U.S. Senators David Perdue (R-GA) and Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) are taking action to provide relief for Americans impacted by state-declared disasters and states of emergency.
In the midst of a hurricane or forest fire, taxes are far from Americans’ minds as they seek safety and shelter. The current, bureaucratic process of securing a tax extension is subject to long periods of delays before families and small businesses get the relief they need. The Filing Relief for Natural Disasters Act would cut through the red tape and allow the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to extend relief to areas as soon as the governor of a state declares a disaster or state of emergency.
“When a natural disaster strikes, the last thing anyone needs to worry about is filing taxes,” said Senator Perdue. “Eight months ago, Hurricane Michael ravaged Southwest Georgia, and we’ve seen just how challenging the aftermath can be. The federal government should do all it can to relieve unnecessary burdens for disaster victims, so they can focus on helping their neighbors and beginning the road to recovery.”
“With the threat of wildfires and floods growing in Nevada and across the United States, we must do all we can to provide relief for impacted families and businesses,” said Senator Cortez Masto. “This legislation would grant taxpayers a much-needed extension for state-declared disasters, giving them a chance to get back on their feet.”
This bill was also introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives on May 23, 2019 by U.S. Representatives Judy Chu (D-CA-32) and John Katko (R-NY-24).
Click here for bill text.