To alleviate the financial strain caused by Hurricane Helene, Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp declared a state of emergency and temporarily suspended the Georgia gas tax.
This means that, for a time, Georgians saw some relief from the state’s excise tax on motor fuel.
Citing Georgia residents’ well-being, Kemp issued an executive order extending the Georgia State of Emergency through October 16, 2024. As part of this order, the collection of motor fuel and diesel fuel taxes was suspended for the duration of the emergency declaration.
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"As Georgians recover from Hurricane Helene, with the support of our legislative partners, I have suspended the gas tax for the duration of this State of Emergency, bringing relief to communities who continue to rely on fuel to power their homes and necessary equipment,” Kemp said at the time.
President Biden also declared a federal state of emergency for Georgia and other states impacted by Helene, saying, "Our job is to help as many people as we can as quickly as we can and as thoroughly as we can."
Gas tax suspension Georgia
The Georgia gas tax suspension went into effect on Thursday, October 3, 2024, and lasted for the duration of the State of Emergency, which ended on October 16, 2024, at 11:59 p.m.
According to AAA, the average cost of a gallon of regular gas in Georgia as of October 15 was $2.71, lower than the national average, as of Oct. 15, of $3.20.
(The gas tax in Georgia is 31.2 cents per gallon of regular gasoline and 35 cents per gallon of diesel fuel.)
Georgia tax deadline extension due to Helene
Also, in the wake of Hurricane Helene's devastating impact on Georgia, the state's Department of Revenue has extended several key tax deadlines for those impacted.
The new May 1, 2025 tax deadline (also announced by the IRS for federal tax returns and other tax payments) encompasses a range of tax obligations, from individual and business income tax returns to quarterly estimated payments and payroll tax returns.
While not all tax-related actions fall under this relief umbrella, the move aligns with federal tax deadline relief designed to support impacted residents.
Related: Hurricane Helene Aftermath: IRS Tax Relief and How to Help
For more information, visit the IRS disaster relief website and see Kiplinger's report: States With Tax Deadline Extensions.
Georgia state tax deadline extended
Georgia's Department of Revenue (DOR) also announced the extension of certain return and payment deadlines for residents impacted by Hurricane Helene.
This extension is to May 1, 2025, which mirrors the IRS extended deadline.
"We are committed to supporting those affected by this disaster. Individuals and businesses in Georgia will be granted an extended deadline for tax compliance," Frank O'Connell, state revenue commissioner said in a statement.
For more information, visit the Georgia DOR website.
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