Senators Thom Tillis of North Carolina and Raphael Warnock of Georgia have introduced the Disaster Related Extension of Deadlines Act, a bipartisan effort to help taxpayers affected by natural disasters. The proposed legislation aims to give taxpayers more time to claim refunds or credits, particularly those grappling with disaster recovery.
Senator Tillis emphasized the challenges faced by those in North Carolina following Hurricane Helene. “Helene devastated communities across Western North Carolina, leaving many families struggling to recover,” he said. He stressed that people impacted by such events should not face excessive bureaucratic hurdles in claiming due refunds.
Under current regulations, when disaster-related deadline extensions occur, taxpayers may end up with a reduced period to secure refunds. Moreover, the IRS is required to request payment within 60 days of an assessment, even when the payment deadline is extended due to disasters, leading to potential confusion for taxpayers.
The Disaster Related Extension of Deadlines Act aims to extend the timeline for obtaining refunds and ensure that payment deadlines correspond with disaster-related filing extensions. The American Institute of CPAs and the National Association of Realtors have shown support for this legislation.
Senator Tillis has consistently advocated for federal assistance in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene. Following Helene’s impact, he led several initiatives, such as urging Senate appropriations for disaster relief, submitting requests for federal funding to cover hurricane damages, and advocating for legislation to replenish small business disaster loan programs.
In addition, Tillis has worked on various legislative efforts to address disaster recovery, including the introduction of the RELIEF Act to aid small businesses and the Disaster Mitigation and Tax Parity Act of 2025, which seeks tax exemptions on catastrophe mitigation payments. He also spearheaded the FEMA Independence Act, intended to enhance federal emergency response efficiency.
Through these continuous efforts, Senator Tillis remains committed to securing comprehensive aid for affected communities in Western North Carolina and ensuring efficient federal disaster response.
