The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has issued a news release stating that Arkansas storm victims now have until July 1, 2023 to file various federal individual and business tax returns and make tax payments. The IRS is offering this relief to areas designated by FEMA as a result of tornadoes and severe storms that happened on March 31, 2023. Individuals and households that reside or have a business in Cross, Lonoke and Pulaski counties qualify for tax relief. An updated list of eligible localities can be viewed on the IRS Disaster Relief webpage.
The tax relief postpones various tax filing and payment deadlines that occurred starting on March 31, 2023. Affected individuals and businesses will have until July 31, 2023 to file returns and pay taxes that were originally due during this period. This includes 2022 individual income tax returns and various business returns due on April 18, 2023. The July 31 deadline also applies to quarterly estimated tax payments normally due on April 18 and June 15. The July 31 deadline also applies to the quarterly payroll and excise tax returns normally due on April 30, 2023. Additionally, penalties on payroll and excise tax deposits due on or after March 31 and before April 18 will be abated if the tax deposits are made by April 18, 2023. For additional details on tax returns and payments that qualify, visit the IRS Disaster Relief webpage.
If affected taxpayers need more time to file beyond the July 31 deadline, the IRS urges them to request additional time electronically before the original April 18 deadline. This can be done through IRS Free File or IRS Direct Pay, both available on the IRS website. After April 18 and before July 31, disaster area taxpayers can only file an extension request via paper.
The IRS automatically provides filing and penalty relief to any taxpayer with an IRS address of record located in the disaster area. Affected taxpayers do not need to contact the agency to get this relief. Additionally, the IRS will work with any taxpayer who lives outside the disaster area but whose records needed to meet the filing deadline that occurs during the period in question are located in disaster area. Taxpayers qualifying for relief who live outside the disaster area should contact the IRS at (866) 562-5227.
(IRS News Release IR-2023-68, April 3, 2023)