FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, September 8, 2005
Contact: Maura Browning, (573) 751-8222
Blunt Grants Driver License, Tax Extensions to Those Affected by Katrina
JEFFERSON CITY—Governor Matt Blunt today announced that Missouri will grant a one-year driver license extension to Louisiana-born Missourians needing assistance obtaining proof of lawful presence to receive a new or renewed license. Additionally, the state will grant special relief on tax issues related to Hurricane Katrina.
To assist Louisiana-born Missouri residents who must present a certified state or local government-issued birth certificate to obtain a driver or non-driver license, Gov. Blunt has directed the Department of Revenue to extend the driver license expiration date of affected Missourians by one year. Other states affected by the hurricane, such as Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida, have not experienced a significant loss of state services related to driver license issuance. The department will assist any Missourians who have difficulties obtaining certified birth certificates from those states.
In response to shortages of clear diesel fuel caused by Hurricane Katrina, Missouri will follow the Internal Revenue Service’s lead by not imposing a tax penalty when dyed diesel fuel is sold for use or used on the highway. The penalty relief is available to any person that sells or uses dyed fuel for highway use. Ordinarily, dyed diesel fuel is not taxed because it is sold for uses exempt from excise tax, such as to farmers for farming purposes and to local governments for buses. Taxes will apply if dyed diesel fuel is sold for use or used on the highway.
Florida, Alabama, Louisiana, and Mississippi all saw relief by August 30, and the penalty waiver went into effect for the rest of the United States on August 31. The penalty waiver will remain in effect until Sept. 15, 2005. The Revenue Department has notified all Missouri fuel suppliers, distributors, terminal operators, and transporters licensed with the state about the penalty waiver.
Finally, Gov. Blunt has directed the Department of Revenue to grant a 60-day tax filing extension to taxpayers directly affected by Hurricane Katrina. The special relief may apply to individuals who reside in the Presidential Disaster Area but have taxable Missouri income, businesses in Missouri that maintain accounting services in the disaster area, or corporations with quarterly filing requirements whose accounting services are located in the disaster area.
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