IRS Extends 2010 Tax Filing Deadlines for Flood Victims
Victims of severe storms, floods, mudslides and landslides beginning March 12 in New Jersey may qualify for tax relief from the Internal Revenue Service.
The President has declared the following New Jersey counties federal disaster areas qualifying for individual assistance:
- Atlantic
- Middlesex
- Bergen
- Monmouth
- Cape May
- Morris
- Essex
- Passaic
- Gloucester
- Somerset
- Mercer
- Union
As a result of this designation, the IRS is postponing until May 11 certain deadlines for taxpayers who reside or have a business in the disaster area. This includes the April 15 deadline for filing 2009 individual income tax returns, making income tax payments and making 2009 contributions to an individual retirement account (IRA).
In addition, the IRS will waive the failure to deposit penalties for employment and excise deposits due on or after March 12 and on or before March 29, as long as the deposits were made by March 29.
If an affected taxpayer receives a penalty notice from the IRS, the taxpayer should call the telephone number on the notice to have the IRS abate any interest and any late filing or late payment penalties that would otherwise apply. Penalties or interest will be abated only for taxpayers who have an original or extended filing, payment or deposit due date, including an extended filing or payment due date, that falls within the Postponement Period.
IRS computer systems automatically identify taxpayers located in the covered disaster area and apply automatic filing and payment relief. Affected taxpayers who reside or have a business located outside the covered disaster area must call the IRS disaster hotline at 1-866-562-5227 to request tax relief.