Introduction
This publication explains the tax treatment of casualties, thefts, and losses on deposits. A casualty occurs when your property
is damaged as a
result of a disaster such as a storm, fire, car accident, or similar event. A theft occurs when someone steals your property.
A loss on deposits
occurs when your financial institution becomes insolvent or bankrupt.
This publication discusses the following topics.
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Definitions of a casualty, theft, and loss on deposits.
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How to figure the amount of your gain or loss.
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How to treat insurance and other reimbursements you receive.
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The deduction limits.
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When and how to report a casualty or theft.
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The special rules for disaster area losses.
Forms to file.
When you have a casualty or theft, you have to file Form 4684. You will also have to file one or more of the following
forms.
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Schedule A (Form 1040).
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Schedule D (Form 1040).
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Form 4797.
For details on which form to use, see
How To Report Gains and Losses, later.
Condemnations.
For information on condemnations of property, see
Involuntary Conversions in chapter 1 of Publication 544.
Workbooks for casualties and thefts.
Publication 584 is available to help you make a list of your stolen or damaged personal-use property and figure your
loss. It includes schedules to
help you figure the loss on your home and its contents, and your motor vehicles.
Publication 584B is available to help you make a list of your stolen or damaged business or income-producing property
and figure your loss.
Comments and suggestions.
We welcome your comments about this publication and your suggestions for future editions.
You can write to us at the following address:
Internal Revenue Service
Individual Forms and Publications Branch
SE:W:CAR:MP:T:I
1111 Constitution Ave. NW
Washington, DC 20224
We respond to many letters by telephone. Therefore, it would be helpful if you would include your daytime phone number,
including the area code, in
your correspondence.
You can email us at
*[email protected]. (The asterisk must be included in the
address.) Please put “
Publications Comment” on the subject line. Although we cannot respond individually to each email, we do appreciate your
feedback and will consider your comments as we revise our tax products.
Tax questions.
If you have a tax question, visit
www.irs.gov or call 1-800-829-1040. We cannot answer tax questions at either
of the addresses listed above.
Ordering forms and publications.
Visit
www.irs.gov/formspubs
to download forms and publications, call 1-800-829-3676, or write to one of the three addresses shown under
How To Get Tax Help in the back
of this publication.
