IRS honors Burr, Tillis request to extend tax-filing deadline after Hurricane Mathew

The IRS heeded request from U.S. Sens. Richard Burr (R-NC) and Thom Tillis (R-NC) on Monday to delay tax-filing deadlines for taxpayers impacted by Hurricane Matthew.

In a letter to Treasury Secretary Jack Lew, Burr and Tillis requested flexibility for taxpayers struggling to meet quarterly tax-filing deadlines in the wake of Hurricane Matthew.

“As we have witnessed firsthand by visiting these areas, the disaster in North Carolina is still ongoing, making it very difficult to begin the recovery process or fully assess the damages inflicted on our state,” the senators wrote. “Many taxpayers in these areas are facing a tax filing deadline this Monday, Oct. 17, and the threat of onerous penalties if they do not meet it. The flooding and effects of Hurricane Matthew make the task of meeting the deadlines nearly impossible for them. We ask that (Lew) take immediate action to use the authority available in statute to provide relief to these taxpayers in North Carolina as soon as possible.”

The IRS granted the senators’ request, extending the filing deadline for certain businesses until March 15, 2017.

“This is welcome news for the North Carolina taxpayers who have been impacted by this devastating storm,” Burr said. “I am so glad that the IRS upheld my request to give this relief to North Carolinians, so they can begin to rebuild without worrying about the impending tax deadline.”

Tillis added that Hurricane Matthew has taken “a tremendous toll” on North Carolina and has left many without a livable home or place of business.

“That’s why Sen. Burr and I urged the IRS to extend the quarterly tax filing deadline, and I’m happy they have decided to grant this relief to North Carolinians affected by Hurricane Matthew,” Tillis said.