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You Can Still File Taxes if You Live in One of These States and Locales

If you live somewhere that experienced a natural disaster, such as a hurricane or wildfire, there's a good chance that the IRS extended your tax filing deadline.

Headshot of Macy Meyer
Headshot of Macy Meyer
Macy Meyer Writer II
Macy is a writer on the AI Team. She covers how AI is changing daily life and how to make the most of it. This includes writing about consumer AI products and their real-world impact, from breakthrough tools reshaping daily life to the intimate ways people interact with AI technology day-to-day. Macy is a North Carolina native who graduated from UNC-Chapel Hill with a BA in English and a second BA in Journalism. You can reach her at mmeyer@cnet.com.
Expertise Macy covers consumer AI products and their real-world impact Credentials
  • Macy has been working for CNET for coming on 2 years. Prior to CNET, Macy received a North Carolina College Media Association award in sports writing.
Macy Meyer
4 min read
Coins piled up like a bar chart on top of tax documents with the word TAX in background.

If you not in an area affected by a natural disaster in the last year, you'll need to file a tax extension to get more time.

 Getty Images/Viva Tung/CNET

Heads up -- US federal income taxes were due yesterday. If you didn't get them finished with the best tax software and you didn't file an extension by Tax Day, then you may end up facing penalties or delays in getting your refund money. 

However, if your local area was hit with bad flooding, or you live somewhere else that was impacted by natural disasters, you might automatically get more time to file your taxes. The IRS generally extends the deadlines for federal income taxes for FEMA-designated disaster areas.

This story is part of Taxes 2026, CNET's coverage of the best tax software, tax tips and everything else you need to file your return and track your refund.

For instance, those residing in areas affected by hurricanes Helene or Milton or the LA County wildfires receive deadline extensions. So how do you know which date you're required to have your taxes submitted by? Below, we break it down.

For more tax tips, here's the best software for filing your tax return and learn how to track your refund to your bank account. 

Which states have a federal tax-filing extension because of declared disasters?

For most filers, tax returns are due April 15, 2025. But there are some exceptions.

Nine states get hurricane and flooding extensions to May 1, 2025

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Due to severe flooding, landslides and other damage caused by natural disasters, including hurricanes Helene and Milton, the IRS has extended the federal tax filing deadline in several states with declared disaster areas by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Tax filers in these states now have until Thursday, May 1, 2025, to file federal individual and business tax returns and make tax payments, according to the IRS website.

  • Alabama: Due to Hurricane Helene that began on Sept. 24, 2024, the entire state receives a tax extension.
  • Alaska: Parts of the Juneau area of Alaska affected by flooding that began on Aug. 5, 2024 receive a tax extension.
  • Florida: Due to the severe weather, wind and flooding from both Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton that began on Oct. 5, 2024, the entire state receives a tax extension.
  • Georgia: Due to severe storms and flooding brought by Hurricane Helene on Sept. 24, 2024, the entire state receives a tax extension.
  • New Mexico: Parts of Chaves County affected by severe storms and flooding that began on Oct. 19, 2024 receive a tax extension.
  • North Carolina: Due to severe storms, wind and flooding brought by Hurricane Helene, the entire state receives a tax extension.
  • South Carolina: Due to severe storms, wind and flooding brought by Hurricane Helene, the entire state receives a tax extension.
  • Tennessee: Certain counties affected by Hurricane Helene receive a tax extension: Carter, Claiborne, Cocke, Grainger, Greene, Hamblen, Hancock, Hawkins, Jefferson, Johnson, Sevier, Sullivan, Unicoi and Washington.
  • Virginia: Certain counties and cities affected by Hurricane Helene receive a tax extension: Albemarle, Appomattox, Bedford, Bland and Botetourt counties; Bristol City; Buchanan, Buckingham, Carroll and Charlotte counties; Covington City; Craig County; Danville City; Dickenson and Floyd counties; Galax City; Giles, Grayson, Greene, Lee, Madison, Montgomery and Nelson counties; Norton City; Patrick, Pittsylvania and Pulaski counties; Radford City; Roanoke City; Roanoke, Russell, Scott, Smyth, Tazewell, Washington, Wise and Wythe counties.

If you live in an affected area and can't file your taxes by the May 1 extension, you can still request a tax extension for Oct. 15, 2025. You still need to pay your estimated taxes by May 1; the extension buys you more time to file your return.

LA County wildfires extend tax deadline to Oct. 15, 2025

The IRS announced tax relief for residents and businesses affected by the LA County wildfires and straight-line winds that began on Jan. 7, 2025. Impacted taxpayers now have until Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2025, to file various federal individual and business tax returns and make tax payments.

As of publishing, anyone who resides or owns a business in LA County qualifies for tax relief. The IRS may add additional counties as the fires are ongoing. You can find an up-to-date list of eligible localities on the tax relief in disaster situations page.

Kentucky and West Virginia storms extend tax deadline until Nov. 3, 2025

Certain residents in Kentucky and West Virginia who were impacted by storms, tornadoes, landslides, and mudslides that started on Feb. 14, 2025 have until Monday, Nov. 3, 2025 to file their tax returns without penalties. 

All taxpayers in Kentucky receive the automatic extension. In West Virginia, the extension is limited to Boone, Greenbrier, Lincoln, Logan, McDowell, Mercer, Mingo, Monroe, Raleigh, Summers, Wayne and Wyoming counties.

Which states have Tax Day deadlines later than the federal deadline?

Several states have state tax deadlines that fall on a different date than the federal deadline of April 15, 2025, at midnight local time. Note, if you live in Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington or Wyoming, your state doesn't collect income taxes.

Here are the state filing deadlines that differ from the federal deadline in 2025:

  • Delaware: April 30, 2025
  • Hawaii: April 22, 2025
  • Iowa: April 30, 2025
  • Louisiana: May 15, 2025
  • New Mexico: April 30, 2025, if filing electronically, otherwise April 15.
  • Oklahoma: April 21, 2025, if filing electronically, otherwise April 15. (Note: The e-file due date is usually April 20, but for the 2025 calendar year, April 20 is Easter Sunday, so your return is due the next business day.)
  • Virginia: May 1, 2025

About the Author

Headshot of Macy Meyer
Writer II
Writer II

Macy is a writer on the AI Team. She covers how AI is changing daily life and how to make the most of it. This includes writing about consumer AI products and their real-world impact, from breakthrough tools reshaping daily life to the intimate ways people interact with AI technology day-to-day. Macy is a North Carolina native who graduated from UNC-Chapel Hill with a BA in English and a second BA in Journalism. You can reach her at mmeyer@cnet.com.