The Georgia Department of Revenue is providing tax relief to the victims of severe storms, tornadoes, straight-line winds and associated flooding that occurred on April 27, 2011, in certain Georgia counties. This announcement coincides with the relief announcement issued by the Internal Revenue Service on May 2, 2011, and updated on May 3 and May 4, 2011.
The Department is postponing until June 30, 2011, certain deadlines for individuals who reside, and businesses whose principal place of business is located, in the disaster area and which have been affected by the disaster. The postponement applies to return filing, tax payment and other time-sensitive acts as specified by the IRS, otherwise due on or after April 27, 2011, and on or before June 30, 2011.
The postponement also includes return filing, tax payment, and other time-sensitive acts related to taxes not administered by the IRS such as Georgia sales and use tax.
Taxpayers who reside in or have a business located in the following Georgia counties qualify for the relief: Bartow, Catoosa, Cherokee, Coweta, Dade, Floyd, Gordon, Greene, Harris,Habersham, Heard, Lamar, Lumpkin, Meriwether, Monroe, Morgan, Newton, Pickens, Polk, Rabun, Spalding, Troup, Upson, Walker and White counties. If additional counties are identified by the IRS this notice will be updated. Affected taxpayers filing paper returns should write: “April 2011 Storms” across the top of any forms submitted to the Department. The relief also applies to taxpayers not in the disaster area but whose records are located in the disaster area. In addition, all relief workers affiliated with a recognized government or philanthropic organization assisting in relief activities in the covered disaster area are eligible for the relief.
Any taxpayer, including electronic filers, who are assessed a penalty and believe they did not receive due consideration regarding the storm’s impact, need assistance, or have questions should contact DOR Headquarters in Atlanta at 1-877-423-6711.
A complete copy of the IRS Georgia Severe Storm and Tornado press release can be accessed on the Internet here:www.irs.gov.