Taxpayers across Katy and Fulshear have until Feb. 1, 2027, to file certain federal tax returns and make certain tax payments under new IRS disaster relief.

The IRS announced the relief for 62 Texas counties, including Fort Bend and Waller, following severe storms and flooding that began July 14. Gov. Greg Abbott announced the relief Oct. 28, according to Click2Houston.

Both counties cover the Katy-Fulshear area. Residents and businesses do not need to apply or prove storm damage. The IRS uses taxpayer addresses to identify those in the disaster area and applies the extension automatically.

What's covered

The Feb. 1, 2027, deadline applies to most federal tax returns with original or extended due dates falling on or after July 14 and before Feb. 1, 2027. That includes individual, corporate, estate, trust, partnership, S corporation and tax-exempt organization returns, according to the IRS announcement.

Estimated income tax payments originally due on or after July 14 are also postponed through Feb. 1, 2027. Taxpayers will not face penalties for missed estimated payments as long as they pay by that date.

Quarterly payroll and certain excise tax returns normally due July 31 and Nov. 2 also fall under the extended deadline.

What's not covered

Tax payments that were due April 15 are not included. That deadline passed before the July storms, so it falls outside the relief window. Taxpayers who had a valid extension to file their 2025 individual income tax return get extra time to file, but the payment tied to that return was due April 15 and remains ineligible.

The extension also does not cover every federal tax form or deposit. Information returns in the W-2, 1094, 1095, 1097, 1098 and 1099 series are excluded, along with several other form types, according to the IRS.

Penalty notices and installment plans

Taxpayers who receive a late-filing or late-payment penalty notice for a deadline within the postponement period should call the number on the notice. The IRS said it can review the account and remove the penalty.

Taxpayers with existing IRS installment agreements get limited protection. Missed payments during the postponement period will not cause an agreement to default. But interest and late-payment penalties will keep accruing. Automatic bank withdrawals will also continue unless the taxpayer contacts the IRS or their bank to suspend them.

Other relief

The IRS will waive fees for requests for copies of previously filed tax returns. Affected taxpayers should write the declaration number SD-0018-DR at the top of Form 4506 or Form 4506-T.

Disaster relief payments from a government agency for reasonable and necessary personal, family, living or funeral expenses are generally excluded from gross income, according to the IRS. The same applies to payments for home repair or replacement of contents.

The IRS said additional disaster-related tax relief may become available.