Overview Special tax law provisions may help taxpayers and businesses recover financially from the impact of a disaster, especially when the federal government declares their location to be a major disaster area. Depending on the circumstances, the IRS may grant additional time to file returns and pay taxes. Both individuals and businesses in a federally declared disaster area can get a faster refund by claiming losses related to the disaster on the tax return for the previous year, usually by filing an amended return. The IRS also offers audio presentations on Planning for Disaster. These presentations discuss business continuity planning, insurance coverage, recordkeeping and other tips to stay in business after a major disaster. Get the Latest Tax Relief Guidance in Disaster Situations Recent special tax law provisions may help taxpayers recover financially from the impact of a major disaster in their location. Tax Relief Help for the Coronavirus IRS is providing a variety of tax relief for those affected by the Coronavirus. For the latest updates, check the Coronavirus Tax Relief page. Preparing for Disasters Are your home and/or business ready if a disaster strikes? Get information and suggestions or paperless recordkeeping, documenting assets and valuables. Around the Nation This section of our website provides IRS news specific to local areas, primarily disaster relief or tax provisions that affect certain states. Tax Topic 515, Casualty, Disaster, and Theft Losses Casualty losses can result from the destruction of or damage to your property from any sudden, unexpected, and unusual event such as a flood, hurricane, tornado, fire, earthquake or even volcanic eruption. For Individuals FAQs for Disaster Victims This section provides guidance for those affected by disasters and answers to frequently asked questions. Reconstructing Your Records Reconstructing records after a disaster may be essential for tax purposes, getting federal assistance or insurance reimbursement. After a disaster, taxpayers might need certain records to prove their loss. The more accurately the loss is estimated, the more loan and grant money there may be available. Disaster Planning Video Presentations Disaster Loss Deductions IRS Disaster Assistance Planning for Business Continuity after a Disaster Reconstructing Records after a Disaster For Tax Professionals Disaster Relief Resource Center for Tax Professionals Through this resource center we address many of the questions received from tax professionals. We've included information published by the IRS, along with links to IRS partners who may offer additional assistance. Many of our partners have provided various resources to help the payroll and practitioner community to recover and get re-established in the event of a natural disaster. For Charitable Organizations Disaster Relief Resources for Charities and Contributors After a disaster or in other emergency hardship situations, people may be interested in using a charitable organization to help victims. The IRS provides several resources to help them accomplish this goal. Publication 3833, Disaster Relief, Providing Assistance Through Charitable OrganizationsPDF This publication describes how members of the public can use charitable organizations to provide assistance to victims of disasters or other emergency hardship situations. Talk With the IRS Contact My Local Office IRS Taxpayer Assistance Centers are your one-stop resource for in-person tax help and solutions to tax problems, every business day. Taxpayer Advocate Service The Taxpayer Advocate is an independent organization within the IRS. They help taxpayers resolve problems with the IRS and recommend changes that will prevent the problems. Other Government Agency Disaster Information DisasterAssistance.gov This is a one stop Web portal that consolidates information from 17 US Government Agencies where taxpayers can apply for Small Business Administration loans through online applications, receive referral information on forms of assistance that do not have online applications, or check the progress and status of their applications online. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Federal disaster aid programs provided by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) are available to citizens affected by major disasters. Small Business Administration (SBA) The U. S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is responsible for providing affordable, timely and accessible financial assistance to homeowners, renters and businesses of all sizes located in a declared disaster area. Financial assistance is available in the form of low-interest, long-term loans for losses that are not fully covered by insurance or other recoveries. READY.gov Learn how individuals and business can prepare for and respond to all kinds of disasters and emergencies. Benefits.gov Benefits.gov wants to let survivors and disaster relief workers know about the many disaster relief programs available. Perhaps you have suffered damage to a home or business, lost your job, or experienced crop damage due to a natural disaster. Benefits.gov has a variety of national benefit and assistance programs geared toward disaster recovery. IRS Forms and Publications Publication 547, Casualties, Disasters and Thefts Publication 547 explains how to treat casualties, thefts, and losses on deposits. It discusses definitions, how to figure gain or loss, how to treat reimbursements, and how to report them. Publication 547 (SP) (in Spanish)PDF Form 1040-X, Amended U.S. Individual Income Tax ReturnPDF Form 1040-X is used by individual taxpayers to amend prior year tax returns. Publication 584, Casualty, Disaster, and Theft Loss Workbook (Personal-Use-Property)PDF. Also available in HTML. Publication 584 discusses non-business disaster, casualty and theft loss. Publication 584 (SP) (in Spanish)PDF. Also available in HTML (in Spanish). Publication 584-BPDF. Also available in HTML. Publication 976, Disaster ReliefPDF Publication 976 provides special rules for claiming qualified disaster losses. Personal casualty losses resulting from federally declared disasters that occurred in 2016, and certain 2017 disasters may be claimed as a qualified disaster loss. Publication 3067, IRS Disaster Assistance – Federally Declared Disaster AreaPDF Publication 3067 provides a quick overview of the casualty loss deduction and describes information the taxpayer will need to file a casualty loss claim. This publication is generally used at FEMA Disaster Recovery Centers, where other tax forms and disaster assistance information are distributed. Publication 3067 (EN/SP) (in English/in Spanish)PDF Publication 3067 (ZH-S) (in Chinese - Simplified)PDF Publication 3067 (DE) (in German)PDF Publication 3067 (KO) (in Korean)PDF Publication 3067 (RU) (in Russian)PDF Publication 3067 (VIE) (in Vietnamese)PDF Publication 3833, Disaster Relief — Providing Assistance Through Charitable OrganizationsPDF Publication 3833 is a booklet that advises individuals about creating an organization or being a part of an existing organization or charity that aids victims of disasters/hardships. Form 8915-F, Qualified Disaster Retirement Plan Distributions and RepaymentsPDF Taxpayers use Form 8915-F to report retirement plan distributions for major 2021 and later disasters receiving favorable tax treatment. This product supersedes Form 8915-E, which was used for the coronavirus and other 2020 disasters, retired in 2021. Form 8915-F is a forever/evergreen form. Instructions for Form 8915-F, Qualified Disaster Retirement Plan Distributions and RepaymentsPDF Instructions for Form 8915-F, Qualified Disaster Retirement Plan Distributions and Repayments is a forever form. Beginning in 2021 the same form will be used for distributions for qualified 2020 disasters and each year thereafter.
