IRS delays tax filing deadlines for all Texans

TEXAS — Victims of winter storms that began February 11, 2021, now have until June 15, 2021, to file various individual and business tax returns and make tax payments, the Internal Revenue Service announced last week.

Following the recent disaster declaration issued by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the IRS announced last week that affected taxpayers will receive tax relief.

Individuals and households affected by severe winter storms that reside or have a business in all 254 Texas counties qualify for tax relief. The declaration permits the IRS to postpone certain tax-filing and tax-payment deadlines for taxpayers who reside or have a business in the disaster area. For instance, certain deadlines falling on or after February 11, 2021, and before June 15, 2021 are postponed through June 15, 2021. This includes various 2020 business tax returns due on March 15 and 2020 individual and business returns due on April 15. Taxpayers also have until June 15 to make 2020 IRA contributions.

The June 15, 2021, deadline applies to the fourth-quarter estimated tax payment due on April 15. It also applies to the quarterly payroll and excise tax returns normally due on April 30, 2021. In addition, it applies to tax-exempt organizations, operating on a calendar-year basis, that have a 2020 return due on May 17, 2021. In addition, penalties on deposits due on or after February 11, 2021 and before February 26, 2021, will be abated as long as the tax deposits were made by February 26, 2021.

If an affected taxpayer receives a late filing or late payment penalty notice from the IRS that has an original or extended filing, payment or deposit due date that falls within the postponement period, the taxpayer should call the telephone number on the notice to have the IRS abate the penalty. For information on services currently available, visit the IRS operations and services page at IRS.gov/coronavirus.

The IRS automatically identifies taxpayers located in the covered disaster area and applies filing and payment relief.

Affected taxpayers that have an estimated income tax payment originally due on or after February 11, 2021, and before June 15, 2021, are postponed through June 15, 2021, and will not be subject to penalties for failure to pay estimated tax installments as long as such payments are paid on or before June 15, 2021.

The IRS will waive the usual fees and requests for copies of previously filed tax returns for affected taxpayers. Taxpayers should put the assigned Disaster Designation “Texas – Severe Winter Storms,” in bold letters at the top of Form 4506, Request for Copy of Tax Return PDF, or Form 4506-T, Request for Transcript of Tax Return PDF, as appropriate, and submit it to the IRS.

Affected taxpayers who are contacted by the IRS on a collection or examination matter should explain how the disaster impacts them so that the IRS can provide appropriate consideration to their case. Taxpayers may download forms and publications from the official IRS website, IRS.gov.