https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/taxes/discussion/87k-paid-to-a-general-contractor-who-i-am-now-suing-for-fraud-can-i-claim-this-as-theft/01/3173894#M1185574 <P>I paid a general contractor a down payment of 87k for an addition to my home. The 87k comprised $76,250 as the initial down payment and demanded another 10k after the demolition in order to continue the project. The project never continued. I am currently suing him and we expect to get a judgment in my favor since he cannot afford a lawyer, but there is no judgment yet. We also do not expect, even with the judgment, to be able to get any of the money back; i.e. he spent it all.&nbsp;</P><P>&nbsp;</P><P>Can I claim this as theft on my tax return, and if so... what documentation will I need for support?</P> Wed, 11 Feb 2026 04:10:25 GMT jkarney 2026-02-11T04:10:25Z https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/taxes/discussion/87k-paid-to-a-general-contractor-who-i-am-now-suing-for-fraud-can-i-claim-this-as-theft/01/3173894#M1185574 <P>I paid a general contractor a down payment of 87k for an addition to my home. The 87k comprised $76,250 as the initial down payment and demanded another 10k after the demolition in order to continue the project. The project never continued. I am currently suing him and we expect to get a judgment in my favor since he cannot afford a lawyer, but there is no judgment yet. We also do not expect, even with the judgment, to be able to get any of the money back; i.e. he spent it all.&nbsp;</P><P>&nbsp;</P><P>Can I claim this as theft on my tax return, and if so... what documentation will I need for support?</P> Wed, 11 Feb 2026 04:10:25 GMT https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/taxes/discussion/87k-paid-to-a-general-contractor-who-i-am-now-suing-for-fraud-can-i-claim-this-as-theft/01/3173894#M1185574 jkarney 2026-02-11T04:10:25Z https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/taxes/discussion/re-87k-paid-to-a-general-contractor-who-i-am-now-suing-for-fraud-can-i-claim-this-as-theft/01/3173904#M1185575 <P>No.</P> <P>&nbsp;</P> <P>The tax treatment of personal casualty losses and thefts is changed under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. Pursuant to the TCJA,&nbsp;the itemized deduction for personal casualty and theft losses is temporarily limited in tax years 2018 through 2025 solely to losses attributable to federally-declared disasters.</P> <P>&nbsp;</P> <P>&nbsp;</P> Wed, 07 Feb 2024 20:51:01 GMT https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/taxes/discussion/re-87k-paid-to-a-general-contractor-who-i-am-now-suing-for-fraud-can-i-claim-this-as-theft/01/3173904#M1185575 MinhT1 2024-02-07T20:51:01Z