2026 IRS Disaster Relief: Tax Deadline Extensions

Key Takeaways
- Taxpayers living or operating businesses in federally declared disaster areas are usually granted automatic tax filing and payment extensions by the IRS. These extensions also apply to relief workers, those with tax records in the area, and visitors injured or killed due to the disaster.
- The extended tax deadlines typically apply retroactively to due dates on or after the start date of the disaster.
- The IRS issues an announcement and/or news release each time tax deadline extensions are triggered by a federally declared disaster. The announcement sets forth the new deadline for filing returns, paying taxes, and other time-sensitive tax-related actions.
- When there’s a disaster in a particular state or territory, in most cases only part of the state or territory is in the disaster area. As a result, you should check the IRS announcement to verify which parts of the state or territory are included in the disaster area before assuming that your tax deadlines have been extended.
General extension of federal tax deadlines following natural disasters
The IRS is usually a stickler when it comes to filing tax returns and paying taxes on time. But when there’s a natural disaster, the tax agency typically shows a compassionate side by extending federal tax deadlines for those impacted by the catastrophe. This provides much-needed relief for individuals and businesses struggling to recover from the devastation caused by hurricanes, tornados, earthquakes, wildfires, floods, snowstorms, drought, and other natural disasters.
Under the IRS disaster relief program, taxpayers who live in or have a business in a federally declared disaster area are granted automatic tax filing and payment extensions. However, the delayed due dates also apply to:
- taxpayers who aren’t in the disaster area, but have records necessary to meet a federal tax deadline in the area
- relief workers with a recognized government or philanthropic organization helping with relief efforts in the disaster area
- any person visiting the disaster area who was injured or killed as a result of the disaster
The IRS typically announces specific tax relief measures for taxpayers affected by each disaster, including a new federal deadline for filing returns, paying taxes, and other time-sensitive actions. The extended due date applies to most federal tax filings and payments, such as income tax returns (including previously extended returns), estimated tax payments, payroll tax returns and deposits, and excise tax returns and payments.
The IRS notes, however, payments for returns on a filing extension are not eligible for additional time to pay as filing extensions only apply to the filing of the return and not to payments.
The tax deadline extensions typically apply retroactively to the date the disaster began. So, for example, if there’s an earthquake on February 1, and a week later the IRS disaster relief is announced with a tax deadline extension to August 1 of that same year, all qualified federal tax deadlines from February 1 to July 31 would be pushed back to August 1.
If you’ve been impacted by a federally declared disaster occurring in 2026, check below to see if you qualify for a tax filing or payment extension. The list of IRS disaster relief deadline extensions is organized alphabetically by state or territory. However, in most cases, only part of the state or territory is covered by the IRS disaster relief. As a result, it’s important to check the IRS announcement to see which parts of the state or territory are within the disaster area.
TurboTax Tip:
If your property is damaged during a natural disaster, you might be able to deduct any unreimbursed loss on your federal tax return. Any payments you receive to help cover certain expenses after a disaster – such as assistance payments from the government – might be excluded from your taxable income, too. You also might qualify for other tax breaks or IRS relief if you’re affected by a natural disaster.
Georgia disasters in 2026: Federal tax deadline extensions
Wildfires and straight-line winds that began on April 18, 2026 – Federal tax deadlines from April 18, 2026, to August 19, 2026, extended to August 20, 2026 (IRS Announcement GA-2026-03).
Hawaii disasters in 2026: Federal tax deadline extensions
Flooding and mudslides due to severe storms that began on March 10, 2026 – Federal tax deadlines from March 10, 2026, to July 7, 2026, extended to July 8, 2026 (IRS Announcement HI-2026-01).
Louisiana disasters in 2026: Federal tax deadline extensions
Severe winter ice storms that began on January 22, 2026 – Federal tax deadlines from January 22, 2026, to March 30, 2026, extended to March 31, 2026 (IRS Announcement LA-2026-01).
Mississippi disasters in 2026: Federal tax deadline extensions
Severe winter storm that began on January 23, 2026 – Federal tax deadlines from January 23, 2026, to June 7, 2026, extended to June 8, 2026 (IRS Announcement MS-2026-01).
Northern Mariana Islands disasters in 2026: Federal tax deadline extensions
Super Typhoon Sinlaku that began on April 11, 2026 – Federal tax deadlines from April 11, 2026, to November 1, 2026, extended to November 2, 2026 (IRS Announcement NMI-2026-01).
Tennessee disasters in 2026: Federal tax deadline extensions
Winter Storm Fern that began on January 22, 2026 – Federal tax deadlines from January 22, 2026, to May 21, 2026, extended to May 22, 2026 (IRS Announcement TN-2026-01).
2025 disasters: Tax deadlines moved to 2026
When tax due dates are extended following a natural disaster, sometimes the new deadline is pushed into the following year. That happened several times after disasters in 2025.
Taxpayers impacted by 2025 natural disasters in the following states had various federal tax deadlines pushed into 2026 (click on links for more information):
- Minnesota (extension to February 2, 2026)
- Missouri (extension to March 30, 2026)
- Montana (extension to May 1, 2026)
- New Mexico (extension to February 2, 2026)
- North Dakota (extension to February 2, 2026)
- South Dakota (extension to February 2, 2026)
- Texas (extension to February 2, 2026)
- Washington (extension to May 1, 2026)
- West Virginia (extension to February 2, 2026)
- Wisconsin (extension to February 2, 2026)
Extension for taxpayers affected by terrorist attacks in Israel
In addition to the extensions described above for natural disasters, the IRS is also giving more time to file tax returns and make tax payments to certain taxpayers affected by recent terrorist activity in Israel. As a result, eligible taxpayers now have until September 30, 2026, to file returns and pay taxes originally due from October 7, 2023, to September 29, 2026.
The following taxpayers may qualify for this extension:
- any person whose principal residence is in Israel, the West Bank, or Gaza (the “covered area”)
- any business entity or sole proprietor whose principal place of business is in the covered area
- any person, business, estate, or trust whose books, tax records, or tax preparer is located in the covered area
- anyone killed, injured, or taken hostage due to the terrorist attacks
- any person affiliated with a recognized government or philanthropic organization who is assisting in the covered area, such as a relief worker
- the spouse of an affected person if they’re filing a joint tax return
Extension for workers the Department of Homeland Security
Personnel at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) impacted by the partial government shutdown in 2026 have an additional 30 days to file their 2025 federal income tax return. Their deadline is extended from April 15, 2026, to May 15, 2026. This extension includes penalty and interest relief.
File and pay taxes by the extended due date
If the due date for filing a tax return or paying taxes is pushed back for any reason, make sure you take care of your tax obligations before the new deadline expires. Otherwise, you could have to pay IRS penalties and interest on unpaid taxes.
Speak with a tax professional if you have any questions about IRS due dates that may apply to you. They can help you avoid any tax penalties and interest that come with missing a tax deadline.
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