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June 6, 2019
Question

Due 2 landlord negligence, the house i rented got an insect infestation that caused hundreds of $$ in damaged business clothes. Can I report as casualty/theft losses?

  • June 6, 2019
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1 reply

Employee
June 6, 2019

Personal property losses are entered as an itemized deduction on schedule A. Your loss must exceed 10% of your AGI, after subtracting $100 from the total.

  • In your open return, select My Account
  • Tools
  • Topic Search
  • Type 'casualties and thefts' in the box, then select GO

https://www.irs.gov/publications/p17/ch25.html

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macuser_22
Employee
June 6, 2019
I doubt the IRS would consider that a casualty loss at all since insect damage is gradual and not sudden like an earthquake or flood.

Per the IRS
Quote:
A casualty is the damage, destruction, or loss of property resulting from an identifiable event that is sudden, unexpected, or unusual.
    -A sudden event is one that is swift, not gradual or progressive.
   -An unexpected event is one that is ordinarily unanticipated and unintended.
   -An unusual event is one that isn't a day-to-day occurrence and that isn't typical of the activity in which you were engaged.
End quote
**Disclaimer: This post is for discussion purposes only and is NOT tax advice. The author takes no responsibility for the accuracy of any information in this post.**