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 wildfire 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.
Definitely take a break this June. But taxes don’t take vacations. So, you also should make time for some tax tasks. Some will keep you out of tax trouble. Others could mean tax savings.
Hurricane damage is a constant threat to U.S. coastal communities during the annual June 1 through Nov. 30 tropical storm season. But as the storms move inland, landlocked areas also face risks. Get ready before one strikes, or even forms in the Atlantic or Gulf of Mexico.
The annual April 15 federal tax return filing deadline doesn’t apply to all U.S. taxpayers. Tax Day is June 15 for taxpayers living and working abroad, including military personnel posted outside the United States or Puerto Rico. Residents of major natural disaster areas also get more time to file, and in some cases pay what they owe.
The longest-ever government shutdown mainly affected Department of Homeland Security agencies, including airport security check staff. As it appears to finally be winding down, Tax Day for affected federal workers is pushed from April 15 to May 15.
Residents of parts, and in some cases, all of these states dealt with real-life scares earlier this year. This post-Halloween weekend, they are facing a Nov. 3 disaster-delayed tax filing due date.
The National Hurricane Center’s image of Tropical Storm Andrea. The first named system of the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season formed in the central Atlantic Ocean, meaning it’s not a threat to make landfall. June 1, 2026 note: This post was published almost a year ago with a slightly different headline (Resources to deal with disasters, as 2025 hurricane season gets its first named storm), but its information is still valid. You can read the most recent version of hurricane preparation, both physical and financial/tax moves to make in advance of storms, in Hurricane 2026 preparation and tax tips. And…
Forecasters from both the federally-funded National Hurricane Center and private weather services predicted the 2025 hurricane season would be active
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.
No place in the world is disaster proof. Mother Nature unleashes her horrors globally and year-round via hurricanes, tornadoes, wild fires, floods, blizzards and more. These special Natural Disasters Resource Pages are the comprehensive collection of Don’t Mess With Taxes blog posts about disasters and the associated tax implications. As long-time blog readers know, I am a weather nut. I made that clear early in my blogging career. My second ever post back on Nov. 15, 2005, the one after unleashing introducing Don’t Mess With Taxes, was Stormy tax policy about, yes, hurricanes. My fascination with weather woes comes naturally.…
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.
Texans get a special sales tax holiday during spring storm season to help offset the costs of emergency supplies.
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.
Mother Nature can turn deadly year-round. Tornadoes, hurricanes and even winter storms strike beyond their seasonal boundaries. Prepare beforehand, including by taking a pre-disaster inventory.
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.
What’s worse than losing your home to a disaster? Having to pay taxes on the destroyed property. That’s what a Southwestern Pennsylvania family is dealing with now. After losing their home and all its contents to a fire last November, Rich and Catherine Hooks recently learned that they are responsible for the 2019 property taxes due on their no long in existence Westmoreland County home. “The taxes should be lower because the house isn’t there,” Mrs. Hooks told TribLive.com. But the county tax assessor didn’t know that. So the prior tax valuation stood. When a significant change occurs on a…
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.
Some folks have been asking for clarification on disaster loss claims, specifically with regard to the value of a damaged or destroyed home. A Rockport, Texas, home severely damaged by Hurricane Harvey, which made its first landfall on Aug. 25 at the Gulf Coast town. (Photo courtesy National Weather Service, Corpus Christi, via Twitter) …At issue is how a home’s fair market value factors into a disaster tax claim. I’m sorry to report that a property’s high value — I’m talking for sale purposes, not just your personal appreciation and assessment of the house — won’t help you get more…
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June 3, 2026
Definitely take a break this June. But taxes don’t take vacations. So, you also should…
We made it. Tax Day 2025 is finally over. For most of us. When the filing season started on Jan. 26, millions who were expecting refunds filed immediately. Most of us got our returns to the Internal Revenue Service by April 15. But plenty of taxpayers also got extensions. They are looking at an Oct. 15 filing deadline.
Those procrastinating filers aren’t a problem. In fact, the IRS appreciates taxpayers who take time to fill out their 1040 forms correctly. It also is grateful that tax submissions are spread out a bit, especially now that the IRS is a leaner agency. Processing returns is easier when they arrive throughout the year instead of in massive bunches.
But enough about Uncle Sam’s tax collection issues. The focus now is on all y’all who filed for extensions, giving you another six months to complete your return. Since your new mid-October due date will be here before you know it, let’s get started now on meeting it.
The ol’ blog is here to help you finish up your extended Form 1040. You can start with January’s tax tips page, which has links to the rest of the year’s tips by-month collections. You also can peruse various tax categories for more tailored advice by clicking on the More Tax Posts drop-down menu at the top of this (and every) page.
And to make sure you don’t miss your new filing deadline, the count-down clock below will let you know just how much time you to file by Oct. 15. At the latest.e. (Note: I’m in the Central Time Zone, so adjust accordingly for where you live.)