Louisiana Hurricane Ike Victims;& Disaster Relief

Louisiana taxpayers who were adversely affected by Hurricane Ike qualify for tax relief from the Internal Revenue Service, including the postponement of tax filing and payment deadlines until Jan. 5, 2009.
On Saturday, Sept. 13, the federal government declared the following: Louisiana parishes a presidential disaster area qualifying for individual assistance: Acadia, Beauregard, Calcasieu, Cameron, Iberia , Jefferson, Jefferson Davis, Lafourche, Plaquemines, Sabine, St. Mary, Terrebonne, Vermilion and Vernon..
"We are giving taxpayers in these hard-hit areas until early next year to file their returns and make payments," IRS Commissioner Doug Shulman said. "All Americans have concerns for those affected by this devastating hurricane, and our hope is that this extra time will allow people to stay focused on the rebuilding and clean-up effort."
Specifically, the relief postpones until Jan. 5, 2009, certain deadlines for taxpayers who reside or have a business in the disaster area. The postponement applies to return filing, tax payment and certain other time-sensitive acts due on or after Sept. 11, 2008, and before Jan. 5, 2009 –– including individual estimated tax returns and corporate tax returns that were due Sept. 15, and extended individual returns due Oct. 15.
In addition, the IRS will waive the failure to deposit penalties for employment and excise deposits due on or after Sept. 11 and before Sept. 26, 2008, as long as the deposits are made on or before Sept. 26. This includes failure to deposit penalties on employment and excise tax deposits that were waived under previous relief for Hurricane Gustav