LOWNDES CO – The IRS is offering tax relief for Lowndes and surrounding counties affected by Hurricane Debby.

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The IRS announced today that certain return filing and payment deadlines have been extended through February 3, 2025, for taxpayers affected by Hurricane Debby in the following counties: Appling, Atkinson, Bacon, Ben Hill, Berrien, Brantley, Brooks, Bryan, Bulloch, Burke, Camden, Candler, Charlton, Chatham, Clinch, Coffee, Colquitt, Cook, Crisp, Decatur, Dodge, Echols, Effingham, Emanuel, Evans, Glynn, Grady, Irwin, Jeff Davis, Jefferson, Jenkins, Johnson, Lanier, Laurens, Liberty, Long, Lowndes, McIntosh, Mitchell, Montgomery, Pierce, Richmond, Screven, Tattnall, Telfair, Thomas, Tift, Toombs, Treutlen, Turner, Ware, Wayne, Wheeler, Wilcox and Worth.

“As we continue to look for ways to assist victims of Hurricane Debby, individuals impacted by Hurricane Debby and businesses whose tax filing documents are located in the disaster area will be given an extended deadline,” said Frank O’Connell, the state’s treasurer. “The extension applies to filing tax returns and other time-sensitive processes as determined by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). We continue to pray for all those impacted by this storm and encourage Georgia residents to follow the guidance of Governor Kemp and the Georgia Emergency Management Agency.”

Affected taxpayers who had a valid extension until October 16, 2024 to file their 2023 tax return now have until February 3, 2025 to file their tax return. However, since tax payments on these 2023 tax returns were due on April 18, 2024, these past-due payments are not affected by this relief.

The February 3, 2025 extension also applies to quarterly advance income tax returns due September 16, 2024 and January 16, 2025; quarterly payroll and excise tax returns due October 31, 2024 and January 31, 2025; calendar-year partnerships and S corporations whose 2023 extensions expire on September 16, 2024; calendar-year corporations whose 2023 extensions expire on October 16, 2024; and calendar-year tax-exempt organizations whose extensions expire on November 15, 2024.

The extended filing and payment deadlines do not apply to Series W-2 and 1099 information returns, Forms 1042-S, or payroll and excise tax deposits. However, penalties for deposits due on or after August 30, 2024, and before September 16, 2024, will be waived provided the tax deposits are made by September 16, 2023. Nor will it apply to interest or scheduled payments under the International Fuel Tax Agreement resulting from a taxpayer entering into an installment payment agreement, because these liabilities became due before the disaster relief.

The extended deadline also covers filing tax returns, paying taxes, and other time-sensitive actions related to Georgia taxes such as Georgia sales and use tax. The relief includes monthly sales tax returns and payments originally due in the months of September 2024 through January 2025. It also includes quarterly sales tax returns and payments due October 20, 2024, and January 22, 2025, and annual sales tax returns due January 22, 2025. These sales tax returns are also due by February 3, 2025.

Affected taxpayers filing a paper return should write: “Hurricane Debby” at the top of all forms sent to the Department. The assistance also applies to taxpayers who are not in the disaster area but whose records are in the disaster area. In addition, all relief workers belonging to a recognized government or philanthropic organization assisting with relief efforts in the affected disaster area are eligible for the assistance, as are all persons visiting the affected disaster area who are injured or killed as a result of the disaster.

Any taxpayer assessed a penalty who believes they were not given adequate consideration for relief, needs assistance, or has questions (whether filing their tax return on paper or electronically) should contact the DOR Central Office at 1-877-423-6711.

Earlier this week, the IRS granted similar tax relief to Debby’s Georgia victims. A copy of the press release can be found here: Here.