Katrina News Releases & Legal Guidance

Frequent updates — last updated October 11, 2006

News Releases | Legal Guidance

• Victims of 2005 Hurricanes Get Additional Year to Sell Vacant Land
  IR-2007-134, July 31, 2007 — Victims of Hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Wilma have an extra year in which to sell vacant land that they had owned and used as part of their principal residence that was destroyed as a result of the hurricanes.
   
• IRS Reminds Katrina Victims of Oct. 16 Filing Deadline
  IR-2006-151, Sept. 27, 2006 — Taxpayers in certain areas severely damaged by Hurricane Katrina have until Oct. 16, 2006, to file their income tax returns for 2004 and 2005.
   
• IRS Announces Additional Postponement of Filing and Payment Deadline for Businesses in the Gulf Coast
  IR-2006-135, August 25, 2006 — Businesses in the Gulf Coast receive additional postponement to Oct. 16 of the deadline of time to file and pay.
   
• New IRS Publication Summarizes Tax Benefits to Hurricane Victims
  IR-2006-133, August 24, 2006 — IRS issues new publication summarizing tax relief and tax benefits for those affected by last year's hurricanes.
   
• IRS Issues Guidance to Hurricane Victims Claiming Casualty Losses; Safe Harbor Methods Available for Individuals
  IR-2006-97, June 19, 2006 — Victims of Hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Wilma may claim casualty and theft losses on their individual income tax returns following guidance outlined in Rev. Proc. 2006-32.
   
• IRS Provides Additional Time to File Individual Tax Returns In Areas Hardest Hit by Katrina
  IR-2006-96, June 19, 2006 — Certain taxpayers from 31 Louisiana parishes, 49 Mississippi counties and 11 Alabama counties affected by Hurricane Katrina have until Oct. 16, 2006, to file 2004 and 2005 indivldual income tax returns.
   
• IRS Works with Associations to Help Hurricane-Affected Taxpayers
  IR-2006-43, March 13, 2006 — The Internal Revenue Service announced today an agreement with two tax professional associations to assist taxpayers impacted by Hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Wilma.
   
• IRS Postpones Taxpayer Deadlines in Areas Hit Hardest by Katrina
  IR-2006-30, Feb. 17, 2006 — Taxpayers in the most severely damaged parishes and counties of Louisiana and Mississippi automatically have through Aug. 28, 2006 to file returns and make certain payments.
   
• Hurricane Victims Have More Time to Claim Losses on Prior Year Returns
  IR-2006-27, Feb. 10, 2006 — Victims of Hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Wilma now have until Oct. 16, 2006.
   
• New Publication Explains Tax Law Changes Related to Recent Hurricanes
  IR-2006-18, Jan. 24, 2006 — The IRS has a new publication that informs taxpayers affected by Hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Wilma about benefits in recent legislation.
   
• Recent Tax Law Changes Affecting Businesses in the Gulf Region
  FS-2006-13, January 2006 — Businesses affected by Hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Wilma should be aware of recent tax law changes that may benefit them.
   
• Tax Law Changes Related to Hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Wilma
  FS-2006-12, January 2006 — Individuals affected by the three major hurricanes of 2005 can learn about tax law changes that may be to their benefit.
   
• Substitute Forms W-2 for Hurricane Victims
  FS-2006-8, January 2006 — Hurricane victims who have difficulty obtaining their Form W-2 or other information documents have options available to them.
   
• Reconstructing Your Records
  FS-2006-7, January 2006 — The IRS has helpful tips on how to reconstruct tax and financial records that were destroyed in a disaster.
   
• IRS Offers Filing Season Assistance to Hurricane Victims
  FS-2006-6, January 2006 — Hurricane victims have a special toll-free number to call in addition to other resources.
   
• Guidance Issued on Tapping Retirement Savings
  IR-2005-137, Nov. 30, 2005 — Treasury and the IRS issued Notice 2005-92 today, which provides guidance relating to the application of two provisions of the Katrina Emergency Tax Relief Act of 2005 (KETRA) for Hurricane Katrina victims and employer-sponsored retirement plans and IRAs.
   
