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Victims of Hurricane Ida that began Aug. 26, 2021 now have until Jan. 3, 2022, to file various individual and business tax returns and make tax payments, the Internal Revenue Service announced this week.

Following the recent disaster declaration issued by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the IRS announced today that individuals and households who reside or have a business anywhere in the state of Louisiana will receive tax relief.

The declaration permits the IRS to postpone certain tax-filing and tax-payment deadlines for taxpayers who reside or have a business in the disaster area. For instance, certain deadlines falling on or after Aug. 26, 2021, and before Jan. 3, 2022, are postponed through Jan. 3, 2022.

This means that individuals who had a valid extension to file their 2020 returns, due to run out on Oct. 15, will now have until Jan. 3, 2022 to file.

The Jan. 3, 2022, deadline applies to the quarterly estimated tax payment, normally due on Sept. 15, and the quarterly payroll and excise tax returns normally due on Nov. 1, 2021. It also applies to tax-exempt organizations, operating on a calendar-year basis, that had a valid extension due to run out on Nov. 15, 2021.

Also, penalties on deposits due on or after Aug. 26, 2021, and before Sept. 10, 2021, will be abated as long as the tax deposits were made by Sept. 10, 2021.

If an affected taxpayer receives a late filing or late payment penalty notice from the IRS that has an original or extended filing, payment or deposit due date that falls within the postponement period, the taxpayer should call the telephone number on the notice to have the IRS abate the penalty. For information on services currently available, visit the IRS operations and services page at IRS.gov/Coronavirus.

The IRS automatically identifies taxpayers located in the covered disaster area and applies filing and payment relief. But affected taxpayers who reside or have a business located outside the covered disaster area should call the IRS disaster hotline at 866-562-5227 to request this tax relief.

Affected taxpayers in a federally declared disaster area have the option of claiming disaster-related casualty losses on their federal income tax return for either the year in which the event occurred, or the prior year. Individuals may deduct personal property losses that are not covered by insurance or other reimbursements.

Affected taxpayers claiming the disaster loss on a 2020 return should put the Disaster Designation, “Louisiana — Hurricane Ida” in bold letters at the top of the form. Be sure to include the disaster declaration number, FEMA 4611-DR, on any return.

The IRS will waive the usual fees and requests for copies of previously filed tax returns for affected taxpayers. Taxpayers should put the assigned Disaster Designation “Louisiana — Hurricane Ida” in bold letters at the top of Form 4506, Request for Copy of Tax Return, or Form 4506-T, Request for Transcript of Tax Return, as appropriate, and submit it to the IRS.

Affected taxpayers who are contacted by the IRS on a collection or examination matter should explain how the disaster impacts them so that the IRS can provide appropriate consideration to their case. Taxpayers may download forms and publications from the official IRS website, IRS.gov.

September is National Preparedness Month, and the Internal Revenue Service urges everyone to develop an emergency preparedness plan.