump Shifts His Tone on FEMA, by Luke Broadwater and Shawn McCreesh for The New York Times.

Trump administration moves away from abolishing FEMA, by Natalie Allison for The Washington Post.

More disasters will happen. Hurricane season doesn’t hit its peak until September. And, as we’ve seen year after year, Mother Nature can bring her worst at any time, to any place.

I know it’s not exactly the reading you were looking for to while away the weekend. But being prepared for a potential worst-case scenario can let you enjoy all the days when that doesn’t happen.

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