Summarize this content to 2000 words in 6 paragraphs The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is offering tax relief to individuals and businesses in West Virginia counties impacted by severe storms, flooding, and landslides that began on February 15, 2025.Why It MattersThe IRS’s extension of tax deadlines for individuals and businesses hit by severe weather conditions in the region will come as crucial financial relief to those struggling with the aftermath of the storms.Following straight-line winds, flooding, landslides and mudslides in early February, West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrisey made an emergency declaration, reporting “downed trees, power outages and road blockages” in some parts of the Mountain State. The federal government later issued a major disaster declaration.
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Building is seen in Washington, D.C. on February 18, 2025.
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Building is seen in Washington, D.C. on February 18, 2025.
Oliver Contreras/Sipa USA/AP
What To KnowThe IRS has announced an extension of key tax deadlines for thousands of people in West Virginia affected by severe weather.The relief applies to any area designated by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), with the initial qualifying counties including Logan, McDowell, Mercer, Mingo, Wayne, and Wyoming. Any additional counties added to the disaster area will also be eligible for the extended deadline.This extension covers a wide range of tax deadlines, including individual income tax returns and payments normally due on April 15, 2025, as well as quarterly estimated tax payments and payroll tax returns due throughout 2025. This means that impacted taxpayers will have until November 3, 2025, to file and pay taxes originally due during this period.For taxpayers who missed payroll or excise tax deposit deadlines between February 15, 2025, and March 3, 2025, penalties will be abated as long as deposits are made by March 3, 2025.The IRS is automatically providing this relief to taxpayers with an IRS address of record in the affected areas. Those who have relocated to these regions or have records in the affected counties, but do not have an address of record in these areas, should contact the IRS Special Services toll-free number at 866-562-5227 for assistance.Additional tax relief measures include the ability for individuals and businesses to claim uninsured disaster-related losses on their 2024 tax returns, and a provision for special disaster distributions from retirement plans, which would not be subject to early withdrawal penalties.Taxpayers can also access free help preparing their returns at Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) or Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) sites.In another announcement this week, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said West Virginians impacted by recent severe weather may be able to receive SNAP benefits.Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits—commonly known as “food stamps”—are administered nationwide to low- and no-income households that would otherwise struggle to afford groceries. Nearly 3,000 households in four West Virginia counties are estimated to be eligible for help with grocery expenses through the program.Meanwhile, according to a press release issued on March 10 by Governor Morrisey’s office, residents in Logan and Wayne counties, as well as McDowell, Mercer, Mingo and Wyoming counties, will now be eligible for individual assistance from the federal government.The Individual Assistance (IA) Program is a federal program designed to help individuals and families recover from disasters. It is administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)—which Trump has said he wants to dismantle and instead give emergency response authority strictly to state governments—and provides financial aid or direct services to those who have necessary expenses and serious needs if they are unable to meet these needs through other means.It comes after severe storms brought high winds, flooding, landslides and mudslides to portions of West Virginia in February. At least one person died as a result of the storms.What People Are SayingWest Virginia Governor Patrick Morrisey said: “I’m grateful to the Trump administration for approving my request for recovery assistance in Logan and Wayne counties. The Individual Assistance program will provide relief to those in need and aid our recovery efforts across southern West Virginia.”What Happens NextAs the November 3, 2025, tax deadline approaches, affected individuals and businesses will need to ensure they file their returns and make payments by that date to avoid penalties. More information about the deadline extension is available on the IRS website.
