PHILADELPHIA - The Internal Revenue Service reminds taxpayers affected by Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee that they have until Oct. 31 to meet certain tax filing and payment obligations.
Also, the IRS announced that e-File and Free File would remain available to accept their returns. E-file, which will close for all other taxpayers following the Oct. 17 extension filing deadline, will be open through the end of October to any taxpayer who lives or has a business in areas granted tax relief because of Hurricane Irene, or Tropical Storm Lee in Pennsylvania. Among others, relief applies to the following local counties for Lee: Columbia, Montour, Northumberland and Schuylkill. Individuals who reside or have a business in these counties may qualify for tax relief.
The IRS encouraged any taxpayer who wants to include a payment with the tax return to e-File by Oct. 20.
Because of year-end programming changes, IRS e-File will not accept returns that include payments after Oct 20. E-file returns that include a payment after that date will be rejected, but the IRS offers other options for these taxpayers to still e-file but pay separately by using:
- EFTPS (The Electronic Federal Tax Payment System)
- credit or debit card
- check or money order
These guidelines apply to e-File and Free File returns only. Payments accompanying paper returns are not affected.