In a September 16, 2020 press release, the IRS offered Oregonians living in certain counties affected by the recent wildfires some breathing room from the upcoming October 15, 2020 deadline to file their returns. This relief assumes the taxpayer filed the automatic extension from the already extended July 15, 2020 deadline for this tax season due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The Oregon Department of Revenue has also released guidance stating Oregon has followed the IRS and extended the filing deadline for the required state returns.
Who benefits from this tax filing deadline relief? Oregonians living in or operating a business in Clackamas, Douglas, Jackson, Klamath, Lane, Linn, Lincoln, and Marion counties. The IRS and Oregon Department of Revenue will now allow additional time for those taxpayers from the listed counties to file their 2019 tax returns.
How much time? Until January 15, 2021. The recent guidance does not state anything needs to be filed or requested in advance for this filing extension. Nor do you need to have experienced a loss of your home or personal belongings to benefit from this extension in the listed counties.
What exactly is extended to January 15, 2021? Third quarter estimated tax payments that were due September 15, 2020; individual, corporate, and estate and trust income tax returns; partnership returns; S corporation returns; trust returns; estate, gift, and generation-skipping transfer tax returns; annual information returns of tax-exempt organizations; and, employment and certain excise tax returns that have an original or extended due date occurring on or after September 7, 2020 and before January 15, 2021 are now all due on or by January 15, 2021.
Not all filings are covered by these extensions. The information returns in the W-2, 1094, 1095, 1097, 1098, and 1099 series are still due. As are Form 1042-S, 3921, 3922, or 8027 and Employment and Excise tax deposits. Penalties on those deposits due on or after September 7 and before September 22, 2020 can be abated as long as the tax deposits were made by September 22, 2020, according to the September 16, 2020 IRS press release.
For those that have experienced losses, not just expenses for evacuation, have the option of claiming disaster related casualty losses on their federal income tax return for the year the loss occurred or in the prior year. Those taxpayers in the affected areas claiming the disaster loss on the 2019 or 2020 tax years should make sure to write “Oregon – Wildfires and Straight-line Winds” in bold letters across the top of Form 4684, Casualties and Thefts. A reference to the disaster declaration number for FEMA is also appropriate on these returns. The disaster number is FEMA 4562. See Publication 547 for details or schedule an appointment with Kent Anderson Law Office for assistance.