After the horrific attack at the Boston Marathon on Monday, April 15th, the Internal Revenue Service announced it will offer assistance to Boston area taxpayers and others adversely affected by this tragedy. The IRS issued a three-month filing and payment extension for all individual taxpayers living in Suffolk County, Massachusetts, as well as victims, their families, first responders and others impacted by the explosions.

The IRS has granted eligible taxpayers until July 15, 2013, to file their 2012 returns and pay any taxes normally due April 15th. No filing and payment penalties will be due as long as returns are filed and payments are made by July 15, 2013. By law, interest (currently at the annual rate of 3 percent compounded daily) will still apply to any payments made after the April deadline.

Please note that the IRS will automatically provide this tax extension to anyone living in Suffolk County. If you live in Suffolk County, no further action is necessary to obtain this relief. However, eligible taxpayers living outside Suffolk County can claim this relief by calling the IRS at (866) 562-5227 starting Tuesday, April 23, and identifying themselves to the IRS before filing a return or making a payment. Eligible taxpayers who receive penalty notices from the IRS can also call this number to have these penalties abated.

For more information about the IRS tax extension offer, please feel free to contact Gray, Gray & Gray’s Tax Department at (781) 407-0300 or click here to visit the IRS website.