While most Americans are racing to file their taxes before the April 15 deadline, residents across nine states are getting a bit more breathing room thanks to the Internal Revenue Service.
Why the Extension?
Every year, April 15 is the cut-off for filing individual federal income tax returns. The IRS, which opened tax season on January 27, anticipated over 140 million filings this year. But by late March, they’d received nearly a million fewer returns compared to last year—possibly due to economic uncertainty or taxpayer confusion.
Ordinarily, if someone can’t file by April 15, they can request an extension to submit their return by October 15. However, any taxes owed are still due in April to avoid penalties.
But for millions of Americans living in federally declared disaster zones, the IRS has automatically extended the filing and payment deadline to May 1—no paperwork required. In some areas, the extension goes even further.
Who Qualifies for the Tax Extension?
The IRS has confirmed that taxpayers in the following areas qualify for the May 1 deadline:
- Entire states:
- Alabama
- Florida
- Georgia
- North Carolina
- South Carolina
- Selected localities:
- Alaska – City and Borough of Juneau
- New Mexico – Chaves County
- Tennessee – Carter, Claiborne, Cocke, Grainger, Greene, Hamblen, Hancock, Hawkins, Jefferson, Johnson, Sevier, Sullivan, Unicoi, and Washington counties
- Virginia – Numerous counties and cities including Albemarle, Roanoke, Montgomery, Danville, and others
Additional extensions include:
- Los Angeles County, California – Deadline moved to October 15 due to severe wildfires in January
- Kentucky (entire state) and parts of West Virginia – Residents now have until November 3 to file
Disasters Behind the Delay
The IRS tax relief is a response to significant natural disasters that affected these areas:
- Hurricane Helene, a Category 4 storm, caused widespread destruction across several southeastern states in September 2024
- Flooding in Juneau, Alaska in August and severe storms in New Mexico in October disrupted daily life and local infrastructure
- Parts of Tennessee and Virginia were also hit hard by Hurricanes Helene and Milton, further justifying the tax reprieve
What Happens if You Miss Your Deadline?
Failing to file by the appropriate deadline—even with an extension—can be costly. The IRS imposes a 5% penalty per month on unpaid taxes, up to a maximum of 25%. So while disaster-affected areas have some relief, everyone is encouraged to file or pay as soon as they’re able.
For those in unaffected areas, April 15 remains the deadline. If you think you may need extra time and aren’t in a declared disaster zone, you’ll need to request an extension the traditional way—and still pay your estimated taxes by Tuesday to avoid penalties.
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