10/14/2024
Disaster loss deduction may be available
In some instances, individuals and businesses in a federally-declared disaster area can qualify for a casualty loss tax deduction. The deduction is available for damaged or destroyed property not covered by insurance or other reimbursement and can result in a larger refund.
A unique feature of this deduction is that taxpayers can choose to claim it on either the return for the year the loss occurred (in this instance, the 2024 return normally filed next year), or the return for the prior year
(the 2023 return filed this year). For individual taxpayers, the deadline for making this election is Oct. 15, 2025.
If deductions exceed a taxpayer’s income, it can result in a net operating loss (NOL). A taxpayer need not have a business to have a NOL from a casualty. A NOL can normally be carried forward and deducted in a future tax year. Call Phoenix Business & Tax Solutions at 706-992-6118 for more information.