• Tax Favored Treatment for Early Distributions from IRAs and other Retirement Plans for Victims of Hurricane Katrina
  IR-2005-122, Oct. 17, 2005 — Changes in the tax law provide for tax favored withdrawals, recontributions and loans from retirement plans by victims of Hurricane Katrina.
   
• New Tax Law Eases Loss Limitations for Katrina Victims
  IR-2005-119, Oct. 11, 2005 — A change in the tax law lifts the $100 and 10-percent limits on casualty losses claimed on tax returns by Hurricane Katrina victims.
   
• Treasury Department, IRS Extend Dyed Diesel Fuel Penalty Relief through Oct. 25
  IR-2005-118, Oct. 6, 2005 — Penalty relief for dyed diesel fuel sold for use or used on the highway is further extended.
   
• IRS Warns Consumers of Possible Scams Relating to Hurricane Katrina Relief IR-2005-115, Oct. 3, 2005 — Consumers should protect themselves against possible scams that have cropped up in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.
   
• Deadlines for Taxpayers Affected by Hurricane Katrina Extended Until Feb. 28
  IR-2005-112, Sept. 28, 2005 — New law gives taxpayers affected by Hurricane Katrina until Feb. 28, 2006, to file tax returns and pay any taxes due.
   
• IRS Updates Hurricane Katrina Tax Relief Guidelines for Taxpayers in Four States, Relief Workers and Others Impacted
  IR-2005-109, Sept. 21, 2005 — New details help ensure those impacted by the storm get the tax relief they're entitled to.
   
• IRS Announces Additional Agreements to Assist Disaster Victims
  IR-2005-108, Sept. 21, 2005 –– NAEA and AAA-CPA join with IRS to assist taxpayers affected by Hurricane Katrina.
   
• Retirement Plans Can Make Loans, Hardship Distributions to Katrina Victims
  IR-2005-105, Sept. 15, 2005 — Victims of Hurricane Katrina and their families can take out loans and hardship distributions from their 401(k) and similar employer-sponsored retirement plans.
   
• IRS Extends Diesel Fuel Penalty Relief Due to Hurricane Katrina
  IR-2005-104, Sept. 15, 2005 — The IRS is extending the penalty relief for dyed diesel fuel sold for use or used on the highway.
   
• Katrina Relief Workers Have Until Jan. 3 to File and Pay Taxes
  IR-2005-103, Sept. 14, 2005 — Hurricane Katrina relief workers have an extension of time to file their tax returns and pay any taxes due.
   
• 5,000 IRS Telephone Operators Register Hurricane Victims for FEMA Benefits
  IR-2005-102, Sept. 14, 2005 — IRS operators are helping FEMA answer telephone calls from Hurricane Katrina victims.
   
• Guidance Issued On Temporary Domestic Shipping Operations
  IR-2005-101, Sept. 12, 2005 — New guidance regarding the temporary operation of ships in the domestic trade as a result of Hurricane Katrina.
   
• IRS Increases Mileage Rate Until Dec. 31, 2005
  IR-2005-99, Sept. 9, 2005 — Optional standard mileage rates increased for the final four months of 2005.
   
• Extra Time Granted for Tax-Exempt Bond Issuers Affected By Katrina
  IR-2005-98, Sept. 8, 2005 — Issuers of tax exempt bonds affected by Hurricane Katrina get additional time to file certain information returns and arbitrage rebate returns.
   
• Treasury, IRS Announce Special Relief to Encourage Leave-Donation Programs for Victims of Hurricane Katrina
  IR-2005-97, Sept. 8, 2005 — Special relief supports leave-based donation programs to aid Hurricane Katrina victims.
   
