The American Institute of CPAs sent a letter Tuesday to the Internal Revenue Service asking for immediate tax relief in the wake of the deadly Hurricane Helene that tore across the Southeast and caused widespread destruction. The IRS quickly responded by granting tax relief that same day.
"We urge the IRS to immediately provide filing and payment tax disaster relief to those impacted by Hurricane Helene," AICPA Tax Executive Committee chair Blake Vickers said in the letter to Lia Colbert, commissioner of the IRS's Small Business/Self-Employed Division, and IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel.
The letter pointed out that the catastrophic destruction caused by the storm covered more than 400 miles and resulted in a death toll of over 130 people, leaving another 4 million people without power.
The IRS frequently grants tax relief to victims of natural disasters. In this case, there is special urgency given the timing and severity of the damage caused by the storm, which has devastated areas like Asheville, North Carolina. In addition to North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Tennessee, Georgia, Virginia and Alabama were affected by the hurricane. The IRS recognized the gravity of the situation and granted relief Tuesday.
"Taxpayers impacted by natural disasters are understandably overwhelmed with the challenges they face in rebuilding their lives," said AICPA vice president of tax policy and advocacy Melanie Lauridsen in a statement. "It's incumbent upon us to do everything within our power to minimize these challenges and help them as they put the pieces back together. These recommendations we offer to the IRS do just that."
IRS comes through with tax relief for victims
On the same day, the IRS provided relief for victims of the hurricane on Thursday in part or all of seven states. The relief includes the entire states of Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina and parts of Florida, Tennessee and Virginia.
Taxpayers in these areas will now have until May 1, 2025, to file various federal individual and business tax returns and make tax payments. Among other things, this includes 2024 individual and business returns normally due during March and April 2025, 2023 individual and corporate returns with valid extensions and quarterly estimated tax payments.
The IRS is offering relief to any area designated by the
Individuals and households that reside or have a business in any one of these localities qualify for tax relief. The same relief will be available to other states and localities that receive FEMA disaster declarations related to Hurricane Helene. The current list of eligible localities is available on the
The tax relief postpones various tax filing and payment deadlines that occurred beginning on Sept. 22, 2024, in Alabama; Sept. 23 in Florida; Sept. 24 in Georgia; Sept. 25 in North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia; and Sept. 26 in Tennessee. In all of these states, the relief period ends on May 1, 2025 (postponement period). As a result, affected individuals and businesses will have until May 1, 2025, to file returns and pay any taxes that were originally due during this period.
This means, for example, that the May 1, 2025, deadline will now apply to:
- Any individual or business that has a 2024 return normally due during March or April 2025.
- Any individual, business or tax-exempt organization that has a valid extension to file their 2023 federal return. The IRS noted, however, that payments on these returns are not eligible for the extra time because they were due last spring before the hurricane occurred.
- 2024 quarterly estimated income tax payments normally due on Jan. 15, 2025, and 2025 estimated tax payments normally due on April 15, 2025.
- Quarterly payroll and excise tax returns normally due on Oct. 31, 2024, and Jan. 31 and April 30, 2025.
The IRS is also providing penalty relief to businesses that make payroll and excise tax deposits. Relief periods vary by state. Visit the
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