Monday marks the first day the Internal Revenue Service will accept and process tax returns for the 2024 tax year. But for L.A. County residents, the deadline to file has been extended from April 15 to October 15, 2025 because of the recent wildfires.
The IRS this year is offering a series of programs to streamline the tax-paying experience through improved customer service and expanded free resources such as the Direct File program.
Filing taxes can be a complicated task for many as the process is different for each person. Family size, income and charitable donations can all impact your tax return, and ultimately, your refund or tax debt. Along with IRS tax-assistance programs, there are several Eastside groups that offer tax preparation services for free.
Here are some answers to questions you may have about tax season:
I live in L.A. County but wasn’t directly impacted by the fires, do I still qualify for a tax-filing extension to file my taxes?
Yes. All individuals who reside in Los Angeles County or operate a place of business within county lines qualify for the IRS filing extension due to FEMA’s classification of the region as a disaster area because of the wildfires that tore through the area earlier this month. The delays give people time to recoup vital records that may have been lost in recent events.
Those qualifying taxpayers now have until October 15, 2025 to file various federal individual and business tax returns and make tax payments.
If I don’t live in L.A. County but my tax records were destroyed in the fires there, do I qualify for an extension?
Possibly, but an extension request must be filed to the IRS. You can call the IRS disaster hotline at (866) 562-5227 to request it.
Can any local Eastside groups help me with my federal tax return free of charge
Yes. In partnership with California State University Northridge, Inclusive Action, a Boyle Heights-based economic justice organization that serves communities across L.A. County, will offer cost-free tax assistance every Monday and Saturday until taxes are due in April.
Trained volunteers from CSUN’s VITA Clinic are available weekly at 2900 E Cesar Chavez Avenue through April 15th to offer services to help file federal and state income taxes to any individual with a household income of $67,000 or less.
Appointments can be made online or by calling (818) 677-3600.
The East L.A. Community Corporation is also offering VITA tax services for free at its office at 2917 E 1st Street, Monday through Friday. Individuals with an income less than $64,000 can book an appointment online or call (323) 269-4214.
My property was damaged in the fires. Do I also qualify for property tax relief?
Yes. To further offer relief to those affected by the fires, Gov. Gavin Newsom issued an executive order to delay state property tax deadlines to April 2026 to those in burned areas.
The governor’s executive order applies to people with properties in the following ZIP codes: 90019, 90041, 90049, 90066, 90265, 90272, 90290, 90402, 91001, 91040, 91104, 91106, 91107, 93535, or 93536.
I filed my taxes. Now what?
If eligible for a refund, the IRS distributes payments around 21 days after an individual files their tax return. To track the status of your refund after you file, you can use the IRS’ Where’s My Refund tool.
If the IRS determines you have a tax debt, you have until April 15 to pay or establish a payment plan. If you qualify for an extension in filing due to the Southern California wildfires, you also qualify for an extension to pay the taxes owed.
