The Internal Revenue Service has announced the details of the filing and payment extensions for those affected by the events that unfolded in Boston yesterday. Here’s the official statement last night:
Our hearts go out to those affected by the terrible tragedy. Boston-area taxpayers need time to finish their tax returns without worry. The IRS will be providing individual tax filing and payment extensions. Details will be announced tomorrow, Tuesday, April 16.
This evening, the IRS announced that relief in the way of a three-month tax filing and payment extension is available to Boston area taxpayers and others affected by the explosions. The relief applies to all individual taxpayers who live in Suffolk County, Massachusetts (including the city of Boston) as well as victims, their families, first responders, others impacted by this tragedy who live outside Suffolk County and taxpayers whose tax preparers were adversely affected.
The extension will be automatic for Suffolk County residents; you don’t have to do anything further. If you live outside Suffolk County, you can claim relief by calling the IRS at 1-866-562-5227 beginning next week, Tuesday, April 23, 2013, before you file a return or making a payment. If, however, you end up with a penalty notice when you were eligible for relief, you’ll want to call that same number to have the penalties abated.
With the extension, eligible taxpayers have until July 15, 2013, to file their individual tax returns for 2012. If you need more time after July 15, 2013, you can file a request for an additional extension to October 15, 2013 (using the same form as always, good ol’ form 4868).
You still have to pay any taxes due by July 15, 2013, in order to avoid filing and payment penalties. By law, interest on payments due on April 15, 2013, cannot be abated.
If you still have questions, give the IRS a call at 1.800.829.1040.
I know that taxes aren’t what most folks in the Boston area are focusing on today. It’s been hard to make sense of practically anything for the last several hours. If you follow the blog, you know that I’m a runner. Running usually makes me feel invincible but not today. As a runner, a wife, a mom, a sister, a daughter, and an American, my thoughts and prayers go out to the families of those whose lives were affected by this terrible tragedy.
