The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has implemented many tax relief procedures to assist individuals and businesses in the severely affected areas following the devastating effects of Hurricane Helene.

This is being assisted by a number of states, including Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and portions of Florida, Tennessee, and Virginia. These actions are intended to assist locals and business owners in managing the financial strain of recovering from the disaster.

As part of these tax relief measures, eligible individuals who reside in disaster zones will have until May 1, 2025, to file their federal tax returns and pay their taxes.

Federal tax returns for individuals and corporations for the 2024 tax year, which were originally due in March and April 2025, are among the numerous tax-related paperwork and payments that are subject to this revised deadline. Taxpayers who were granted legitimate extensions for their 2023 returns and those who are required to make quarterly anticipated tax payments will also benefit from this additional deadline.

Reasons for this IRS extension

The IRS took these helpful actions in response to what the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) described as catastrophes. Due to these designations, the IRS is able to assist communities that suffered significant storm-related damage, and the agency has committed to providing the same assistance to any other locations that might experience comparable disaster conditions in the future.

Taxpayers whose primary residence on file with the IRS is located in a disaster-affected area are automatically eligible for this compensation. Penalty letters may still be sent this year to taxpayers who have recently relocated but have not provided the IRS with their new address.

Taxpayers should contact the IRS immediately to have any fines waived if this occurs. Taxpayers who have significant tax records kept in disaster zones but do not reside there can also receive assistance. Those in need can call the IRS disaster aid hotline to request assistance.

The IRS has also implemented regulations that allow taxpayers to claim losses they suffered as a result of Hurricane Helene, acknowledging the significant financial losses many people suffered. To be eligible, these losses must not be reimbursed or covered by insurance. Injured individuals may elect to report these losses on their 2023 or 2024 tax returns.

As a result, the IRS has extended the timeframe for making this decision to October 15, 2025. When filing a claim for disaster-related damages, taxpayers are required to include the FEMA notification number for the affected area.

It’s also crucial to understand that qualifying disaster aid payments used to repair or replace damaged property or individuals are typically exempt from taxes. This further improves the financial situation of individuals impacted.

Another significant aspect of the IRS’s relief activities is the creation of new regulations for those who must access their IRAs or retirement plans following the catastrophe. When people under the age of 59 withdraw funds from their retirement accounts too soon, they often have to pay a 10% penalty.

However, the IRS is not imposing this penalty on individuals who received early payments for disaster recovery because of Hurricane Helene. In order to reduce their immediate tax burden, those who are affected may also decide to stretch the revenue from these withdrawals over three years. Additionally, there are alternatives for hardship payments; however, these will be subject to regulations related to the retirement plan type.

To assist those impacted by Hurricane Helene, the federal government is collaborating with FEMA and other organizations. This response includes these tax relief initiatives. The IRS’s assistance plans were heavily influenced by the damage estimates that FEMA produced.

The IRS remains committed to tailoring its assistance to the evolving needs of storm-affected areas as the recovery process progresses. This will guarantee that individuals impacted receive all the assistance they require in order to recover and rebuild.