IRS postponing tax filing deadline for San Diegans impacted by January flooding

SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — The IRS is postponing the tax filing deadline for California residents impacted by the late January atmospheric river storm and flooding.

The Internal Revenue Service announced Tuesday residents in California impacted by the Jan. 22 flooding now have until June 17, 2024 to file individual and business tax returns for 2023, and to make any tax payments.

The tax relief is being offered to parts of California that were designated as a disaster area by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), which includes impacted San Diego County residents.

The late January storm left three people dead and more than 800 homes damaged in San Diego County.

Following President Biden’s disaster declaration, residents and business owners impacted by the flooding can apply for assistance at DisasterAssistance.gov, by calling 800-621-FEMA (3362), or by using the FEMA App.

Individuals and businesses in a federally declared disaster area that suffered uninsured or unreimbursed disaster-related losses can claim them on either their tax return for the year the loss occurred (2024) or on their return for the year prior (in this case 2023), according to the IRS.

So taxpayers in San Diego looking to claim losses from the January 2024 storm have until Oct. 15, 2025, to do so, although you can sooner, because taxpayers have up to six months to file after the due date of their tax return for the disaster year.

Taxpayers with a retirement plan or IRA in a declared disaster area may be eligible to take a special disaster distribution without the additional 10% early distribution tax, and also allows the taxpayer to spread the income over three years. Taxpayers may also be eligible to make a hardship withdrawal.

The IRS says it automatically gives filing and penalty relief to any taxpayer with an IRS address of record located in the disaster area. You do not need to contact the agency to get this relief. Taxpayers that qualify for relief who live outside the disaster area need to contact the IRS at 866-562-5227.

Residents in other parts of California that were later added to the disaster area will also quality for the tax extension, according to the IRS.

It’s important to note, if you think you’ll need longer than June to file taxes, you should still request a tax extension by April 15, the IRS said. And payments would still be due on June 17.

You can find the list eligible locations and more information on the disaster relief page on IRS.gov.