Donations, aid in place for families, businesses

Financial support for those affected by the recent flooding in the St. John Valley continues to pour in, and many organizations and programs are now in place to help those affected by the disaster.

. Red Cross services. More than 80 American Red Cross workers from chapters across Maine and a dozen other states are providing services to meet the immediate needs of families in Aroostook County.

Red Cross volunteer caseworkers will be available in all County communities where families have been affected by the flooding. The American Red Cross Information and Resource Center may be reached at 866-GETINFO (866-438-4636), a toll-free number available 24 hours a day.

The American Red Cross also advises flood-affected families to register for Federal Emergency Management Agency individual assistance by calling 800-621-FEMA (800-621-3362). People with hearing or speech disabilities should call the TTY number at 800-462-7585. Homeowners also may register online at www. fema.gov at the individual assistance center.

. Red Cross donations. Individuals, businesses and foundations in Aroostook County and across the state also are making donations to the Red Cross. Gifts can be made by calling 800-REDCROSS. Contributions to the Disaster Relief Fund may be sent to local American Red Cross chapters or to the American Red Cross, P.O. Box 37243, Washington, D.C. 20013. An online secure contribution may be made by visiting www.redcross.org.

Donors may choose to designate a gift to Aroostook County’s local Red Cross chapter. Donations may be mailed to the Aroostook County branch of the Pine Tree chapter of the American Red Cross at 111 High St., Suite 2, Caribou 04736, or by credit card by calling 493-4620.

. FAME. The board of directors of the Finance Authority of Maine has approved two programs to aid Maine businesses in designated disaster areas that have been affected by recent excessive rain, snowmelt and flooding. Effective immediately, FAME will provide lower-cost financing to affected businesses through its direct loan and commercial loan insurance programs.

To be eligible for assistance, a business must, among other things, be Maine-based and located within an area covered by the governor’s state of emergency declaration dated April 29, 2008, or in any additional areas subsequently designated by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

FAME is partnering with Northern Maine Development Commission in Aroostook County to facilitate the application and origination of loans.

. IRS. Victims of recent storms and flooding in Maine also may qualify for tax relief from the Internal Revenue Service.

The IRS is postponing until July 8 certain deadlines for taxpayers who reside or have a business in the disaster area in Maine. The postponement applies to return filing, tax payment and certain other time-sensitive acts otherwise due between April 28 and July 8.

In addition, the IRS will waive the failure to deposit penalties for employment and excise deposits due on or after April 28 and on or before May 13, as long as the deposits were made by May 13.

If an affected taxpayer receives a penalty notice from the IRS, eligible taxpayers should call the telephone number on the notice to have the IRS abate any interest and any late filing or late payment penalties that otherwise would apply.

IRS computer systems automatically identify taxpayers located in the covered disaster area and apply automatic filing and payment relief. Affected taxpayers who reside or have a business located outside the covered disaster area must call the IRS disaster hot line at 866-562-5227 to request tax relief.

Affected taxpayers in a presidentially declared disaster area have the option of claiming disaster-related casualty losses on their federal income tax return for either this year or last year. Claiming the loss on an original or amended return for last year will get the taxpayer an earlier refund, but waiting to claim the loss on this year’s return could result in a greater tax savings, depending on other income factors.

Taxpayers may download forms and publications from the official IRS Web site, http://irs.gov, or order them by calling 800-TAX-FORM (800-829-3676). The IRS toll-free number for general tax questions is 800-829-1040.