California Tax: Winter Storm Victims Get State Tax Relief

The President declared the following counties a major disaster on Monday, March 1, 2010:

- Calaveras
- Los Angeles
- San Bernardino
- Imperial
- Riverside
- Siskiyou
 
The federal declaration was a result of a series of winter storms that brought high winds, heavy rainfall, and severe mud and debris flows during the period of January 17 to February 6, 2010.

The disaster declaration allows affected taxpayers to claim disaster losses in the current or prior tax year. Claiming the loss on a 2009 tax return will allow us to issue refunds quickly. Taxpayers who have already filed a 2009 tax return can file an amended return to claim their losses.

Taxpayers claiming the disaster loss should write "California Winter Storms 2010" in red ink at the top of their tax return to alert us to expedite the refund. If taxpayers are e-filing, they should follow the software instructions to enter the disaster information. Taxpayers can get our forms for the 2009 tax return or amended 2009 tax return at ftb.ca.gov.

Taxpayers needing copies of lost or damaged state returns should complete Form FTB 3516, "Request for Copy of Tax Return," available online. Disaster victims can receive copies of tax returns for free by printing, "California Winter Storms 2010" in red ink at the top of the request.

To learn more about disaster losses, refer to publications FTB 1034, Disaster Loss, at ftb.ca.gov or the IRS 547, Casualties, Disasters, and Thefts, at irs.gov.