• Katrina Victims Will Have Until Jan. 3 to File and Pay Taxes
  IR-2005-96, Sept. 8, 2005 — Victims of Hurricane Katrina will have until Jan. 3, 2006, to file any returns, pay any taxes or make any deposits due.
   
• IRS Allows Highway Vehicle Removal of Aviation Fuel Due to Hurricane Katrina
  IR-2005-95 , Sept. 7, 2005 — To alleviate local fuel shortages, vehicles registered for highway use are allowed to remove aviation-grade kerosene (aviation fuel) from certain airports.
   
• IRS and AICPA Announce Agreement to Assist Disaster Victims
  IR-2005-94, Sept. 7, 2005 — Partnership to provide assistance with tax issues at FEMA disaster recovery centers in the wake of Hurricane Katrina and other disasters.
   
• IRS Expedites Charity Applications, Urges Use of Existing Charities
  IR-2005-93, Sept. 6, 2005 — Review and approval process for new organizations seeking tax-exempt status expedited in order to provide relief for victims of Hurricane Katrina.
   
• Treasury and IRS Expand Availability of Housing for Hurricane Victims
  IR-2005-92, Sept. 2, 2005 — Waiver of low-income housing tax credit rules expands the availability of housing for Hurricane Katrina disaster victims and their families.
   
• IRS Expands Relief Area for Katrina Victims
  IR-2005-91, Sept. 2, 2005 — IRS expands tax relief to victims in certain areas of Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama.
   
• IRS Grants Relief Regarding Certain Employee Plan Contributions
  IR-2005-90, Sept. 2, 2005 — Relief provided in connection with certain employee benefit plans because of damage caused by Hurricane Katrina.
   
• IRS Waives Diesel Fuel Penalty Due to Hurricane Katrina
  IR-2005-89, Sept. 2, 2005 — Tax penalty not imposed when dyed diesel fuel is sold for use or used on the highway because of shortages of clear diesel fuel caused by Hurricane Katrina.
   
• IRS Creates Disaster Relief Toll-Free Number
  IR-2005-88, Sept. 1, 2005 — Special toll-free telephone number is for taxpayers affected by Hurricane Katrina.
   
• IRS Urges Citizens to Seek Qualified Charities for Katrina Help
  IR-2005-86, Sept. 1, 2005 — Citizens seeking to make donations to help Hurricane Katrina victims should seek out qualified charities.
   
• IRS Grants Tax Relief for Hurricane Katrina Victims
  IR-2005-84, Aug. 30, 2005 — Taxpayers generally will have until Oct. 31, 2005, to file tax returns and submit tax payments.

Legal Guidance | News Releases

• Notice 2007-74 — Clarifies Notice 2006-56, which postponed until October 16, 2006, the time for certain individuals affected by Hurricane Katrina to file 2005 income tax returns (among other things).
   
• Notice 2007-66PDF — Advises owners of qualified low-income buildings and State housing credit agencies located in the Gulf Opportunity Zone (GO Zone) of relief from certain requirements under § 42 of the Internal Revenue Code.
   
• Notice 2007-36PDF — Provides guidance with respect to the 50-percent additional first year depreciation deduction provided by IRC Section 1400N(d) for qualified Gulf Opportunity Zone property.
   
• Notice 2006-77PDF — Republishes Notice 2006-67 to reflect the citations to the final regulations. This Notice provides guidance with respect to the 50-percent additional first year depreciation deduction provided by IRC Section 1400N(d) for qualified Gulf Opportunity Zone property.
   
• Notice 2006-67PDF — Provides guidance with respect to the 50-percent additional first year depreciation deduction provided by § 1400N(d) of the Internal Revenue Code (GO Zone additional first year depreciation deduction) for qualified Gulf Opportunity Zone property (GO Zone property).
   
• Notice 2006-58PDF — Extends temporary relief for certain REITs and taxable REIT subsidiaries that provide accommodations for persons affected by Hurricanes Katrina or Rita.  
   
