This spring, severe storms, tornadoes, and flooding tore through large parts of Wisconsin, and for a lot of families and business owners, taxes were understandably the last thing on their minds. Luckily, the IRS recognized that, and various tax deadlines are changing.
If you live or run a business in one of the affected counties, you may now have until November 2nd to file and pay federal and state taxes. Before you file, we’ve outlined the steps and qualifications that will help you determine if this extension applies to you.
Who is Covered by Wisconsin’s Tax Deadline Extension?
November 2nd is an important date for Wisconsin residents affected by this spring’s severe storms. These taxpayers now have an extension to file various federal individual and business tax returns.
The first question on people’s minds is, “Does this apply to me?”
Identify if your county qualifies: Bayfield, Brown, Buffalo, Iowa, Jackson, Jefferson, Juneau, Kenosha, Kewaunee, Manitowoc, Marathon, Milwaukee, Oneida Reservation, Outagamie, Racine, Rock, Sauk, Vernon, Washington, Waukesha, Waupaca, Winnebago.
The relief follows FEMA’s disaster declaration for the storms that began April 13, 2026. The IRS applies the extension to your account automatically. If you live in or your business is located in one of the qualifying counties, you don’t have to call or file anything extra.
Additionally, a few groups outside this map qualify:
- Your tax records are located in the disaster area
- You’re a relief worker affiliated with a government or charitable organization
- You were visiting the area and were injured because of the storms
For anyone falling within these county qualifications, this is worth a proactive check. The next natural question is what gets pushed back.
Which Wisconsin taxes are Now Due in November?
The extension covers most federal deadlines that fell between April 13 and November 2, including:
- 2025 individual tax returns and payments due April 15 and on extension.
- 2025 business, partnership, S-corp, estate, and trust returns due during that window with valid extension.
- Quarterly estimated tax payments due during that window.
- Quarterly payroll and excise tax returns: The extension applies to return filing only, not deposit requirements. Tax deposits must still be made on time, but penalties on payroll and excise tax deposits due between April 13 and April 28 are abated if the deposits are paid in full by April 28.
What is a Casualty Loss Deduction?
In Wisconsin, disaster-related casualty losses can be deducted on both federal and state income tax returns. This is another potential option if insurance doesn’t directly cover damage to either your personal or business property.
- Personal casualty losses: You can generally only deduct losses from federally declared disasters, reduced by $100 per event. You can only deduct the amount that exceeds 10% of your Adjusted Gross Income.
- Business casualty losses: Deductible whether the event was federally declared and are not subject to the $100 or 10% AGI limitations.
Read more about what you can do to minimize storm damage to your business.
To file, you can elect to claim the loss either on your 2025 or 2026 return, up to six months past the disaster year’s normal filing deadline. This means extra time to decide which year to use and understand how the assistance you received along the way factors in.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Wisconsin Tax Extension
Your property was damaged, and your county qualifies. But what’s next?
Below are a few questions Wisconsin residents are asking right now, along with how we can answer them.
Do I need to do anything with the state, too?
No separate paperwork is required since Wisconsin automatically follows the federal disaster-related filing extensions. When the IRS extends a federal deadline for a disaster area, the matching Wisconsin income or franchise tax deadline moves with it.
I had storm damage. Can I deduct it?
For personal property losses that weren’t covered by insurance or other reimbursement, you have the option to deduct them through a casualty loss deduction. Be sure to include the FEMA disaster number, 4923-DR, on the return.
What about the payments I received for storm recovery?
Disaster relief payments that aided with temporary housing, home repairs, or damaged belongings are generally excluded from taxable income. A best practice is keeping records of what you received and what it was used for.
Does this extension affect my retirement accounts?
Affected taxpayers might be eligible for disaster-related retirement plan distributions, such as a waiver of the usual 10% early-withdrawal penalty. Rules vary by plan, so this is worth a conversation if you tapped into a 401(k) or IRA for storm-related expenses.
There are many moving pieces this tax season in Wisconsin, but residents are finding opportunities to soften the financial hit of a hard spring. Now is the time to start looking at how your situation has changed.
Next Steps for Wisconsin Taxpayers in 2026
The deadline relief itself has been made easy for residents, but the ongoing tax decisions can get tricky. Start thinking about these steps over the next few weeks:
- Confirm your county is on the list above
- Determine if you’re ready to file or would benefit from the extension
- Hold onto property damage documentation
- Check the casualty loss election
- Connect with your tax professional
Deciding how to use, coordinate, and sequence casualty loss elections without dipping into other accounts for withdrawals is something worth discussing with your accounting partner. Our team offers a professional review of your tax structure and help you identify potential opportunities within your tax structure.
If you’re in one of the affected counties, reach out to MBE CPAs, and we can look at what this extension means for you.