Michigan to Grant Extensions to Severe Storm and Flooding Victims

State Treasurer Kevin Clinton announced today that the Michigan Department of Treasury will observe the Internal Revenue Service’s (IRS) tax filing extension, granted to taxpayers who were adversely affected by the severe storms and flooding that began on August 11, 2014. Macomb, Oakland, and Wayne Counties have been declared a federal disaster area as a result of the storms and individuals who reside or have a business in these counties may qualify for filing extensions.

Under the IRS relief, certain filing and payment deadlines, for taxpayers affected by the Michigan storms and flooding, have been extended through January 15, 2015. The extension only applies to filing and payment obligations due on or after August 11, 2014 and on or before January 15, 2015. For more information on the IRS relief, visit www.irs.gov

For affected taxpayers and Michigan individual income tax purposes, the third quarterly installment of estimated tax payments may be made any time on or before January 15, 2015, without penalty and/or interest charges for late payment. An annual individual income tax return, previously extended to October 15, 2014, may be filed by an affected taxpayer on or before January 15, 2015. Treasury will waive any penalty and/or interest charges for late filing. However, please note that penalty and interest may still be imposed for late payment of the extension payment that was due April 15, 2014.

For affected taxpayers and Michigan Business Tax and Corporate Income Tax purposes, any filings and payments due on or after August 11, 2014 and on or before January 15, 2015, will be considered timely if made by January 15, 2015. To apply for these extensions, affected taxpayers should mark their eligible filings with the designation “Macomb, Oakland, or Wayne County Flood” in red. For e-filed returns, include an attachment with this message.

The Department of Treasury will not automatically allow an extension to file and pay sales, use and withholding or excise taxes. Treasury may waive, on a case-by-case basis, late filing or payment charges on these obligations if it can be demonstrated that failure to make a timely filing or payment was due to reasonable cause and not willful neglect.

Individuals or businesses located within the federally designated disaster area (or taxpayers outside the disaster area that were directly affected by the storms) should contact the Department of Treasury if they receive penalties for late filing or payment of one of the taxes specifically addressed in this notice.