|
| ||
 |
||
| Storm victims get tax relief from state | ||
| 12/21/2007 | ||
|
SALEM—Qualifying taxpayers affected by December’s severe storms will have until February 6, 2008 to file and pay Oregon taxes due in December and January, the Oregon Department of Revenue announced. The extra time is for taxpayers in counties that have been declared disaster areas: Clatsop, Columbia, Polk, Tillamook, and Yamhill counties, and Grays Harbor, Lewis, Mason, Pacific, and Thurston counties in Washington. Affected taxpayers include residents of and businesses in the affected counties, and taxpayers whose tax records are located in those counties. The extended deadline applies to personal income tax, corporate income tax, and payroll tax filings and payments due between December 1, 2007 and February 6, 2008. “If you miss Oregon tax-filing or payment deadlines because of December’s severe weather, you won’t be penalized,” said Department of Revenue Deputy Director Susan Browning. “We’ll remove any late-filing or late-payment penalties that would have applied to returns or payments due during that time,” she said. “We’ll also waive interest on a case-by-case basis.” To qualify for the extended deadline, you must write “December 2007 storm” at the top of tax returns, payment vouchers, and other correspondence. If you need more time to respond to a request for information from the department or with payment plans, call the Department of Revenue at the phone numbers listed below. Filings and payments with the February 6 deadline are: Personal income tax • 2007 fourth-quarter estimated personal income tax payments, normally due January 15, 2008. Corporate income tax • Fourth-quarter estimated payments for calendar year corporations; • Corporate excise and income tax returns; Payroll tax • 2007 fourth-quarter withholding tax returns normally due by January 31, 2008 and payments due between December 1, 2007 and February 6, 2008. Other taxes and fees • Inheritance, trust, and estate tax returns and payments; • State lodging tax returns and payments; • Hazardous substance tax payments; • 9-1-1 tax payments; • Petroleum load fee payments. Browning cautions that some affected taxpayers could get late notices from the department. “If you get a penalty or notice from us for a late return or payment, contact us immediately so we can fix it,” she said. If you have a casualty loss from the storms, you can either deduct the loss in 2006 by amending your federal and Oregon tax returns, or deduct the loss in 2007. If you amend your 2006 federal return, you must also amend your 2006 Oregon return. However, amending your 2006 return may decrease your kicker amount because it is based on the Oregon tax you paid for tax year 2006. This will reduce the amount of your refund. For more information, visit the department's website, or call the Department of Revenue, 1-800-356-4222 (toll free from an Oregon prefix); 503-947-2199 (message line). For information on federal tax relief, visit www.irs.gov. |
||
