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The federal tax filing deadline for individuals is Tuesday, April 18. However, if you are a resident of Livingston or Orleans Parishes, you are in a Presidentially declared disaster area and have been granted an automatic extension to June 30, 2017, to file your US Federal Individual Income Tax return and to make your 1st quarter estimated payment.

The filing and payment extensions apply only to those taxpayers whose homes, principal places of business or critical tax records are located in the following ZIP codes in Livingston and Orleans parishes: 70447, 70454, 70462, 70706, 70785, 70126, 70127, 70128 and 70129. Additional areas declared federal disaster areas due to the severe weather on February 7, 2017, will be considered for the same relief. For tax returns and payments submitted by the extended deadline, the Department of Revenue will waive any late filing penalties, late payment penalties and interest that would otherwise apply. Any return or amount on which penalty or interest began accruing before February 7, 2017, will not be eligible for this relief.

Individuals who reside or have a business in Livingston or Orleans parishes may qualify for tax relief.

The declaration permits the IRS to postpone certain deadlines for taxpayers who reside or have a business in the disaster area. For instance, certain deadlines falling on or after February 7, 2017, and before June 30, 2017, are granted additional time to file through June 30, 2017. This includes 2016 income tax returns normally due on April 18. It also includes the April 18 deadlines for making quarterly estimated tax payments. Affected taxpayers that have an estimated income tax payment originally due on or after February 7, 2017, and before June 30, 2017, will not be subject to penalties for failure to pay estimated tax installments as long as such payments are paid on or before June 30, 2017.

If an affected taxpayer receives a late filing or late payment penalty notice from the IRS that has an original or extended filing, payment or deposit due date that falls within the postponement period, the taxpayer should call the telephone number on the notice to have the IRS abate the penalty. The IRS automatically identifies taxpayers located in the covered disaster area and applies automatic filing and payment relief. But affected taxpayers who reside or have a business located outside the covered disaster area must call the IRS disaster hotline at 866-562-5227 to request this tax relief.