U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn has joined forces with Senators Catherine Cortez Masto, John Kennedy, and Chris Van Hollen to propose new legislation aimed at aiding taxpayers in states experiencing natural disasters. The bipartisan initiative seeks to address the current limitation where the IRS can only postpone filing deadlines for federally-declared disasters, not state-level emergencies.
Senator Blackburn emphasized the importance of allowing citizens to focus on recovery without tax-filing pressures: "When a disaster like Hurricane Helene hits, the last thing Tennesseans should have to worry about is meeting a tax-filing deadline."
Senator Cortez Masto echoed this sentiment for Nevada residents facing various natural calamities: “Nevadans experiencing natural disasters deserve tax relief, regardless of whether the state receives a federally recognized disaster declaration.”
Senator Kennedy highlighted Louisiana's frequent need for timely relief: “Louisianians have worked tirelessly to rebuild after historic storms took their toll...this bill would make sure that Louisianians get tax extensions that are crucial for recovering after our state declares a natural disaster.”
Similarly, Senator Van Hollen underscored the bill’s potential impact: “This bipartisan bill provides financial flexibility for Americans impacted by disaster so they can focus on rebuilding their lives and livelihoods.”
The proposed Filing Relief for Natural Disasters Act would empower governors to extend federal tax deadlines during state-declared emergencies or disasters. This extension would mirror the automatic response given in federally-declared situations. Additionally, it proposes increasing mandatory federal filing extensions from 60 days to 120 days.
Representatives David Kustoff and Judy Chu have introduced companion legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives.
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