PA-2003-69,  September 25, 2003
(Updated 10/24/03 to add 10 counties and extend the relief period)

PHILADELPHIA — On Sept. 25, the Internal Revenue Service announced special tax relief for Lackawanna County residents in the Presidential Disaster Area that was struck by severe storms, tornadoes and flooding during the period July 21-Sept. 15, 2003.

On Oct. 23, the last day of the IRS relief period for this disaster, the Federal Emergency Management Agency named 10 more counties as eligible for individual assistance in this disaster area: Blair, Crawford, Lawrence, McKean, Mercer, Potter, Tioga, Venango, Warren, and Wayne.

To give these taxpayers an opportunity to act on the relief provisions, the IRS changed the Extension Date and lengthened the Designated Period to Oct. 31, 2003 for all 11 counties in this disaster area. However, the Designated Period remains July 21 through Oct. 23, 2003, for abating penalties on payroll tax deposits for reasonable cause.

• The Extension Date for the items described is Oct. 31, 2003.
• The Designated Period for extensions is July 21 through Oct. 31, 2003 (Oct. 23, for penalty abatements on payroll tax deposits).
• The Disaster Designation for this area is “July Tornadoes & Floods - PA” – taxpayers mark certain relief-related forms with this designation.

Relief Provisions