The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has put off tax refunds for people who lived in places that were hit by disasters in 2024, like Hurricane Helene, until May 2025. Declarements and payments will not be processed until May 1, 2025 because of the automatic extension of dates that was put in place in areas chosen by FEMA.
The statement called “IRS: Relief for Hurricane Helene Victims” says, “The IRS automatically helps taxpayers in disaster areas without them having to fill out an application.” This includes personal returns, business returns, and projected payments, all of which have a direct effect on how refunds are given out.
When deadlines for tax refunds were pushed back, which places benefited?
The extra time was needed because of Hurricane Helene and other storms in 2024. The IRS says that people whose records or tax preparers are in affected areas are also eligible, even if they don’t live there. Declarations that were supposed to be turned in in March or April 2025 now have until May to do so.
There are parts of Florida (41 counties), Tennessee (8 counties), and Virginia (6 counties and 1 city) that are covered by the extension. Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina are as whole states. People who live in these areas and businesses with tax domiciles there will gain from the measure.
Disaster extensions are the main reason for the extensions, but other things could also make the dates longer. Some types of returns, like paper ones, take 6 to 8 weeks to handle. For mistakes on W-2 or 1099 forms, or credits like ACTC, returns have to be reviewed by hand, which takes time.
Also, you need to pay your taxes and shouldn’t forget about them.
The extensions also change how much exempt groups are expected to pay and report every three months. Taxpayers in certain places have until May 2025 to meet these requirements. To speed things up, the IRS suggests filing electronically with direct deposit, but the later date still applies to those areas.
One tax expert we talked to said, “People don’t have to wait until April to file.” In disaster areas, on the other hand, processing is put off until after May 1, 2025, no matter how the application is sent.
The extension is only given to people whose tax addresses are registered in places that have been declared disaster areas. Companies that do business in these areas are also eligible, even if their main office is not in one of these places. The IRS keeps its Tax Relief in Disaster Situations portal up to date with new lists of counties that are touched by disasters.
Things that happened, like Hurricane Milton in Florida, made the places with extensions bigger. Taxpayers who have questions can call the IRS Disaster Assistance Hotline or use online tools to make sure they are eligible.
There are tools like “Where’s My Refund?” that the IRS says They let you check on the progress of refunds. But in places where the deadline has been pushed back, the main reason for the delay is still the longer deadline. The Tax Time Guide 2025 says, “No refunds will be given before mid-February if ACTC is claimed.”
More areas labeled disaster zones with longer IRS deadlines
The Virginia winter storms and flooding that have been going on since February 10, 2025, have caused the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to announce tax relief measures for people and companies that have been affected. People who live in areas that FEMA has labeled disaster areas will have until November 3, 2025, to file their federal tax returns and pay their taxes.
Cities like Bristol and areas like Bedford, Franklin, and Montgomery are examples of places that are eligible. The deferral applies to personal and business income taxes, IRA contributions, estimated payments and quarterly payroll statements. Those who got fines for delays in deadlines between February 10 and 25 may request their revocation, as long as they have complied before February 25.
For businesses, important dates like filing for S companies (which used to be March 17) and nonprofits (which used to be May 15) have been pushed back. The IRS will instantly find taxpayers who live in the affected areas. Taxpayers who don’t live in those areas should call 866-562-5227 to get help. Tax professionals who handle a lot of cases can use streamlined methods to make things go more quickly.
In addition, you can claim material losses that were not covered on your 2024 or 2025 returns. People who will be impacted have until October 15, 2026, to choose which fiscal year they will use these deductions. They need to use Form 4684 to list the losses and include the FEMA disaster code 4863-DR. This freedom is meant to help people and businesses rebuild their possessions.
Some papers, like W-2 or 1099 forms, are not covered by the relief, but penalties for paying employment taxes late will not be charged until February 25. Rescue workers and volunteers who helped in the area may also be able to get more time, even if they don’t live in the area that was labeled a disaster.