Taxpayers affected by tornadoes and flooding will have additional time to file Iowa tax returns and pay Iowa tax without penalty and interest payments. The extended deadline is July 28 for returns and payments due after May 24 and before June 26. The extension applies to these taxes: withholding, corporate income, franchise, sales and use, hotel and motel, environmental protection charges, inheritance, motor fuel and special fuel and cigarette and tobacco. Taxpayers filing a paper return should make a notation on the return stating, “Taxpayer affected by tornadoes/flooding.” Taxpayers in presidentially declared disaster areas may claim disaster-related casualty losses on their federal income tax returns for either 2007 or 2008. The option chosen for federal purposes will be automatically allowed for Iowa tax purposes. Taxpayers may amend their 2007 Iowa income tax returns to take advantage of this provision.

Winnebago Industries Inc. reported financial results today for its third quarter and first 40 weeks of fiscal year 2008 ended May 31. Revenues for the quarter were $139.7 million, a decrease of 39.7 percent, from $231.7 million last year. The company reported an operating loss of $6.9 million for the quarter, compared to operating income of $14.7 million last year. During the quarter, tax benefits of $8.9 million were recorded that related to favorable settlements of uncertain tax positions, a reduction of the effective tax rate due to lower year-to-date pre-tax income and tax planning initiatives. Net income for the third quarter was $3 million, a decrease of 73.3 percent from $11.3 million for the third quarter of 2007. On a diluted per share basis, the company had net income of 10 cents a share for the third quarter of fiscal 2008, compared with 35 cents per share for the third quarter last year.

Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield has announced several steps it is taking for members, group customers and providers affected by the recent natural disasters in Iowa, including floods and tornadoes. These temporary policy changes are in place: Members with coverage under Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Iowa and Wellmark Health Plan of Iowa Inc. can use an early refill program for prescription drugs lost, damaged or destroyed; some medical policies have been temporarily changed to ease access to care; and grace periods have been set in place for payment of premiums. For more information, call (800) 892-2762.

A group of 28 airline passengers has filed a federal lawsuit to block the proposed $3.9 billion merger between Northwest Airlines Corp. and Delta Airlines Inc., the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal reported. Filed in San Francisco, the suit claims that the merger would create a monopoly, with the new company controlling 24 percent of domestic flights. It alleges that the merger would result in higher ticket prices and poor service.

Allegiant Air has transported nearly 73,000 travelers from Des Moines to Las Vegas during the past year, the company said in a news release celebrating its fifth year of service from Des Moines International Airport to McCarran International Airport. Allegiant launched the service June 19, 2003.