Gov. Greg Abbott asked the U.S. Treasury Department to suspend federal tax deadlines for Fort Bend County and 61 other counties hit by July flooding.
Abbott sent the letter to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Thursday, Oct. 15, according to Fox 26 Houston. The request covers all 62 counties included in the governor's July 14 state disaster proclamation, which cited heavy rainfall and flash flooding that posed a threat of "widespread and severe property damage, injury, or loss of life."
Fort Bend County is among those 62 counties. Missouri City and Stafford, both in Fort Bend County, would be covered if the Treasury Department approves the request.
The letter asks Bessent to temporarily suspend federal tax filing and payment deadlines and to waive late fees, penalties and interest for affected taxpayers. If approved, the relief would apply to individuals and businesses across all 62 counties, not just the 23 that received a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) major disaster declaration on Sept. 1.
Fort Bend County was not among the 23 counties approved for FEMA Public Assistance. Abbott's letter specifically asks the Treasury secretary to extend tax relief to counties covered by the state disaster proclamation that were left out of the federal declaration, according to the governor's press release.
"I urge Secretary Bessent to suspend the tax deadlines and waive all late fees and penalties so families and businesses can rebuild," Abbott said in a statement.
The U.S. Treasury Department has not announced whether it will approve the request. No timeline for a decision has been made public.
Separately, the governor's request for FEMA Individual Assistance covering 30 affected counties remains pending, according to a Sept. 25 state announcement. A statewide request for additional FEMA Hazard Mitigation Grant Program resources is also still pending.
Fort Bend County residents can monitor the status of the tax relief request through the governor's office or the U.S. Treasury Department.
