Washington, DC – Today Congressman John Hall (NY-19) applauded the decision by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to extend the tax filing deadline to June 23rd for people affected by the April 15-16th storm in New York.  The deadline extension only applies to those people living in counties that were declared a Presidential Disaster Area: Orange, Rockland, and Westchester.

 

The IRS announcement comes after a letter Hall sent to IRS Commissioner Mark Everson on April 17th and a direct phone call asking for a 30 day extension.

 

“I’m very happy that the IRS has granted this extension to people living in Orange, Rockland, and Westchester counties,” said Hall.  “However, this highlights the need that Dutchess and Putnam counties need to be included in the Presidential Disaster Area.”

 

After Orange, Rockland, and Westchester were declared disaster areas earlier this week, Hall sent an urgent request to President Bush and FEMA to include Dutchess and Putnam in the declaration as well.

Intense winds, rainfall, and serious floods due to the storm led to road closings, evacuations, and extreme damage to New York’s communities.

 

“As people pump water out of their homes, they should not have to worry about drying out their papers and turning on the power so they can file their taxes,” said Hall.

 

According to the IRS, deadlines for affected taxpayers to file returns, pay taxes, and perform other time-sensitive acts falling on or after April 14, 2007 and on or before June 23, 2007 have been postponed to June 23, 2007. In addition, the IRS will waive the “failure to deposit” penalty for employment and excise deposits due on or after April 14, 2007 and on or before April 30, 2007, as long as the deposits were made by April 30, 2007.

 

If any affected taxpayer receives a penalty notice from the IRS, the taxpayer should call the number on the notice to have the IRS abate any interest and any late filing or late payment penalties that would otherwise apply during the period from April 14, 2007 to June 23, 2007 (April 14, 2007 to April 30, 2007 for failure to deposit penalties). No penalty or interest will be abated for taxpayers that do not have a filing, payment, or deposit due date (including an extended filing or payment due date) during this period.

 

To contact the IRS, call 800-829-1040 or go to www.irs.gov

 

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