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Tips from the IRS

June 1 marks the start of hurricane season. When a hurricane or other disaster strikes, the IRS wants you to know you can count on us for help. We can help you prepare for, and recover from, the destruction it causes. Here is some of the key disaster-related help and assistance you can get 24/7 on our IRS.gov website:

• Make a plan.  Check out our IRS.gov page Preparing for a Disaster. It’s dedicated to help you plan before a disaster hits.
• Federally declared disasters.  Special tax law provisions apply when the federal government declares a major disaster area. These rules can help victims recover financially after a disaster. For instance, the IRS may grant more time to file tax returns and pay tax.
• Faster refunds possible.  You may be able to get a faster refund from losses suffered in a federally declared disaster area. You can claim losses related to the disaster on the tax return for the previous year. You make the claim by filing an amended return in most cases.
• Disaster declarations.  Refer to Tax Relief in Disaster Situations. That page has a list of the latest disaster declarations and any related disaster tax relief.
• Around the Nation.  The Around the Nation section of IRS.gov provides local tax news. It primarily includes IRS tax relief that applies to major disasters.
• Disaster relief.  The IRS has many resources to help those who provide disaster relief. For more on that topic visit our page Disaster Relief Resources for Charities and Contributors.

Additional IRS Resources:

• Publication 2194, Disaster Resource Guide for Individuals and Businesses
• Publication 584, Casualty, Disaster, and Theft Loss Workbook (Personal-Use Property)
• Publication 584-B, Business Casualty, Disaster, and Theft Loss Workbook
• Reconstructing Your Records