Filing Relief for Natural Disasters Act
Click any stage to learn more about the legislative process.
The Filing Relief for Natural Disasters Act lets the IRS postpone federal tax deadlines for people affected by state-declared disasters, not just federally declared ones, when a governor or the D.C. mayor requests it in writing.
It also lengthens the automatic tax-deadline extension for disaster victims, relief workers, and others from 60 days to 120 days, giving affected taxpayers more time to file and pay without needing a separate federal disaster declaration first.
What this law does
What it does
The law amends Section 7508A of the Internal Revenue Code to let the IRS postpone federal tax deadlines—such as filing returns, paying taxes, making retirement contributions, and tax assessments—for taxpayers affected by a "qualified State declared disaster." This applies when a state's governor (or the District of Columbia's mayor) submits a written request, after the IRS consults with the Federal Emergency Management Agency. A qualified state declared disaster covers natural catastrophes, fires, floods, or explosions serious enough to warrant relief, and "State" is defined to include the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Northern Mariana Islands. Separately, the law increases the existing mandatory automatic extension of federal tax deadlines—for relief workers, people injured or killed in a disaster, and those with residences, businesses, or tax records in a disaster area—from 60 days to 120 days. The changes apply to disaster declarations made after the law's enactment date.
Key provisions
- 1Authorizes the IRS, after consulting FEMA, to postpone federal tax deadlines for a qualified state declared disaster upon written request from a governor or the D.C. mayor.
- 2Defines a qualified state declared disaster as a natural catastrophe, fire, flood, or explosion causing damage severe enough to warrant tax deadline relief, as determined by the governor or mayor.
- 3Defines 'State' to include the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Northern Mariana Islands.
- 4Increases the mandatory automatic extension of federal tax deadlines for relief workers and disaster-affected taxpayers from 60 days to 120 days.
- 5Applies these amendments to disaster declarations made after the date of enactment.
Who is affected
Taxpayers living or operating businesses in areas hit by state-declared disasters, including in Puerto Rico, D.C., and other U.S. territories; disaster relief workers; people injured or killed in disasters; state governors and the D.C. mayor, who can now trigger IRS relief directly; and the IRS and FEMA, which coordinate on these determinations.
Why it matters
Previously, IRS deadline relief generally required a federal disaster declaration, which can lag behind or never follow a serious state-level disaster. This law lets governors trigger tax relief faster and independently, and the longer 120-day automatic extension gives affected taxpayers more breathing room to file returns, pay taxes, or make retirement contributions after a disaster.
What changed
Changes to existing law
Amends 26 U.S.C. § 7508A (Internal Revenue Code) (Sec. 2(a))
Adds a new subsection letting the IRS postpone tax deadlines for state-declared disasters upon a governor's written request, and redesignates later subsections.
Amends 26 U.S.C. § 7508A(e) (Internal Revenue Code) (Sec. 2(b))
Extends the mandatory automatic tax deadline extension for disaster-affected taxpayers from 60 days to 120 days.
Agencies directed to act
Effective dates
- Amendments allowing state-declared disaster relief and the 120-day extension
Funding and costs
Congressional Budget Office estimate
CBO estimates H.R. 517 would have a negligible effect on the federal deficit, reducing revenues by less than $500,000 over the 2025–2035 period.
The Joint Committee on Taxation estimates that H.R. 517 would reduce federal revenues by an insignificant amount (between -$500,000 and $500,000) over the 2025–2035 period, with no effect on direct spending (mandatory outlays). Implementation costs would be less than $500,000 over the 2025–2030 period, subject to appropriated funds. CBO found no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates in the bill.
How it works
A governor (or the D.C. mayor) submits a written request to the IRS after a qualifying state-level disaster; the IRS consults with FEMA before deciding whether to postpone federal tax deadlines for affected taxpayers in that state or territory. Separately, the existing 60-day automatic extension for relief workers and disaster victims now runs 120 days without requiring any request. Both changes apply only to disaster declarations issued after the law's July 24, 2025 enactment date, so earlier disasters are not covered.
Legislative status & sources
Latest action
Became Public Law No: 119-29.
Official CRS summary
Show the CRS summaryHide the CRS summary
This act authorizes the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to postpone federal tax deadlines for taxpayers affected by a qualified state declared disaster, upon written request by the state governor. The act also increases the automatic extension of federal tax deadlines for certain taxpayers.
Under current law, the IRS may postpone federal tax deadlines for taxpayers affected by a federally declared disaster, including (but not limited to) deadlines for (1) filing federal tax returns, (2) paying federal taxes, (3) making retirement plan contributions, and (4) tax assessments and collections.
The act authorizes the IRS to postpone such federal tax deadlines for taxpayers affected by a qualified state declared disaster upon written request by the state’s governor (or the District of Columbia mayor). Under the act, a state includes the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Northern Mariana Islands.
The act defines qualified state declared disaster as any natural catastrophe, fire, flood, or explosion that causes damage of sufficient severity and magnitude to warrant a request to postpone such federal tax deadlines.
Further, under current law, an automatic extension of such federal tax deadlines applies to certain relief workers, individuals killed or injured as a result of a federally declared disaster, and taxpayers whose principal residence, business, or tax records are located in a federally declared disaster area.
The act increases the automatic extension of federal tax deadlines for these taxpayers to 120 days (from 60 days).
Legislative subjects
District of Columbia; Internal Revenue Service (IRS); Natural disasters; State and local government operations; Tax administration and collection, taxpayers; Taxation; U.S. territories and protectorates
Committee report
H. Rept. 119-44