IRS provides tax relief for California wildfire victims; deadlines extended to October 15, 2025
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has announced tax relief measures for individuals and businesses affected by the wildfires in California that began on January 7, 2025.
Affected taxpayers now have until October 15, 2025, to file various federal tax returns and make payments.
Affected areas
The tax relief applies to individuals and businesses in areas designated by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) as qualifying for individual or public assistance due to the wildfires.
The current list of eligible localities is available on the IRS's Tax Relief in Disaster Situations page.
Extended deadlines
Filing and payment extensions
The relief postpones various tax filing and payment deadlines that occurred from January 7, 2025, through October 15, 2025.
As a result, affected taxpayers have until October 15, 2025, to file returns and pay any taxes originally due during this period.
This extension applies to:
- Individual income tax returns and payments: Normally due on April 15, 2025.
- 2024 contributions to IRAs and health savings accounts: Eligible taxpayers can make contributions until October 15, 2025.
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2024 quarterly estimated income tax payments:
- Payments normally due on January 15, 2025.
- Payments due on April 15, June 16, and September 15, 2025.
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Quarterly payroll and excise tax returns:
- Normally due on January 31, April 30, and July 31, 2025.
Penalty relief for payroll and excise tax deposits
Penalties on payroll and excise tax deposits due on or after January 7, 2025, and before January 22, 2025, will be abated as long as the tax deposits are made by January 22, 2025.
Additional information
Casualty loss deductions
Affected taxpayers in federally declared disaster areas have the option to claim disaster-related casualty losses on their federal income tax return for either the year in which the event occurred or the prior year.
Refer to Publication 547 for details.
Automatic identification and assistance
The IRS automatically identifies taxpayers located in the covered disaster area and applies filing and payment relief.
However, affected taxpayers who reside or have a business located outside the covered disaster area should call the IRS disaster hotline at 866-562-5227 to request this tax relief.
Accessing IRS forms and publications
Taxpayers may download forms and publications from the official IRS website, IRS.gov.
Stay informed
For the most current information on tax relief for disaster situations, visit the IRS's Tax Relief in Disaster Situations page.
If you have been affected by the California wildfires, take advantage of the extended deadlines and available resources to manage your tax obligations during this challenging time.