On August 27, 2020, Hurricane Laura made landfall near Cameron, Louisiana. The Category 4 hurricane moved northward through Louisiana causing damage to many areas within the southwest and midwest parishes. On September 8, 2020, the Louisiana Department of Revenue (LDR) issued Revenue Information Bulletin No. 20-021 granting automatic filing and payment extensions for impacted taxpayers located in parishes declared federal disaster areas following the hurricane (Acadia, Allen, Beauregard, Calcasieu, Cameron, Grant, Jackson, Jefferson Davis, Lincoln, Natchitoches, Ouachita, Rapides, Sabine, Vermilion, Vernon, and Winn).1 This extension is intended to assist taxpayers who are unable to file and pay their tax obligations timely, as a result of Hurricane Laura.
Individual and Corporate Income and Franchise Tax Extension
Tax returns and payments, including estimated tax payments, with original or extended due dates between August 24 and November 2, 2020, are granted an automatic extended due date of December 31, 2020.
Withholding Tax Extension
For tax returns and payments due between August 24 and November 2, 2020, the automatic extended due date is November 30, 2020.
Sales and Use, Severance, and Excise Tax Extension
For tax returns and payments with original or extended due dates between August 24 and November 2, 2020, the automatic extended due date is November 30, 2020.
LDR Administrative Filings and Extensions
Qualifying taxpayers may also request extensions from LDR relating to audit or litigation matters (proposed assessments, protest, discovery requests, continuances, etc.). Additionally, no final audit assessments will be issued before November 2, 2020, for impacted taxpayers.
Parish Extensions
Parishes are not legally required to follow extensions as granted by LDR. Additionally, many of the tax collection offices in the parishes previously listed have been impacted themselves, some of which are closed until further notice (Beauregard, Calcasieu, and Winn). As of this publication, Calcasieu Parish has extended its August sales and use tax and occupancy tax return and payment deadlines to October 20, 2020 (see Technical Assistance Bulletin 2020-004). Other parishes have informed Ryan that written extension requests will be evaluated individually. The Louisiana Association of Tax Administrators (LATA) will continue to track updates from parishes and provide information on its website. However, if no extensions are posted on either a parish’s website or the LATA’s website, we encourage impacted taxpayers in the declared disaster areas to contact the local tax collection office and request an extension.
1 Automatic filing and payment extensions are granted to taxpayers whose homes, principal places of business, critical tax records, or paid tax preparers are located in parishes declared federal disaster areas.
TECHNICAL INFORMATION CONTACTS:
Sharon Welhouse
Principal
Ryan
512.476.0022
sharon.welhouse@ryan.com
Matt Zagotti
Director
Ryan
225.334.0040
matt.zagotti@ryan.com
Matthew Grabner
Senior Manager
Ryan
512.960.1147
matthew.grabner@ryan.com
The material presented in this communication is intended to provide general information only and should solely be seen as broad guidance and not directed to the particular facts or circumstances of any individual who may read this publication. No liability is accepted for acts or omissions taken in reliance upon the content of this piece. Before taking (or not taking) any action, readers should seek professional advice specific to their situation from Ryan, LLC or other tax professionals. For additional information about this topic, please contact us at info@ryan.com.