The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and Georgia Department of Revenue have extended some payment and return deadlines for Georgia taxpayers affected by two wildfires in south Georgia.
Residents of Brantley, Echols, and Clinch Counties affected by the Georgia Highway 82 and Pineland Road fires will benefit from the deadline extension, a press release from Gov. Kemp's office said.
Affected taxpayers will now have until Aug. 20 to file returns due between April 18 and Aug. 20, according to the IRS.
The extension also applies to several state taxes, including sales and use taxes for the month of April and income taxes in some circumstances, according to the press release from Gov. Kemp's office.
“Our priority is making sure impacted Georgians have one less thing to worry about as they recover from these wildfires,” David Burge, the state revenue commissioner, said in the press release. “These extensions provide additional time and flexibility for affected individuals and businesses to meet their tax obligations.”
The payment and return deadline for April sales and use taxes is usually May 20, but will now be June 22. For income taxes, any applicable Georgian who had a valid extension on his or her income tax return until Oct. 15, 2026, will have until Feb. 12, 2027, to file a return.
"Affected taxpayers filing paper returns should write: 'Georgia Wildfires – Clinch, Echols, Brantley' across the top of any forms submitted to the Department," according to the press release.
This comes several weeks after Governor Brian Kemp declared a state of emergency in 91 different counties, including Brantley, Echols and Clinch.
"We are leaving no stone unturned when it comes to helping those impacted by the unprecedented drought conditions that led to the South Georgia wildfires," Gov. Kemp said in the press release. "I'm grateful to the Trump administration for this declaration that will further those efforts as families work on rebuilding their homes and livelihoods."
