October 28, 2021
Victims of Hurricane Ida in parts of Mississippi now have until Jan. 3, 2022 to file various individual and business tax returns and make tax payments following last week’s FEMA disaster declaration. Previously, the IRS had provided relief to the entire state of Mississippi, postponing deadlines until Nov. 1, 2021. The newly designated areas have until January 3, 2022.
The expanded relief applies to Amite, Claiborne, Copiah, Covington, Franklin, Georgia, Hancock, Harrison, Jackson, Jefferson, Jefferson Davis, Lawrence, Lincoln, Pearl River, Pike, Simpson, Walthall, Wayne and Wilkinson counties. Jurisdictions added to the Oct. 22 FEMA declaration will automatically receive the expanded IRS relief as well. You can find the current list of eligible localities on the IRS' disaster relief page.
The deadline remains Nov. 1 for those affected in other parts of Mississippi.
Individuals extensions for 2020 returns (normally due Oct. 15, 2021) are now due by Jan. 3, 2022. The tax payments related to the 2020 returns are not eligible for the relief since they were were due on May 17, 2021. The Jan. 3, 2022 deadline also applies to quarterly estimated income tax payments due Sept. 15, 2021, quarterly payroll and excise tax returns normally due Nov. 1, 2021; and calendar-year tax-exempt organizations whose 2020 extensions were due on Nov. 15, 2021. Penalties on payroll and excise tax deposits due on or after Aug. 28, 2021 and before Sept. 13 will be abated as long as they were made by Sept. 13, 2021.
Businesses including, among others, calendar-year partnerships and S-corporations with an original or extended due date whose 2020 extensions ran out on Sept. 15, 2021 and calendar-year corporations whose 2020 extensions ran out on Oct. 15, 2021 also have the extra time.
The IRS disaster relief page has details on other returns, payments and tax-related matters qualifying for the additional time.
If anyone affected receives a late filing or late payment penalty notice from the IRS that has an original or extended filing, payment or deposit due date falling within the postponement period, they should call the IRS number on the notice to have the penalty abated.
While relief is automatic for those living within the covered area, those who qualify for relief but live outside the disaster area, such as if records they need to meet a deadline during the postponement period are located in the affected area, need to contact the IRS at 866-562-5227.
Individuals and businesses in a federally declared disaster area who suffered uninsured or unreimbursed disaster-related losses can claim them on either the return for the year the loss occurred (in this case the 2021 return normally filed next year) or the return for the prior year (2020). People should write the FEMA declaration number EM-3569 associated with the earlier relief, or EM-4626 for the new relief, on returns claiming a loss. Publication 547 - Casualties, Disasters, and Thefts, has more information.