IRS EXTENDS FLORENCE VICTIMS DEADLINES

IRS extends florence victims deadlines. The IRS issued announcement IR-2018-187, saying it is extending tax filing and payment deadlines for taxpayers and businesses in the following north Carolina counties that were hardest hit by Hurricane Florence and that have been designated as qualifying for individual assistance by the Federal Emergency Management Agency: Beaufort, Brunwick, Carteret, Craven, New Hanover, Onslow, Pamlico, and Pender. This relief was announced in and by a new Help for VIctims of Hurricane Florence IRS disaster relief page. The IRS often updates these pages after a disaster and adds other counties that qualify for relief, so taxpayers should check that page for updates. IRS extends florence victims deadlines.

The IRS explained that this tax relief program postpones certain tax filing and payment deadlines that occurred starting on September 7th, 2018, in North Carolina, including quarterly estimated payments due on Sept. 17th, 2018, and quarterly payroll and excise tax returns normally due on Oct. 31st, 2018. Affected individuals and businesses will have until Jan. 31, 2019, to file returns and pay any taxes that were originally due during this period. If you can't pay and owe back taxes, you might want to contact a Tax Professional at a Tax Resolution Services firm and ask about the IRS Fresh Start Program.

When the IRS extends Florence victims deadlines, it does so by first making sure that declarations of disaster zones have been confirmed by FEMA. The IRS is also abating any penalties on payroll and excise tax deposits due on or after Sept. 7, 2018, and before Sept. 24, 2018, so long as the deposits are made by Sept. 24, 2018. Because the IRS automatically provides filing and penalty relief to any taxpayer with an IRS address of record in the disaster area, taxpayers do not have to contact the IRS to get this relief, or sign up for tax resolution services. However, 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 falling within the postponement period, the taxpayer should call the number on the notice to have the penalty abated.

The IRS also said it will work with any taxpayer who lives outside the disaster area but whose records necessary to meet a deadline are located in the affected area. Those taxpayers must contact the IRS at 1-866-562-5227