IR-2004-108, Aug. 16, 2004 (Updated 8/24/04 to add Flagler County) (Updated 8/31/04 to add incident ending date) (Updated 9/10/04 to lengthen Extension Period from Oct. 15 to Dec. 30) WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service today announced special tax relief for taxpayers in the Presidential Disaster Area that was struck by Tropical Storm Bonnie and Hurricane Charley during the period Aug. 11-30, 2004. Taxpayers in 26 Florida counties generally will have until Dec. 30 to file tax returns and submit tax payments. The IRS will abate interest and any late filing or late payment penalties that would apply. “Storm victims shouldn’t be worrying about taxes at a time like this,” said IRS Commissioner Mark W. Everson. “The special tax relief announced today will give people more time to file and pay their taxes.” The IRS announcement coincides with Aug. 16, which is the national deadline for almost 8.5 million taxpayers who received an automatic extension to file tax returns originally due on April 15. The disaster area consists of 26 Florida counties: Brevard, Charlotte, Collier, DeSoto, Dixie, Duval, Flagler, Glades, Hardee, Hendry, Highlands, Indian River, Lake, Lee, Levy, Manatee, Monroe, Okeechobee, Orange, Osceola, Pasco, Polk, St. Johns, Sarasota, Seminole and Volusia. Among the tax relief details: The Federal Tax Deposit (FTD) Penalty Waiver Period for employment and excise tax deposits is Aug. 11-23, 2004. The Extension Period for returns and other tax payments is Aug. 11 – Dec. 30, 2004. The Disaster Designation for this area is “Bonnie/Charley” — taxpayers mark certain relief-related forms with this designation. Relief Provisions Related items: Notice 2004-66 (22K PDF) — Owners of certain housing projects in Florida will not lose their low-income housing credits if they temporarily rent vacant units to persons displaced by Hurricanes Charley or Frances without regard to income. Notice 2004-62 (22K PDF) — Relief for certain employee benefit plans in the Florida counties declared disaster areas because of the storms Bonnie, Charley or Frances. These plans will have until Oct. 15, 2004, to make minimum funding contributions, or apply for waivers, if the deadline for such actions was from Aug. 11 through Oct. 14, 2004. FL 2004-11 / NFL 2004-15 — Businesses unable to deposit taxes may still get penalty relief IR-2004-115 — Relief for Floridians hit by Hurricane Frances Subscribe to IRS Newswire
