GA Tax Deadline Extended Due To Hurricane Disaster: IRS

GEORGIA — Individual and business taxpayers have a little more time to file their 2024 returns this year after the IRS extended the deadline due to a disastrous hurricane season.

The new tax filing and payment deadline is May 1. Georgians usually have until April 15 to annually file their tax returns.

The Internal Revenue Service stated the delay is due to Hurricane Helene, a deadly storm that ravaged Georgia and other parts of the Atlantic coast in September 2024.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency declared Georgia a disaster area post-Helene, making all 159 counties eligible for the latest tax relief, the IRS stated. This includes taxpayers who had their returns and payment postponed until Feb. 3 due to Hurricane Debby, another fatal storm that slammed Georgia in August 2024.

Partially, the May 1 filing deadline applies to:

• Individuals and businesses that have a 2024 return normally due during March or April 2025.
• Individuals who had a valid extension to file their 2023 return due to run out on Oct. 15, 2024. The IRS noted, however, that because tax payments related to these 2023 returns were due on April 15, 2024, those payments are not eligible for this relief.
• Calendar-year corporations whose 2023 extensions run out on Oct. 15, 2024.a

The new deadline also applies to any payment normally due during this period, including the quarterly estimated tax payments due on Sept. 16, 2024, Jan. 15 and April 15, the IRS stated.

Quarterly payroll and excise tax returns typically due on Oct. 31, 2024, Jan. 31 and April 30, 2025 also fall under the May 1 due date.

Any eligible taxpayer who receives a late filing or late payment penalty notice should call the IRS' number on the notice to have the penalty abated, the federal agency stated.

The Georgia Department of Revenue reported tax refunds could take three-12 weeks to process and be issued. Anyone who has not filed in at least five years, or are filing for the first time, will receive a paper refund.

See more about the May 1 tax filing deadline via the IRS.