The IRS has extended until Jan. 17, 2017, the deadlines for most income tax returns, income tax payments and other time-sensitive actions for taxpayers affected by storms and flooding in federally declared disaster areas in Florida. In addition, the IRS will waive failure-to-deposit penalties for federal payroll and excise tax deposits due on or after Aug. 31, 2016, as long as they were made by Sept. 15, 2016.

The IRS relief applies to taxpayers who reside in or have a principal place of business in the counties of Citrus, Dixie, Hernando, Hillsborough, Leon, Levy, Pasco and Pinellas. Other counties may be added as the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) assesses damages. Taxpayers whose books and records are located in an affected area are also eligible for relief. The relief applies to deadlines on or after Aug. 31 and includes:

  • Extended income tax returns due Sept. 15 and Oct. 17, 2016
  • Estimated tax payments due Sept. 15, 2016
  • Payroll and excise tax returns

The IRS automatically identifies taxpayers located in covered disaster areas and applies the administrative relief. Eligible taxpayers whose residence or principal place of business is outside an identified county must call the IRS disaster hotline at +1 866 562 5227 to be included.

The extended deadline of Jan. 17, 2017, applies to all the tax returns, tax payments and time-sensitive actions listed in Section 7508A, Treas. Reg. Sec. 301.7508A-1(c)(1) and Rev. Proc. 2007-56, which includes the following:

  • Filing any income, estate, gift, employment or excise tax return except for the firearms tax, harbor maintenance tax, and alcohol and tobacco taxes
  • Paying any income, estate, gift, generation-skipping tax or excise tax except for the firearms tax, harbor maintenance tax, and alcohol and tobacco taxes
  • Filing Form 5500 series returns
  • Contributing to qualified retirement accounts (including a rollover or reversing a rollover)
  • Deadlines related to like-kind exchanges
  • Filing a petition with the Tax Court
  • Allowance of a credit or refund of any tax
  • Filing a claim for credit or refund of any tax
  • Bringing suit upon a claim for credit or refund of any tax
  • Giving or making any notice or demand for the payment of any tax or regarding any liability to the United States related to any tax
  • Collection by levy or otherwise of any outstanding tax liability
  • Bringing suit by the United States or any officer on its behalf regarding any liability related to any tax

The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.