OLYMPIA – Governor Ferguson has sent a letter to U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent requesting disaster tax relief for people impacted by Washington’s wildfires.
In his letter, Governor Ferguson requests a one-year postponement of all applicable deadlines for affected taxpayers to file and pay their federal taxes. Postponing these deadlines will give much-needed flexibility to taxpayers whose ability to meet federal tax obligations may be disrupted by evacuations, property damage, business interruption, displacement, loss of records, restricted access, or other impacts related to the wildfires.
“I’ve said it before: We’re in this for the long haul,” Governor Ferguson said. “I’m focused on helping people recover from this disaster.”
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The request would apply to impacted individuals in the seven counties and three Tribal Nations named in Governor Ferguson’s emergency declaration: Chelan, Douglas, Ferry, Okanogan, Spokane, Stevens, and Yakima counties, the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation, the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, and the Spokane Tribe of Indians.
Governor Ferguson provided state-level tax relief for businesses affected by wildfires in his August 10 emergency proclamation.
State wildfire response
Governor Ferguson has taken action to help affected Washingtonians access aid, control the fires, and coordinate with the federal government on recovery.
On Friday, July 31, Governor Ferguson activated 110 members of the Washington National Guard to support firefighting operations across the state, supplementing the 27 helicopter crew members activated earlier in July.
On the morning of August 1, Governor Ferguson issued a statewide emergency declaration and burn ban. Governor Ferguson's emergency declaration allowed Washington state to access additional resources through the Emergency Management Assistance Compact, a nationwide mutual aid system. The Washington State Fire Marshal’s Office mobilized 13 task forces. Task forces include wildland fire engines and water tenders, each with about 15 personnel, including a task force leader.
Governor Ferguson visited Spokane on August 2, the day after the start of the fires in the area, and met with local officials to get information about what support they needed. Governor Ferguson has made several requests for federal assistance, which have been quickly granted.
The Trump administration granted Governor Ferguson’s request for a federal Emergency Declaration for six counties and three Tribal nations in Eastern Washington. Governor Ferguson requested it on August 2, and the federal government approved it on August 4.
The federal Emergency Declaration unlocks help for local governments with costs for evacuating and providing emergency shelters for those displaced by the wildfires. It also provides assistance for emergency food and water, search and rescue operations and more.
The entire Washington state congressional delegation wrote a letter supporting the emergency declaration.
In the wake of the Emergency Declaration, the United States Department of Health and Human Services approved Governor Ferguson’s request to declare a Public Health Emergency. Governor Ferguson requested it on August 4, and the federal government approved it on August 7.
The public health emergency declaration increases access to health care and critical services for those impacted by wildfires. It is speeding up refills or replacements for medication and medical supplies, reducing paperwork and authorization requirements for providers, allowing for alternative care settings and temporarily relaxing other requirements.
On August 10, Governor Ferguson signed an emergency proclamation suspending state laws to help those impacted by Washington’s devastating wildfires. That order included a wide variety of relief and assistance including:
- Activating $1.5 million in state Individual Assistance for people who lost their homes.
- Activating $1 million in Disaster Cash Assistance to help people meet their basic needs. Information on how to apply, and more on other cash assistance programs, is available here.
- Expanding access to the Family Emergency Assistance Program to include families with or without children, and allowing families to access the program monthly if needed during the emergency, rather than once a year.
- Keeping Washingtonians housed by prohibiting eviction-related actions, including protecting Washingtonians who have taken in friends, neighbors and strangers impacted by wildfires.
- Making it easier to get unemployment assistance by suspending the one-week waiting period, ensuring Washingtonians out of work due to wildfires receive their benefits right away.
- Making it easier to provide health care by granting extra time for health care providers to renew their licenses, allowing medical assistants to provide essential basic care, and easing restrictions on hospital staffing and alternative care sites.
The federal Emergency Declaration granted by President Trump brought in federal resources to assist in the response. It did not offer assistance to individuals or municipalities to repair damage. That will come if President Trump grants a Major Disaster Declaration. In order to obtain a Major Disaster Declaration, Washington must demonstrate it has met a variety of requirements, and provide preliminary damage assessments in coordination with FEMA and local governments.
The Washington State Emergency Management Division is already gathering the information needed to request a Major Disaster Declaration. Washington’s request is expected to be due in mid-September.
