Tax filing extended in Missouri disaster areas

While most people are facing a tax filing deadline on Tuesday, residents of counties declared federal disaster areas because of recent flooding have until May 19 to file their federal and Missouri tax returns. The later deadline also applies to businesses in the affected counties.

The Internal Revenue Service also will extend deadlines for tax payments due between March 17 and May 19 as well as other time-sensitive acts required of individuals and businesses. Missouri also is extending the deadlines for a variety of returns, payments and some other activities.

The relief applies to anyone living in St.  Louis, Franklin, Jefferson, Butler, Bollinger, Callaway, Cape Girardeau, Carter, Christian, Gasconade, Greene, Howard, Iron, Jasper, Laclede, Madison, Maries, McDonald, Newton, Oregon, Osage, Phelps, Pulaski, Reynolds, Ripley, Scott, Shannon, St. Francois, Stoddard, Stone, Taney, Texas, Washington, Wayne and Webster counties.

The disaster declarations did not include the city of St. Louis, other area counties, or any nearby counties in Illinois.

The IRS says its computer systems automatically will identify taxpayers in the disaster area and apply filing and payment relief.  Taxpayers who live outside the designated counties must call the IRS disaster hotline at 1-866-562-5227 to request tax relief.

Missouri taxpayers should include the phrase “Missouri severe storms and flooding” at the top of their tax forms. Taxpayers who file and pay electronically may be notified that penalties and interest have been imposed if they file after April 15. Hosever, they can contact the department at a number or e-mail address on the notice and ask for the penalties and interest to be removed.