If you live in Texas, you can wait until June 15, 2021, to file your 2020 federal income tax return. The IRS is extending this and other tax deadlines because of the recent winter storms in Texas, which was declared a disaster area by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Taxpayers in other states impacted by the storms that receive similar FEMA disaster declarations will automatically receive the same filing and payment relief.
Various federal tax filing and payment due dates for individuals and businesses from February 11 to June 14 will be shifted to June 15. In addition to the April 15 personal income tax filing deadline, this includes:
- Various 2020 business returns usually due on March 15;
- 2020 IRA contributions originally due on April 15;
- Quarterly estimated income tax payments normally due on April 15;
- Quarterly payroll and excise tax returns ordinarily due on April 30; and
- 2020 returns for tax-exempt organizations typically due on May 17.
Penalties on payroll and excise tax deposits due from February 11 to February 25 will also be waived if the deposits are made by February 26.
You don’t have to contact the IRS to get this relief. However, if you receive 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, you should call the number on the notice to have the penalty abated.
In addition, the IRS will work with any taxpayer who lives outside Texas, but whose records necessary to meet a deadline occurring during the postponement period are located in Texas. Taxpayers qualifying for relief who live in another state need to contact the IRS at 866-562-5227. This also includes workers assisting the relief activities who are affiliated with a recognized government or philanthropic organization.
Individuals and businesses in a federally declared disaster area who suffered uninsured or unreimbursed disaster-related losses can choose to claim them on either the return for the year the loss occurred (in this instance, the 2021 return normally filed next year), or the return for the prior year. This means that taxpayers can, if they choose, claim these losses on the 2020 return they are filling out this tax season. Be sure to write the FEMA declaration number (4586) on any return claiming a loss. See IRS Publication 547 for details.
Source: kiplinger.com