The IRS reminds Hurricane Helene victims that the deadline to file has been extended
With Tax Day quickly approaching, North Carolinians may find some relief thanks to an extension related to Hurricane Helene.
Tax Day’s always been April 15, but a federal disaster declaration for Hurricane Helene means people in North Carolina have a little more time to file their state and federal income taxes.
The new deadline for North Carolina residents is now May 1, meaning you have an extra couple of weeks to get your taxes together.
THE QUESTION
Does the May 1 extension for federal and state apply to all North Carolinians or only those impacted by Helene?
OUR SOURCES
THE ANSWER
All North Carolina taxpayers have until May 1 to file their 2024 tax returns.
WHAT WE FOUND
The IRS announced in October that, following a FEMA-issued disaster declaration, individuals and businesses across the entire state qualify for tax relief, extending the federal filing deadline to May 1, 2025.
However, Dodson cautions taxpayers not to assume the IRS will automatically recognize the extension.
“They may not know that when they initially take a look at your return and they may say, ‘Oh no, your return was filed late,’” he said. “That’s why I encourage everyone to either extend or file by April 15 to avoid confusion or penalties.”
The North Carolina Department of Revenue also emphasized that while the official due date is April 15, the department will waive late penalties for those who file state returns and pay any owed taxes by May 1.
Still, tax experts recommend filing by April 15 to eliminate any risk of late filing fees due to processing errors or miscommunication.
