By Stephen Smoot
Earlier this month, the Internal Revenue Service released guidance for taxpayers impacted by severe storms in Marion and Ohio counties. This followed the disaster declaration by the Federal Emergency Management Agency for June 14 and 15.
The declaration, released on July 23rd stated that it covered “areas affected by severe storms, straight-line winds, flooding, landslides and mudslides from June 14-15, 2025” in Marion and Ohio counties.
Relief comes in the form of an extension to the IRS filing deadline to Feb 2, 2026. This applies to a number of categories of taxpayers.
This includes individuals, businesses, or tax-exempt organizations that have an extension to file 2024 returns until Oct 15, 2025. It also applies to quarterly estimated tax payments scheduled for June 16 and Sept 15 of 2025 and Jan 15 of 2026 and the payroll and excise tax returns normally due on July 31 and Oct 31 of 2025 and Jan 31 of 2026.
Calendar-year partnerships and S corporations whose extensions run out on Sept 15 of 2025, calendar-year corporations whose 2024 extensions run out on Oct 15 and calendar-year tax exempt organizations whose extensions run out on Nov 17 can also take advantage.
The IRS, however, warns that “payments for returns on a filing extension are not eligible for additional time to pay as filing extensions only apply to the filing of the return and not to payments.”
According to the IRS, the extension is not limited to those whose main residence and/or business are located in the disaster zone. Those whose individual and/or business records are in the affected zone qualify, even if they have no home or business located there. Relief workers with government or “philanthropic” organizations may also take advantage of the extended deadline for filing. The same applies to individuals killed or injured in or by the disaster, even if they have no other connection to the affected area.
“Estimated income tax payments originally due on or after June 14, 2025 are postponed through Feb 2, 2026” and will not be subject to penalties, provided they pay by the extension deadline.
Additionally, taxpayers with “disaster-related casualty losses” may claim these on the year in which they occurred or even the previous year. Taxpayers have six months to make that choice.
Payment agreements remain in place, but payments and penalties for missing them can be postponed until the extension date.
A number of other details have emerged concerning taxpayers and their obligations in the affected areas. Taxpayers are all urged to contact their tax preparer or the IRS with questions.
