Contact Congress about H.R. 1491: Disaster Related Extension of Deadlines Act

HR 1491 makes sure that when the IRS gives disaster victims extra time to file taxes, that extra time also counts toward their refund deadline. It also stops the IRS from sending premature collection notices during disaster delays.

Modern Action explains legislation in plain English, helps you choose whether to support, oppose, or ask for changes, and drafts a message tied to the bill, your stance, and the elected officials who can act on it.

Disaster Related Extension of Deadlines Act is a House bill signed into law. The latest recorded action: Became Public Law No: 119-64.

Latest action on H.R. 1491: Became Public Law No: 119-64.

Who this affects: This bill primarily affects individuals and businesses in areas where the IRS has already granted disaster-related filing extensions. It also affects IRS operations by requiring the agency to adjust how it calculates deadlines on refund claims and collection notices after disasters.

Why this matters: After a disaster, people are often focused on immediate survival and recovery, not tax paperwork. The current mismatch between filing extensions and refund deadlines means some disaster survivors unknowingly lose money they are owed. This bill fixes that mismatch and also prevents the IRS from sending collection notices that ignore the extra time it already granted.

Key provisions in H.R. 1491

• Disaster-related filing postponements will now count as a filing deadline extension for purposes of the specific refund limitation rule, so people who get extra time to file also get extra time to claim refunds.
• The new refund-limit rule only applies to refund or credit claims filed after the bill becomes law -- it does not apply retroactively.
• When the IRS sends collection notices, it must calculate the payment deadline after factoring in any disaster, significant fire, or terroristic/military action postponement.
• The updated collection-notice rule only applies to notices the IRS sends after the bill is enacted.
• The bill does not create new types of disasters -- it works within the existing disaster-postponement system already in the tax code.

How Modern Action helps you take action on H.R. 1491

You do not have to start with a blank letter. Modern Action turns the bill, your position, and the relevant congressional context into a message you can edit and send. The goal is to make contacting Congress clear, specific, and useful without forcing you to parse bill text or figure out the right office on your own.

Questions people ask about H.R. 1491

What is H.R. 1491?

HR 1491 makes sure that when the IRS gives disaster victims extra time to file taxes, that extra time also counts toward their refund deadline. It also stops the IRS from sending premature collection notices during disaster delays.

How do I support or oppose H.R. 1491?

Choose support, oppose, or ask for changes on Modern Action. The action flow drafts the message for you and keeps the wording tied to this bill.

Who should I contact about H.R. 1491?

Modern Action uses your location to route the action to the congressional offices relevant to the bill and your representation.

Can Modern Action explain H.R. 1491 before I act?

Yes. Modern Action gives you a plain-English summary, current status, and action context before you send anything.