The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has announced tax relief for Mississippi individuals and businesses affected by several severe weather disasters in 2026. Depending on the location and disaster, eligible taxpayers may receive additional time to file federal tax returns, make tax payments and complete certain other time-sensitive tax-related actions. The extended deadlines apply to individuals who had a valid extension to file their 2025 individual income tax returns.

SEVERE STORMS, TORNADOES AND FLOODING IN MAY
Additional relief is available for taxpayers affected by severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes and flooding that began May 6, 2026. This relief covers individuals and businesses in FRANKLIN, LAMAR, LAWRENCE, LINCOLN and WILKINSON counties. Eligible taxpayers generally have until November 2, 2026, to file various federal tax returns and make payments that would have otherwise been due during the disaster postponement period. Penalties on payroll and excise tax deposits due on or after May 6, 2026, and before May 21, 2026, will be abated as long as the tax deposits were made by May 21, 2026. The November 2, 2026, deadline also applies to affected quarterly payroll and certain excise tax returns normally due on July 31, 2026.

TROPICAL STORM ARTHUR IN JUNE
The most recent relief applies to taxpayers affected by Tropical Storm Arthur, which began June 18, 2026. Individuals and businesses located in COVINGTON, GEORGE, GREENE, HANCOCK, HARRISON, PEARL RIVER, STONE and WAYNE counties are eligible for relief. Affected taxpayers generally have until February 1, 2027, to file various federal individual and business tax returns and make tax payments that were originally due on or after June 18, 2026, and before February 1, 2027. The February 1 deadline also applies to certain estimated income tax payments and quarterly payroll and excise tax returns. Penalties on certain payroll and excise tax deposits due between June 18, 2026 and July 6, 2026, will be abated if the deposits were made by July 6, 2026. Taxpayers who receive an IRS penalty notice for a filing, payment or deposit covered by the disaster postponement should contact the telephone number listed on the notice to request penalty abatement.

OTHER DISASTER-RELATED TAX RELIEF
Casualty losses: Eligible taxpayers may elect to claim qualifying disaster-related casualty losses on either the federal return for the year the disaster occurred or the preceding year, subject to IRS requirements. Disaster relief payments: Certain qualified payments received from government agencies for necessary personal, family, living or funeral expenses, or for the repair or rehabilitation of a home, may generally be excluded from gross income. Retirement plans and IRAs: Certain taxpayers may qualify for special disaster distributions or hardship withdrawals, depending on the circumstances and the rules of their retirement plan or IRA. Tax return copies: The IRS may waive fees for affected taxpayers requesting copies of previously filed tax returns when the appropriate FEMA disaster declaration information is provided.

MDOR WILL FOLLOW THE FEDERAL EXTENSIONS.