Georgia storm victims get break from IRS

Victims of the storms and tornadoes that rolled through Georgia two weeks ago are getting a break from the Internal Revenue Service. It's not a break from paying taxes, but people who live in seven counties declared disaster areas have an extended deadline to file. Those affected taxpayers now will have until May 19th to file returns or make tax payments. Those counties include Fulton, DeKalb, Jefferson, Burke, Bartow, Floyd, and Polk. Affected taxpayers must write ‘Georgia Severe Storms and Tornadoes’ on the top of their return.

Tax assistance for seniors

Seniors who haven't filed taxes in years are filing now so they can receive the cash rebates from the recently passed national stimulus package.

Georgia seniors can get free tax help at a multitude of locations around the state. Through the IRS's Tax Counseling for the Elderly Program, the AARP provides trained volunteers to help low to middle income people with special attention to those ages 60 and older.

To find the site nearest you, click here.

New scam in Georgia

The Internal Revenue Service says there’s a new scam in Georgia involving a fake tax refund. The Atlanta Business Chronicle reports the IRS says victims pay a fee to have someone file for a Social Security tax refund on their behalf. But the IRS says a Social Security tax refund is rare. The scammer pockets the fee and the victim never gets their promised refund. The IRS says taxpayers who did receive a refund must return it because it was a false claim.

IRS owes Georgians money

More than 4,000 Georgians haven’t claimed their tax refunds. The Macon Telegraph reports that checks totaling $4.3 million dollars are waiting to be picked up from the IRS. Nationwide 115,000 taxpayers haven’t claimed their refund. To find out if the government owes you money, link to the IRS website here at www.irs.gov.