In the face of widespread devastation wrought by Hurricane Helene, Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee, in conjunction with the Department of Revenue, announced a series of tax relief measures aimed at supporting affected businesses and individuals within the state. As Helene tore through several Tennessee counties, leaving a trail of destruction, the state government's decision mirrors the IRS in extending tax due dates for affected areas.
This relief includes pushing back the filing and payment due dates for franchise and excise taxes to May 1, 2025, for taxpayers in the disaster-declared counties of Carter, Cocke, Greene, Hamblen, Hawkins, Johnson, Unicoi, and Washington. According to a statement on the official website of the Tennessee governor, the franchise tax Schedule G refund filing deadline for businesses in these counties is also extended; these will be applied automatically without the need for an application.
Tennessee residents facing the tough task of rebuilding their homes after Helene will find some solace, as the Department of Revenue is offering up to $2,500 in sales tax refunds on purchases of major appliances, residential furniture, or residential building supplies for primary residences that were damaged or destroyed. The department has outlined a one-claim-per-residence limit, details of which are available on their website.
Moreover, for other taxes impacted by the hurricane, the Department of Revenue will consider extension requests on a case-by-case basis. Affected businesses and individuals are encouraged to send their extension requests via email to [email protected], complete with the necessary identification and a description of their losses. The department emphasizes the importance of providing this information as they handle requests. For detailed information on how to proceed, the Department of Revenue urges taxpayers to review the important notice posted online.
