The IRS has granted victims of the recent New Mexico wildfires and straight-line winds more time to file various individual and business tax returns and make tax payments. Specifically, victims of the fires and winds that began on April 5, 2022, have until September 30, 2022, to file and pay tax returns and payments due between April 5 and September 29.
The tax relief is available to anyone in any area designated by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) as qualifying for individual assistance. At this point, only affected taxpayers who live or have a business in Colfax, Lincoln, Los Alamos, Mora, San Miguel, Sandoval and Valencia Counties qualify for the extensions, but the IRS will offer the same relief to any taxpayers in other New Mexico localities designated by FEMA later.
The IRS will also work with other people who live outside the disaster area but whose tax records are in the disaster area. Call the IRS at 866-562-5227 if you face this situation. This also includes workers assisting the relief activities who are affiliated with a recognized government or philanthropic organization.
From just $107.88 $24.99 for Kiplinger Personal Finance
Be a smarter, better informed investor.
Sign up for Kiplinger’s Free Newsletters
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and more - straight to your e-mail.
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice - straight to your e-mail.
Deadlines Extended
The deadlines that are pushed back include the April 18, 2022, due date for filing a 2021 personal income tax return and paying 2021 taxes. In addition, wildfire and wind victims in the designated area have until September 30 to make 2021 IRA contributions. They also get more time to make the estimated tax payments due on April 18, June 15, and September 15, 2022.
The due date for quarterly payroll and excise tax returns normally due on May 2 and August 1, 2022, are extended to September 30 for New Mexico wildfire and wind victims, too. Penalties on payroll and excise tax deposits due from April 5 to April 19 will also be waived as long as the deposits were made by April 20, 2022.
Taxpayers don't need to contact the IRS to get this relief. However, if an affected person receives a late filing or late payment penalty notice from the IRS, he or she should call the number on the notice to have the penalty abated.
Deduction for Damaged or Lost Property
Victims of the New Mexico wildfires and straight-line winds may be able to claim a tax deduction for unreimbursed damaged or lost property. To do so, they typically must itemize and file Schedule A with their tax return. However, victims who claim the standard deduction may still be able to deduct their losses if they can claim them as business losses on Schedule C.
The deduction can be claimed on the tax return for the year the damage or loss of property occurred or for the previous year. So, for any destruction in 2022, the deduction can be claimed on either a 2021 tax year return or a 2022 return. In either case, you must write the FEMA declaration number on the return claiming the deduction. For the recent New Mexico wildfires and straight-line winds, the number is DR-4652-NM.
If you decide to claim a deduction for 2021, you can amend your 2021 return by filing Form 1040-X. For this purpose, you must file the amended return no later than six months after the due date for filing your return (without extensions) for the year in which the loss took place. So, for New Mexico wildfire or wind losses in 2022, you would need to file an amended 2021 return by October 16, 2023. Affected taxpayers claiming the disaster loss on a 2021 return should also put the Disaster Designation ("New Mexico Wildfires and Straight-Line Winds") in bold letters at the top of the form. See IRS Publication 547 for details.
-
Dow Erases 717-Point Gain to End Lower: Stock Market TodayThe main indexes started the day with solid gains, but worries of an AI bubble weighed on stocks into the close.
-
6 Changes to IRAs, 401(k)s and HSAs in 2026Changes to IRAs — Roth and traditional — and 401(k)s may mean more money for you in retirement.
-
Capital Gains Tax Quiz: How Well Do You Know IRS Rules for Gains and Losses?Quiz Take our capital gains tax quiz to test your investment taxes knowledge. Learn about loss rules, holding periods, and tax incentives that could impact your savings.
-
6 Tax Reasons to Convert Your IRA to a Roth (and When You Shouldn't)Retirement Taxes Here’s how converting your traditional retirement account to a Roth IRA can boost your nest egg — but avoid these costly scenarios.
-
Could Tax Savings Make a 50-Year Mortgage Worth It?Buying a Home The 50-year mortgage proposal by Trump aims to address the housing affordability crisis with lower monthly mortgage payments. But what does that mean for your taxes?
-
3 Ways High-Income Earners Can Maximize Their Charitable Donations in 2025Tax Deductions New charitable giving tax rules will soon lower your deduction for donations to charity — here’s what you should do now.
-
An HSA Sounds Great for Taxes: Here’s Why It Might Not Be Right for YouHealth Savings Even with the promise of ‘triple tax benefits,’ a health savings account might not be the best health plan option for everyone.
-
New RMD Rules: Can You Pass This Retirement Distributions Tax Quiz?Quiz Take our RMD quiz to test your retirement tax knowledge. Learn about RMD rules, IRS deadlines, and tax penalties that could shrink your savings.
-
10 Retirement Tax Plan Moves to Make Before December 31Retirement Taxes Proactively reviewing your health coverage, RMDs and IRAs can lower retirement taxes in 2025 and 2026. Here’s how.
-
When to Hire a Tax Pro: The Age Most Americans Switch to a CPATax Tips Taxpayers may outsource their financial stress by a specific age. Find out when you should hire a tax preparer.
