The tax law may help you recover financially from a disaster, especially if you are located in a presidentially declared major disaster area. Depending on the circumstances, the IRS may give you additional time to file your return and pay taxes. Also, individuals and businesses in a presidentially declared disaster area can get a faster refund by claiming losses related to the disaster on the previous year's tax return, usually by filing an amended return.
General Tax Information for Disaster Victims
- Tax Relief in Disaster Situations — Recent news releases pertaining to specific events. Also see Around the Nation for local alerts.
- Frequently Asked Questions for disaster victims
- Tax Topic 515, Casualty, Disaster, and Theft Losses — An overview of tax relief available in presidentially declared disaster areas.
- FEMA Disaster Information
- Disaster Assistance and Emergency Relief for Individuals and Businesses
IRS Forms
IRS Publications
- Publication 547, Casualties, Disasters and Thefts. Information on how to figure and claim a disaster loss PDF (HTML)
- Publication 584, Casualty, Disaster and Theft Loss Workbook PDF (HTML)
- Publication 584-B, Business Casualty, Disaster and Theft Loss Workbook PDF (HTML)
- Publication 3067 (EN-SP), Disaster Assistance PDF
- Publication 3833, Disaster Relief: Providing Assistance through Charitable Organizations PDF