The Internal Revenue Service is sending a special follow-up mailing to taxpayers in a number of states affected by natural disasters to let them know they have more time to pay their taxes.
The IRS said Wednesday it's taking this special step to reassure taxpayers affected by disasters that they have some extra time to file and pay their taxes. The mailing is going out to residents in California and seven other states in designated disaster areas that received a CP14 notice from the IRS in late May and June. The earlier mailings went out to taxpayers who have a balance due, and they're sent out as a legal requirement. While the notice received by taxpayers says they need to pay in 21 days, these taxpayers actually have until later this year to pay on a timely basis under the disaster declaration.
Given the large reach of these disaster declarations, as well as partner feedback, the IRS took the extra step of sending out a follow-up mailing to let these taxpayers know they have more time. The mailings, known as a CP14CL, will occur during the next few weeks. The letters are in English and Spanish.
"The IRS is working hard to improve our operations as part of our new Strategic Operating Plan," IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel in a statement. "We know our initial mailing caused confusion for taxpayers and tax professionals, and we worked quickly to send a follow-up reminder to help reassure people. This mailing reflects how we're trying to be more taxpayer-focused given the additional resources that we've been given under the Inflation Reduction Act."
The IRS notice includes more information to help taxpayers understand the disaster relief they've received. The vast majority of impacted taxpayers who are getting the letters are in California, but smaller numbers of taxpayers are scheduled to receive them in disaster areas in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Mississippi and Tennessee.
"Since your address of record is located in a federally declared disaster area, the IRS has automatically granted you disaster relief," says the notice. "This gives you an extension of time to file your tax returns as well as make your tax payment listed on the CP14 Notices. You do not need to contact us to get this extra time to pay."
The IRS said it has also updated the insert that will come with the upcoming CP14 balance-due notices to clarify that the payment date listed in the letter doesn't apply to those covered by a disaster declaration, and the disaster dates remain in effect. The plain language insert, which is in English and Spanish, includes a special QR code that takes people to the
