IRS, FTB, DOL: Rita tax relief.

• Position: DISASTER RELIEF

The IRS has extended the due dates for filing tax returns and paying taxes until Feb. 28, 2006 (from Oct. 31, 2005) for taxpayers in nine Texas counties and five Louisiana parishes struck by Hurricane Rita.

The FTB likewise has extended tax filing dates and waived interest penalties until the end of February 2006 for California taxpayers affected by the hurricane.

The Department of Labor's Employee Benefits Security Administration has extended the deadline to Jan. 3, 2006 for filing Form 5500 EZ annual report/returns for employee benefit plans affected by Hurricane Katrina. For more, visit www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=148540,00.html...