Question

Lost home in California Eaton fire

Forum|Forum|1 year ago
March 19, 2025
1 reply
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We lost our home and belongings in January in the California Eaton fire. I'm told we can make a casualty loss claim for 2024 even though it happened this year. What I'm not sure about is if it's considered a Qualified event. If so, form 4684 wouldn't need to deduct 10% AGI. Do you have any insight into this?

Ask the Experts - Changes II - Mar 2025

D

DianeW777

Yes, that is correct. Check the FEMA listing to see if your fire is on the disaster list.

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J

joshua1390Author

It is listed on the FEMA website as California Wildfires and Straight-line Winds, DR-4856-CA

Turbotax gives the options of "Qualifies as major disaster" or "Qualifies as federally declared disaster, but not major qualified disaster". How do I know which one it is and how does that impact form 4684?

Edit: On the FEMA website it appears to be considered a "ongoing major disaster", but the Turbotax checkbox options limit major disasters to "federally declared between December 28, 2019 and December 12, 2024". Can I choose that option anyway if it was declared on January 8, 2025?

AmyC

Employee

Your California Wildfires and Straight-line Winds (DR-4856-CA) qualifies as a federally declared disaster. A qualified disaster uses form 4684 to claim the losses.

Since you lost everything, this workbook may help, Publication 584, Casualty, Disaster, and Theft Loss Workbook (Personal-Use Property)

Yes, you will have to work with the program and choose the 2024 date.

Reference: Publication 547 (2024), Casualties, Disasters, and Thefts

I am very sorry for your loss.