Tag: Hurricane Harvey Damage

Hurricane Harvey Casualty Loss and NOLs

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As Tax Day draws nearer, I continue to hear questions from taxpayers whose homes were affected by Hurricane Harvey. Today, I explore one instance in which a casualty loss from Harvey may be treated as an NOL, or net operating loss, and used to recover prior tax payments.

Can Your Casualty Loss from Hurricane Harvey Create an NOL for Carryback?

Yes. There may be an opportunity for an additional refund.

Individuals can claim an NOL for casualty losses that exceed the amount that can be utilized in the year the loss was sustained and reported. For those who suffered severe damage, the casualty loss may exceed their income and, therefore, they would not be able to fully utilize their casualty loss deduction for the year in which the loss occurred. The IRS allows such individuals to treat the loss as an NOL and carry it back to prior years. If income was insufficient in the prior years, a carryforward is available.

If done within one year of the NOL year, then you would use Form 1045; this will allow the taxpayer to receive a prompt refund. If the claim is filed more than one year after the close of the NOL year, then it must be filed on Form 1040X within the relevant statute of limitations for the loss year. Your normal NOL gets a two year carryback, but a special rule for casualty losses extends the carryback period to three years.

Congress enacted a special five-year carryback for those who suffered a loss from Hurricane Katrina. However, a similar special five-year carryback was not enacted for those who suffered losses from Hurricane Sandy. Tax professionals will be keeping an eye out for any new legislation that might extend the carryback period for victims of Hurricanes Harvey and Irma. Hopefully very few taxpayers will need five years to absorb their loss.

That is all for today. I look forward to visiting with you next week. In the meantime, don’t hesitate to reach out with questions. Feel free to email robert@robertstevensoncpa.com or call my office at (713) 785-8939. I’m also available by text at (713) 906-8331.

Hurricane Harvey Casualty Loss and Form 4684

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As Tax Day draws nearer, I’ve had a number of questions about Hurricane Harvey and casualty loss. Today, I’ll walk you through what you need to file Form 4684 for casualty loss deductions with your 2017 tax return.

Form 4684, Casualties and Thefts was designed especially for storms like Hurricane Harvey. In 2017, you will be able to take an itemized deduction by completing the form and attaching it to your Form 1040. Also, it’s important to know that twenty counties along the Texas Gulf Coast, including Harris County, were Presidentially Declared Disaster Areas. Once the President declares an area a Presidentially Declared Disaster Area, then the IRS can administratively make temporary changes to the law, such as extending the due dates of returns and estimated tax payments, and they can lift the 10% of AGI threshold for casualty losses. And that is what they did. If your home was flooded and your personal possessions were lost in the flood, then you need to complete Form 4684.

Here is what you will need to complete the form:

  • The cost or basis of your home
  • Your insurance or other reimbursement (ie: FEMA)
  • Your fair market value before the storm
  • Your fair market value after the storm

This is the information you will need to complete your casualty loss deduction. If you struggle with any of these items, such as the FMV of your home after the storm, don’t hesitate to ask your realtor or real estate appraiser, or contact the Harris County Appraisal District. If you need any help with any of this, then please give me a call.

That is all today. I look forward to visiting with you next week. In the meantime, please let me know if you have any questions — you can call my office at (713) 785-8939 or leave a comment on this post to get in touch.

FAFSA Tips and Post-Harvey Aid

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It’s time to be thinking about Federal Student Aid. If you need help filling out the FAFSA form, please read on or give me call. Also below, I unpack a few of the tax implications of a House bill designed to provide hurricane and wildfire relief.

Let’s begin.

Helpful Tips on the FAFSA

Do you have children in college? Then the Free Application for Federal Student Aid is the form that you will complete if you want to enter the federal financial aid system. Go to www.fafsa.ed.gov to electronically file if you want a Stafford Loan, a work-study job for your student on campus, a federal grant, or maybe even a little scholarship money from the endowment. You will need your 2016 Form 1040 and a list of your assets. If you need help, please give me a call at (713) 785-8939.

U.S. House Approves $36.5 Billion Aid Package

Last Thursday, October 12th, the House approved a bill that will provide Hurricane Harvey, Irma, and Maria relief as well as wildfire relief, and will bail out the financially troubled National Flood Insurance Program. The bill now awaits consideration by the Senate.

The bill also includes a few tax changes that might benefit you. This legislation allows you to take a casualty loss from these storms without having to itemize. You will also be able to deduct your uninsured personal losses in excess of a $500 threshold without regard to the 10% of adjusted gross income offset that generally applies to get that deduction. I don’t need to tell you how big that could be.

Also of note, the 10% penalty on pre-age-59 ½ withdrawals from retirement accounts is waived, as long as the IRA or retirement plan withdrawals are not greater than $100,000. The regular income tax due on these distributions can be paid over three years. You can also borrow more from your 401(k), up to $100,000, and loan repayments can be deferred. These are some of the changes that may affect you.

Tax Records Lost During Harvey?

If you lost your tax records during the hurricane you can use the Get Transcript tool on IRS.gov to print a summary of your W-2, 1099, and 1098 information. A tax transcript is a summary of key information and not a copy of your return. If you want a copy of an actual return, you must file Form 4506. If you want a copy of your transcript by mail, then you must file Form 4506-T. To expedite the processing and waive the customary fees, write “Hurricane Harvey” on the top of the form.

Three Easy Ways to Report Your Property Damage

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Harris County homeowners who suffered damage from Hurricane Harvey can report their damage to the Harris County Appraisal District (HCAD) through the following ways:

  1. The HCAD’s upgraded app, available for Apple and Android phones.
  2. By phone at (713) 812-5805. You will need to provide your name, address, phone number, and account number, if you have it, along with the type of property damage and amount of water you received.
  3. You can also email that information to help@hcad.org.

Reporting property damage now will help the appraisal district identify the most damaged neighborhoods and properties to help homeowners next year when property is reappraised.

Remember, your property tax liability is based on the appraised value as of January 1 of each year. Therefore, your tax bill for 2017 is based on your appraised value at January 01, 2017. And likewise, if your home has not been completely repaired as of January 1, 2018, then you should become eligible for a reduced value for 2018.