WASHINGTON - Taxpayers affected by the major storm that hit the Northeastern United States April 16 now have until Thursday, April 26 to file their tax returns, the Internal Revenue Service said today.

Earlier this week, the IRS gave taxpayers directly impacted by the storm an additional two days beyond the April 17 deadline to meet their tax filing obligations without incurring late filing and payment penalties. After further assessment of conditions across the region affected by the April 16 storm, the IRS has decided to allow affected taxpayers an additional seven days to fulfill their tax filing obligations.

Power outages and public transportation problems made it impossible in some cases for some taxpayers and tax professionals to meet the April 17 filing deadline.

Affected taxpayers can mark their paper tax returns with the words “April 16 Storm.” Taxpayers who e-file their returns can use their software’s “disaster” feature, if available.

This news release supercedes IR-2007-89.