Victims of hurricanes Helene and Milton can expect various forms of tax relief, including an extension to file taxes and help with emergency retirement plan withdrawals, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) told taxpayers Friday.

The IRS launched its Direct File pilot in 12 U.S. states in March 2024, which allowed taxpayers to submit simple tax returns direct with the government agency completely free of charge, eliminating the need to use a paid-for third party provider.

The IRS launched Direct File, which allows users to submit simple tax returns directly to the government, as a pilot this past spring for a limited number of taxpayers.

Now, together with the U.S. Treasury Department, the IRS has confirmed that over 30 million taxpayers in 24 participating states — including Pennsylvania — will be eligible for the program during the 2025 tax season.

Americans across 24 states will be eligible to file taxes free using its Direct File tool, IRS says. Last year's pilot only included 12 states.

According to the IRS, residents in nearly 40 counties throughout Florida will have until May 1, 2025, to finish filing their 2023 taxes.

In the wake of Hurricane Helene, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has declared extensive tax relief measures for individuals and businesses across the affected regions. This relief extends