Tax Day in the United States is right around the corner, but for residents in Florida and eight other states, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has extended the tax deadline due to natural disasters that ravaged the nation in 2024 and 2025. While the IRS began accepting tax returns on Jan. 27, millions of taxpayers have already completed the tedious task of filing their taxes. The official deadline for filing 2024 tax returns and making any necessary tax payments is April 15, 2025, but automatic extensions have been granted to areas across more than nine states, starting on May 1, 2025.
States with Automatic May 1 Tax Deadline Extension
Among the states included in the deadline extensions is Florida, which suffered the brunt of both Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton within a matter of weeks between September and October 2024. North Carolina also made the list after Hurricane Helene wreaked havoc, resulting in at least 215 known deaths, with more than half of the fatalities occurring in North Carolina.
According to the IRS, taxpayers in nine states affected by FEMA disaster declarations in 2024 are granted an automatic May 1, 2025, deadline extension for their 2024 tax returns. The entire states of Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina are included in this extension. Additionally, specific areas in Alaska, New Mexico, Tennessee, and Virginia have also been granted this deadline extension. The full list of qualifying areas can be found on the IRS website for reference.
Reasons Behind the April 15 Deadline Extension
The decision to push back the April 15 tax deadline for several states was primarily due to the catastrophic impact of Hurricane Helene. Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and selected counties in Tennessee and Virginia had their tax deadlines extended to May 1, 2025, as a result of the devastation caused by the hurricane. The Juneau area in Alaska was also granted an extension after experiencing severe flooding that began in August 2024.
Furthermore, New Mexico was added to the list of states with extended tax deadlines in November 2024, following severe storms and flooding that struck Chaves County in October 2024. These natural disasters significantly affected individuals and businesses in these regions, prompting the IRS to provide additional time for tax filing and payment.
In addition to the nine states with automatic deadline extensions, other states have also received later deadlines for filing 2024 tax returns and settling any outstanding taxes. Residents of Los Angeles County in California, for example, now have until Oct. 15, 2025, to file their taxes due to wildfires that ravaged the area in January. These destructive fires, which lasted more than three weeks, claimed at least 29 lives and decimated tens of thousands of acres of land and numerous structures.
Moreover, taxpayers in Kentucky and selected counties in West Virginia have been granted an extension until Nov. 3, 2025, to file their taxes due to severe storms that wreaked havoc in February. The storms, which included straight-line winds, flooding, landslides, and mudslides, caused widespread damage and destruction in these regions.
The IRS’s decision to extend the tax deadlines for various states reflects a compassionate response to the challenges faced by individuals and businesses affected by natural disasters. By providing additional time for tax filing and payment, the IRS aims to alleviate some of the financial burdens placed on those grappling with the aftermath of these catastrophic events.
