WASHINGTON (Internal Revenue Service) – Texas taxpayers who were adversely affected by Hurricane Ike qualify for tax relief from the Internal Revenue Service, including the postponement of tax filing and payment deadlines until Jan. 5, 2009.

The following counties were declared disaster areas following the hurricane and qualify for assistance: Angelina, Austin, Brazoria, Chambers, Cherokee, Fort Bend, Galveston, Grimes, Hardin, Harris, Houston, Jasper, Jefferson, Liberty, Madison, Matagorda, Montgomery, Nacogdoches, Newton, Orange, Polk, Sabine, San Augustine, San Jacinto, Trinity, Tyler, Walker, Waller and Washington.

The relief postpones until Jan. 5, 2009, certain deadlines for taxpayers who reside or have a business in the disaster area. The postponement applies to return filing, tax payment and certain other time-sensitive acts due on or after Sept. 7, 2008, and before Jan. 5, 2009, including individual estimated tax returns and corporate tax returns that were due Sept. 15, and extended individual returns due Oct. 15.

Go to www.irs.gov for more information about the extensions and if this is applies to your area. Also, your CPA will be able to assist with this matter.

As we sit here recovering from our rather minimal effects of hurricane Ike (when compared to the other parts of the Greater Houston and Galveston Areas), we are trying to figure out how to help our less fortunate neighbors. I have had comments on ideas and one of the best is to redistribute the extra bottled water that we no longer need for survival.

I will contact Mayor White’s office tomorrow to see if there is any way we can contribute unopened bottled water for distribution to those in need. If they okay this idea, I will post a drop off point and then ask for volunteers to help us get the water to where it is needed.

If anyone out there has a better idea, I am all ears and happy to help. I appreciate any and all who are interested in this project.

I wish for you all a comfortable evening and will update this post tomorrow.

We are all working hard at cleaning up the mess left behind. Still no power in our section of Grand Lakes. I have reports that parts of Mason Road communities, Nottingham, Kelliwood and other areas of Katy are still waiting to be reconnected. At least the weatherman has predicted low temps tonight in the 60’s as it is hard to get to sleep at night in the 80’s.

I had hopes we would be back on today but am every hopeful for tomorrow. School is called off for tomorrow for KISD so the kids get another “snow day”. Funny, the schools are closed but my kids have just left to go to Cinemark for a movie. Yes, that is roughing it. It does feel good to see some  aspects of life getting back to normal.

I will recharge my batteries this evening next door (neighbor has a wonderful generator that they use to power a fan, tv and a blender. Gotta love Texans and their priorities:).

I would love to hear from different areas of Katy and West Houston to see how you have fared. This blog has received thousands of hits from all over the world with concerned family and friends wanting to know how their loved ones are doing. As I can only attest to my specific area, any information you can add will be very much appreciated.

Take care and more updates will be added after a much needed battery recharge.