Tax Policy in a Disaster
No place in the world is disaster-proof. Mother Nature unleashes her horrors globally and year-round as hurricanes, tornadoes, wild fires, floods, blizzards, and more. As a Texan, I’m well aware that my native state’s size makes it a target for all these catastrophes.
And, as long-time Don’t Mess With Taxes readers know, that’s made me a bit of a weather nut. My meteorological tendencies were underscored after living in South Florida. In 2004, the Sunshine State was hit by four hurricanes. Two, Jeanne and Frances, made landfall in our area just weeks apart.
So, since tax policy and Internal Revenue Service relief actions converge in the wake of major natural disasters, it’s also natural that there’s a lot of storm-related tax posts here on the ol’ blog. In fact, my second ever post back on November 15, 2005, was Stormy Tax Policy about, yes, hurricanes.
When Mother Nature decides to turn into Mommy Dearest, you’ll find posts with tips on the disasters and their associated tax implications. They cover storm preparation, recovering from a disaster, how to help those who are in a disaster’s path, and more.
I know, taxes are the last thing you’re thinking about when a hurricane, tornado, or wild fire are heading your way. Or after it has struck. But some tax actions can help you recover more quickly, after, of course, you first make sure you and your family stay safe.
Forecasters from both the federally-funded National Hurricane Center and private weather services predicted the 2025 hurricane season would be active
Wild, and wildly destructively weather can happen any time, any place. But there’s one natural catastrophe that gets its own season, and it’s almost here
Instead of my usual weekend watching of sports, I’m glued to the Weather Channel. There’s a dangerous and already deadly tornado outbreak rumbling across the south this afternoon.
I’ll pay our home’s property tax next week, just before the Jan. 31 deadline. It’s an annual tax ritual followed, albeit with differing deadlines, by millions of real estate owners across the United States every year.
President Joe Biden today signed into law H.R. 5863, the Federal Disaster Tax Relief Act of 2023, which provides tax relief with respect to certain federal major disasters.
It’s been a horrific hurricane season. More than 300 people have lost their lives due to storms in the United States, Mexico, and the Caribbean.
Residents whose lives are disrupted by a major disaster are targets. So are those who want to help. Either way, don’t become a victim.
We’re two weeks into the official 2024 hurricane season, and the potential first named storm of the year — it’s Alberto — is percolating in the Gulf of Mexico.
The United States’ tornado season used to be in the spring, with most of them occurring in the middle of the country known as Tornado Alley.
It’s spring here in Texas, which means storm season. We’ve already seen some recent storms drop large hail across the Lone Star State.
The United States tends to be the target of tropical systems that form in the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico. But this week, California is in the path of Pacific-spawned Hurricane Hilary.
Tax Day comes four times a year for millions of taxpayers. We (yes, I’m one of them) must make these added payments to Uncle Sam. Here’s a look at these added tax tasks required on the 15th of each April, June, September, and January.
It’s been near 80 degrees for the last two days in my part of Texas. This time last week, we were in the teens during the day, after single-digit overnight low — and record-breaking —cold temperatures.
Spring storm season came early and with a vengeance to the southern United States last night. At least 25 people lost their lives when a tornado roared through the Nashville area early today.
You’ve secured your house. You’ve got your go-bag ready if you have to evacuate. You’ve taken all the other steps to get ready for an impending natural disaster.
Maybe you didn’t think the hurricane’s flood waters would reach your neighborhood. Or maybe you just never kept copies, either paper or digital, of your financial and tax records.
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March 5, 2026
Tax filing season is also peak time for tax scams. Be on the lookout for…
Happy New Tax Year! Are you ready to file your 2025 tax return? I know, too early to ask. But Tax Day 2026 will be here before we realize it. The Internal Revenue Service deadline to file and pay any tax we owe is the regular April 15 date this year. It’s also Tax Day for most of the states that collect income taxes from their residents, which is most of the states! If that seems too far away right now, don’t worry. As is the case every tax season, the ol’ blog’s tips and other tax reminders should help all of us meet our state and federal responsibilities. Procrastinators also will want to keep an eye on the countdown clock just below. It tracks how much time we have until April’s Tax Day, just in case we put off our annual tax task until the absolutely final hours and decide we need to instead get an extension request into the IRS by that date. (Note: I’m in the Central Time Zone, so adjust accordingly for where you live.)