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Can you claim the total loss from a car accident caused by a deer under "Disasters, theft, and other property loss or damage"?

My car was totaled due to a deer, I only had 11 payments left 🥺 can that be claimed under the section "Disasters, theft, and other 'property loss or damage'"
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MelindaS1
Employee Tax Expert

Can you claim the total loss from a car accident caused by a deer under "Disasters, theft, and other property loss or damage"?

No, the requirements to claim a deduction for casualty, disaster, or theft loss are strictly defined and relate to losses incurred in a federally-declared disaster (post-Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017). From IRS Topic no. 515, Casualty, disaster, and theft losses:

Casualty losses

A casualty loss can result from the damage, destruction, or loss of your property from any sudden, unexpected, or unusual event such as a flood, hurricane, tornado, fire, earthquake, or volcanic eruption. A casualty doesn't include normal wear and tear or progressive deterioration.

 

Beginning with tax year 2018, a deduction is generally not available for net personal casualty losses (personal casualty losses in excess of personal casualty gains) unless the loss is caused by a federally declared disaster.

 

Federal casualty losses, disaster losses and qualified disaster losses are three categories of casualty losses that refer to federally declared disasters. The requirements for each loss vary. For more information, see Publication 547, Casualties, Disasters, and Thefts or refer to the Instructions for Form 4684.

There may be a qualifying circumstance if the accident took place because of a federally declared disaster; however, personal property losses (a car) covered by an insurance reimbursement (car insurance) would likely not qualify.

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1 Reply
MelindaS1
Employee Tax Expert

Can you claim the total loss from a car accident caused by a deer under "Disasters, theft, and other property loss or damage"?

No, the requirements to claim a deduction for casualty, disaster, or theft loss are strictly defined and relate to losses incurred in a federally-declared disaster (post-Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017). From IRS Topic no. 515, Casualty, disaster, and theft losses:

Casualty losses

A casualty loss can result from the damage, destruction, or loss of your property from any sudden, unexpected, or unusual event such as a flood, hurricane, tornado, fire, earthquake, or volcanic eruption. A casualty doesn't include normal wear and tear or progressive deterioration.

 

Beginning with tax year 2018, a deduction is generally not available for net personal casualty losses (personal casualty losses in excess of personal casualty gains) unless the loss is caused by a federally declared disaster.

 

Federal casualty losses, disaster losses and qualified disaster losses are three categories of casualty losses that refer to federally declared disasters. The requirements for each loss vary. For more information, see Publication 547, Casualties, Disasters, and Thefts or refer to the Instructions for Form 4684.

There may be a qualifying circumstance if the accident took place because of a federally declared disaster; however, personal property losses (a car) covered by an insurance reimbursement (car insurance) would likely not qualify.

**Say "Thanks" by clicking the thumb icon in a post
**Mark the post that answers your question by clicking on "Mark as Best Answer"

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