IRS relief available for disaster victims

If you live in one of the 58 Iowa counties that’s been declared a federal disaster area due to the May storms and flooding — you might be eligible for some relief from the Internal Revenue Service. I-R-S spokeswoman Donna Migazzi says a variety of relief is available. She says things like extensions for estimated tax payments, interest and penalty abatement for payments you may not be able to make on time are all available. Migazzi says some of the tax deadlines are coming up.She says the deadline for estimated tax payments could be June 15th for some people and they may not be able to get those payments in . Migazzi says if your home or business suffered damage that’s not covered by insurance, you may also be able to take a deduction. She says there’s a casualty loss deduction, and the federal disaster declaration allows you to amend last year’s tax return to get the money now instead of waiting. Migazzi says you have to apply to get the relief. She says there are some forms and publications that will help you. You can call 800-tax-1040, go to the I-R-S website at: irs.gov, or the forms are also available FEMA offices. Migazzi says you have plenty of time to file. She says you have until July 26 to file for an extension, but she says you should write in red ink, “May Storms – Iowa” on any return or other document sent to the I-R-S. The counties included in the federal disaster declaration are: Adair, Adams, Allamakee, Audubon, Benton, Black Hawk, Boone, Bremer, Buchanan, Buena Vista, Butler, Calhoun, Cass, Cedar, Cerro Gordo, Chickasaw, Clay, Clayton, Clinton, Dallas, Delaware, Dubuque, Fayette, Floyd, Franklin, Greene, Grundy, Guthrie, Hancock, Hardin, Howard, Humboldt, Iowa, Jackson, Jasper, Johnson, Jones, Kossuth, Linn, Madison, Marshall, Mitchell, Montgomery, Palo Alto, Pocahontas, Polk, Pottawattamie, Poweshiek, Sac, Shelby, Story, Tama, Warren, Webster, Winnebago, Winneshiek, Worth and Wright.