• Revenue Procedure 2006-32PDF — Provides safe harbor procedures taxpayers may use in determining the amount of their casualty and theft loss deductions for their personal-use residential real property and personal belongings damaged, destroyed or stolen as a result of Hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Wilma.
   
• Notice 2006-59PDF — Describes certain leave-sharing plans under which employees may deposit leave in an employer-sponsored leave bank for use by other employees who have been adversely affected by a major disaster.
   
• Notice 2006-56PDF — Provides an additional postponement of time, until Oct. 16, 2006, for taxpayers affected by hurricane disasters, as described in Notice 2006-20, to file certain individual income tax returns for 2004 and 2005. 
   
• Announcement 2006-29PDF — Extends the required placed-in-service date through December 31, 2006, for certain property eligible for the bonus depreciation.
   
• Notice 2006-20PDF — Postpones until Aug. 28, 2006, certain deadlines for taxpayers affected by Hurricane Katrina in Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi.
• Notice 2006-17PDF —  Postpones until October 16, 2006, the deadline to make an election to deduct in the preceding taxable year certain losses attributable to Hurricane Katrina, Rita, or Wilma. (PDF 14K, 4 pages)   
   
• Notice 2006-12PDF — Allows additional time for hurricane victims to comply with obligations relating to backup withholding on reportable payments due to notification that the payee’s taxpayer identification number (TIN) is incorrect.  (PDF 19K, 6 pages)
   
• Notice 2006-11PDF — Provides relief from certain low-income housing credit requirements as a result of the devastation caused by Hurricane Rita. (PDF 22K, 7 pages)
   
• Notice 2006-10PDF — Discusses the income and employment tax treatment of special allowances paid by federal executive agencies to employees and their dependents to reimburse certain expenses incurred while evacuating from the core disaster area and staying at a safe haven. (PDF 16K, 5 pages)
   
• Notice 2005-92PDF — Provides guidance on distributions from eligible retirement plans and plan loans under sections 101 and 103 of P.L. 109-73, the Katrina Emergency Tax Relief Act of 2005, (KETRA). (PDF 53K, 16 pages)
   
• Notice 2005-89PDF — Describes temporary relief available for certain REITs and taxable REIT subsidiaries that provide accommodations to persons affected by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. (PDF 14K, 5 pages)
   
• Notice 2005-84PDF — Describes additional relief relating to minimum funding standards for certain employee benefit plans as a result of Hurricane Katrina. (PDF 16K, 3 pages)
   
• Notice 2005-73PDF — Summarizes and clarifies the relief previously granted to taxpayers affected by Hurricane Katrina. (PDF 25K, 12 pages)
   
• Announcement 2005-71PDF — Optional Standard Mileage Rates. (PDF 9K, 2 pages)
   
• Announcement 2005-69PDF — Disaster relief for issuers of tax-exempt bonds affected by Hurricane Katrina. (PDF 11K, 3 pages)
   
• Announcement 2005-70PDF — Hurricane Katrina Relief (relating to loans from retirement plans and hardship distributions). (PDF 17K, 4 pages)
   
• Notice 2005-60PDF — Relief from minimum funding requirements for employee benefit plans. (PDF 15K, 3 pages)
   
• Notice 2005-65PDF — Announcement of Rules Relating to the Temporary Operation of Ships in the Domestic Trade as a Result of Hurricane Katrina. (PDF 14K, 5 pages)
   
• Notice 2005-66PDF — This notice under section 7508A postpones the deadlines for certain acts performed by the Internal Revenue Service with respect to certain taxpayers affected by Hurricane Katrina. (PDF 14K, 5 pages)
   
• Notice 2005-68PDF — Treatment of Certain Amounts Paid to Section 170(c) Organizations under Certain Employer Leave-Based Donation Programs. (PDF 10K, 2 pages)
   
• Notice 2005-69PDF — Relief from Certain Low-Income Housing Credit Requirements Due to Hurricane Katrina. (PDF 17K, 7 pages)

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