Scalise Announces Tax Relief for Gustav Victims

Saturday, September 6, 2008

Metairie -- Congressman Steve Scalise today announced that the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is giving tax relief to taxpayers who reside or have a business in the areas impacted by Hurricane Gustav. The IRS is extending the deadline to file most tax returns and to make tax payments to January 5, 2009.
 
Taxpayers who are eligible for the postponed deadline are those living in the parishes designated in the Major Disaster declaration by FEMA including Jefferson, Orleans, St. Charles, St. Tammany and Tangipahoa. 

“Many people and businesses still don’t have power in southeast Louisiana and they should not have to worry about being penalized by the IRS for missing the deadline because banks are closed,” Scalise said. “This extension will help families and businesses get their lives back in order without the threat of missing tax payments due to the storm. I want to make sure all federal agencies are responding to help citizens recover from the effects of Hurricane Gustav. I will also continue to fight to include Washington Parish on the Major Disaster declaration so the taxpayers who live or have a business there are eligible for the same tax relief as the other five parishes in the First Congressional District.”

Taxpayers will have until January 5, 2009 to file individual, corporate, and estate and trust income tax returns; partnership returns, S corporation returns, and trust returns; estate, gift, and generation-skipping transfer tax returns; and employment and certain excise tax returns. The same deadline applies for taxpayers to make tax payments, including estimated tax payments, that have either an original or extended due date occurring on or after September 1, 2008 and on or before January 5, 2009.

In addition, the IRS will waive the failure to deposit penalties for employment and excise deposits due on or after September 1, 2008, and on or before September 16, 2008 as long as deposits are made by September 16, 2008.

The IRS computer system automatically identifies taxpayers located in the declared disaster area. Taxpayers who live or have a business outside the Major Disaster declaration but were affected by Hurricane Gustav can request the same tax relief by calling 1-866-562-5227. For more information visit http://www.irs.gov.  

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Contact: Luke Bolar
202-226-4309