Relief offered to storm victims

Nebraska taxpayers affected by the storms, tornadoes and flooding from May 22 through June 24 are entitled to certain forms of tax relief, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced. Individuals who live, work or have a business in the counties declared disaster areas may apply.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Nebraska Emergency Management Agency said the counties included in the federal disaster declaration are Buffalo, Butler, Colfax, Custer, Dawson, Douglas, Gage, Hamilton, Jefferson, Kearney, Lancaster, Platte, Richardson, Sarpy and Saunders.

The IRS has postponed until Aug. 29 certain deadlines for taxpayers who reside or have a business in the disaster area. The postponement applies to return filing, tax payment and certain other time-sensitive acts otherwise due between May 22 and Aug. 29.

In addition, the IRS will waive the failure to deposit penalties for employment and excise deposits due on or after May 22 and on or before June 6, as long as the deposits were made by June 6.

IRS computer systems will automatically identify and apply filing and payment relief. Taxpayers within the covered disaster area do not need to self-identify by writing on their returns or using the disaster designation in their tax software.

Taxpayers not in the covered disaster area, but whose books, records, or tax professionals’ offices are in the covered disaster area, are also entitled to relief. In addition, all relief workers affiliated with a recognized government or philanthropic organization assisting in the relief activities in the covered disaster area are eligible for relief. Anyone with questions should call the IRS disaster hotline, 1-866-562-5227.

FEMA urges anyone from the declared counties who had disaster-related losses to apply for disaster assistance by calling 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or TTY 1-800-462-7585 for the speech- or hearing-impaired.