Maine flood victims may get tax relief

WASHINGTON – Victims of recent storms and flooding in Maine may qualify for tax relief from the Internal Revenue Service, according to a press release from U.S. Sen. Olympia J. Snowe, R-Maine.

Snowe said in the release that the postponement of tax deadlines comes as a result of the presidential individual assistance declaration made for Aroostook and Penobscot counties. The postponement applies to return filing, tax payment and certain other time-sensitive filings 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, the taxpayer 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. Penalties or interest will be abated only for taxpayers who have an original or extended filing, payment or deposit due date, including an extended filing or payment due date, from April 28 to July 8.

“The last thing on the minds of residents who lost their homes or suffered significant personal and property damage are tax deadlines,” Snowe said in the release.

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.