irs.gov/disastertaxrelief

The IRS's Disaster Tax Relief program is designed to ease the burden on individuals and businesses affected by natural disasters. To get a faster tax refund after experiencing a disaster, you can go to irs.gov/disastertaxrelief.

Note: If necessary, visit irs.gov/disastertaxrelief to clarify your eligibility or get assistance with your claim.

How do I get a quick refund after a disaster?

1. Determine eligibility:

   • You must be in a federally declared disaster area to determine eligibility. Only people affected by such disasters are eligible for faster tax relief measures.

2. Claim disaster losses:

   • You can claim unreimbursed or unreimbursed losses on your tax return. This is typically done using Form 1040 for the current year or Form 1040-X to amend a previous year's return. Include Form 4684 to report your losses from the disaster.

3. File for a refund:

   • If you claim a previous year's loss, filing an amended return (Form 1040-X) can help you get your refund faster. This process can speed up refunds because it allows you to adjust your taxable income based on the losses caused by the disaster.

4. Automatic extensions:

   • If you live in a disaster area, the IRS automatically extends deadlines for filing and paying taxes, which can help ease the immediate financial pressure when preparing your claims.

5. Documentation:

   • Keep full documentation of your losses, including photos, receipts, and any relevant records that substantiate your claims. This is critical to efficiently process your refund.

Main Relief Measures

1. Automatic Filing Extensions:

   • Taxpayers in federally declared disaster areas automatically receive extensions to file their tax returns and pay their taxes. This extension usually lasts until May 1 of the following year after the disaster.

   • For example, taxpayers affected by Hurricane Milton in Florida have until May 1, 2025, to file returns that are usually due in March or April 2025.

2. Deferral of Payments:

   • Various tax payments are also deferred, including estimated quarterly payments and payroll taxes that were due during the disaster period.

3. Claiming Disaster-Related Losses:

   • Taxpayers can claim uninsured or unreimbursed losses on their current year (2024) or previous year (2023) tax returns. They have until October 15, 2025, to make this election16.

   • To claim these losses, taxpayers must include a FEMA declaration number on their returns4.