Due to widespread devastation caused by Hurricane Milton, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) delayed the April 15, 2025, federal payment and filing deadline for all Florida filers to May 1, 2025. The October 11, 2024, statewide-record relief order replaced previous county-level relief and provides overdue relief time to the affected individuals and businesses and corporations that were impacted by two destructive disasters consecutively. The move is the first since Hurricane Irma of 2017 that the IRS issued blanket deadline relief to a state, and it indicates the size of Milton’s economic and infrastructure footprint in Florida.
The IRS action comes on the heels of Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) disaster declarations for all 67 counties in Florida following Hurricane Milton’s landfall on Oct. 5, 2024. In the relief package:
- All individual and business tax returns owing April 15, 2025, now owe May 1
- Quarterly estimated Q1 2025 payments, normally due April 15, also are rescheduled to May 1
- Corporate and fiduciary returns due in April are also covered under the same extension
This relief is automatically provided to taxpayers who have IRS address histories in Florida, without requesting it. The extension is both for filing due dates and payment due dates, a not-so-unusual extension that waives interest on payments made by May 1.
Coordinated relief for multi-disaster impact
Florida’s tax timeline had already been impacted by previous disasters:
- Tropical Storm Debby-August 2024-Initial relief was to Feb. 3, 2025 for 20 counties
- Hurricane Helene (September 2024)-Relief extended through May 1st for 41 counties
- Hurricane Milton -October 2024-Fell under May 1 general deadline for all counties
Piled-up disaster declarations created uncertainty, especially for tax filers in counties like Baker County, who had transitioned from Debby to Milton relief. The IRS explained the state-level Milton declaration takes precedence, synchronizing deadlines across Florida.
Procedure for filing beyond extended deadlines
Although all Floridians qualify automatically for extensions, tax filers requiring additional time after May 1 have revised procedures:
- Electronic extensions unavailable after April 15: Taxpayers must file paper Form 4868
- Members of the military and non-U.S. citizens: Retain current two-month automatic extensions but still must pay May 1 milestone on Milton filings
IRS cautions that extension requests are not payments of tax—any unpaid tax due on or after May 1 will have interest accruing at 7% per year, compounded daily.
Economic and administrative implications
The statewide extension has major operating implications:
- IRS workload redistribution: Filing centers expect 40% increase in May filers
- Delays in refunds: Early filers will have to wait as resources will be shifted to disaster zones
- Document problems: Documents lost due to flooding must be re-created from bank statements or IRS transcripts
Tax experts like Rutgers’ Jay A. Soled clarify that even if extensions are a godsend, “taxpayers should file as soon as possible to avoid compounded stressors due to possible audits or request for records.”
Strategic direction for impacted taxpayers
- Check eligibility: Verify automatic extension status through IRS Online Account portal
- Pay first: Pay May 1 payments before 0.5% monthly late-payment penalties are applied
- Take advantage of web-based products: Utilize IRS Free File to seek autopilot extensions by April 15
- Capture disaster losses: Capture for possible casualty loss deductions on 2025 tax returns
The blanket deadline extension by the IRS is an acknowledgment of the exceptional situation among Florida taxpayers. By treating all counties as having a shared deadline, May 1, the agency will minimize administrative requirements without slamming doors in people’s faces. But the shorter relief window period forces taxpayers, especially those whose wealth has been decimated through property damage or disruption of financial services, to act fast.
As a cautionary advice issued by Soled says, “Disaster extensions are a lifeline, not a vacation from tax responsibilities—use the time wisely”. Florida taxpayers are encouraged to seek the IRS disaster relief resources and use free e-file help in fulfilling the new deadline as they rebuild their communities.
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