Floridians Can File 2022 Taxes After IRS Rules On Disaster Payments

FLORIDA — The Internal Revenue Service is giving Floridians a pass on state payments for hurricane disaster relief and taxpayers can proceed with filing their 2022 tax returns. The IRS on Friday issued federal tax guidance for millions of Americans who received state rebates or payments in 2022.

Florida is one of 19 states that last year made inflation relief payments or refunds for taxes. Taxpayers in those states were told about a week ago to wait for clarification before filing their income taxes.

But the IRS said Friday that Florida taxpayers and residents of the other states on hold do not need to report special payments for welfare or disaster relief on their federal return. Sunshine State residents don’t need to report these payments on their federal tax returns.

The announcement came about a week after the agency had urged those taxpayers to hold off on filing while it determined if the funds are taxable on federal returns, CNBC reported.

The IRS said Friday it has determined that "in the interest of sound tax administration and other factors, taxpayers in many states will not need to report these payments on their 2022 tax returns."

Florida has no personal income tax.

During a review, the IRS determined it will not challenge the taxability of payments related to general welfare and disaster relief.

This means that people in the 19 states, including Florida, do not need to report these state payments for general welfare and disaster relief on their 2022 tax return.

Following the IRS recommendations is key if taxpayers want to avoid having to amend a previously filed tax return, Keith Hall, president and CEO of the National Association for the Self-Employed, told The AP.

“I think the IRS is trying to help people save another filing if they had to do an amended return,” he told the AP.

Other states that offered inflation relief in 2022 were Alaska, California, Colorado, Delaware, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Carolina and Virginia.

The 2022 federal income tax filing deadline is Tuesday, April 18.

For questions abut federal taxes, visit www.irs.gov.

• Related: Income Tax Season 2022: What To Know Before Filing In Florida

If you are not sure about state payments as you prepare to file your taxes, Hall recommends you consult with a tax professional about your specific situation.

The Associated Press contributed reporting.